NewComm

?? Exciting News! ?? NewComm officially launched its Math program last night with our very first Math Roundtable, hosted by the incredible Aaron Thompson! For those unfamiliar, Math Roundtables are a series of interactive sessions where our Fellows connect their classroom learning in Math directly to their $10,000 community-driven projects. It’s an exciting opportunity for them to see how mathematical concepts can have real-world applications in solving community challenges. On day one, our Fellows were already making impressive connections between their Math studies and their projects! Here are some of their insights: - Linear Equations & Patterns: “Understanding slope and linear equations helps me identify future patterns in the project's outcomes.” - Data Collection & Analysis: “Different graphs will help us organize and present data accurately when surveying our target audience.” - Budgeting & Functions: “Functions can help us figure out budget limitations and distribute funds effectively.” - Inequalities & Financial Planning: “Understanding inequalities enhances our approach to budgeting.” We’re incredibly excited to see how these Math skills will continue to shape the Fellows’ projects and make a tangible impact both in the classroom and their communities! #EducationMatters #MathRoundtables #CommunityImpact #StudentSuccess #NewCommFellows #LeadershipInAction

At NewComm, we are obsessed with these questions: How can we repurpose the spaces of private/independent schools into crucial public infrastructure? How can these schools serve as hubs where historically marginalized learners, whether enrolled or not, can access and actively leverage these spaces to create programs and opportunities that invest back into their communities? In other words, what would it look like to transform these spaces into dynamic design studios for local innovation, where our students can maximize both their potential and that of our communities? This is our north star! We are profoundly thankful to Horace Mann School for their belief in and support of this vision. I know it sounds cliché, but words truly cannot express how grateful I am for the way they have made all of our students and their families feel at home on campus. I am excited to deepen our work at HM and explore ways we can bring this incredible programming to more communities. Stay tuned!

"Do not underestimate the power of a people who can put together the powers of ownership with the determination to have their voices and images firmly planted in the fields of the culture they have cultivated." – Benny Andrews Our latest book "Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience." explores how visual art has provided a rich outlet for protest, commentary, escape, and perspective for African Americans. This collection of essays and images is based on our exhibition of the same name, which opened in our Rhimes Family Foundation Visual Arts Gallery in 2021. Grab a copy today to explore works from artists like Barkley L. Hendricks, Deborah Roberts, Amy Sherald, Lava Thomas and more: https://s.si.edu/4e04PD9 ?? 1. Miss Brown to You, 1970. Barkley L. Hendricks (1945–2017) Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the National Endowment for the Arts, ? Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. 2. 80 days, 2018. From the series Nessun Dorma. Deborah Roberts (b. 1962) Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and National Portrait Gallery, Museum purchase through the American Women’s History Initiative Acquisition Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative and generously supported by American Express, ? Deborah Roberts. 3. Breonna Taylor, 2020. Amy Sherald (b. 1973) Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, purchase made possible by a gift from Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg / The Hearthland Foundation and the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY, purchase made possible by a gift from the Ford Foundation, ? Amy Sherald.

Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience showcases visual art’s dynamic and potent role in African American history and culture. Featuring nearly 100 artworks, this 224-page hardcover book explores how visual art has provided a rich outlet for protest, commentary, escape and perspective for African Americans. This publication includes a wide range of mediums featuring Black artists such as Amy Sherald, Benny Andrews, Sheila Pree Bright, Bisa Butler, Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Shaun Leonardo, David Hammons and many more. Learn more: https://s.si.edu/3X7HDMh ?? Book image cover: I Go To Prepare A Place For You, 2021. Bisa Butler (b. 1973). Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, purchased through the American Women’s History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, ? Bisa Butler.

We're thrilled to introduce our new Math program, where our Fellows use quantitative reasoning to turn their project logistics into solvable equations. We build on the summer’s focus on English literature and qualitative research by honing in on the math that will drive the successful execution of our community impact projects through our Math Roundtables. These Math Roundtables are weekly virtual sessions where Fellows engage in Harkness-style discussions, connecting what they learn in the classroom to the ongoing development of their projects. For example, in Cohort 2's project, ProspHER—an education festival featuring workshops on alternative college pathways and financial literacy—Fellows could use linear inequalities to make key decisions about the event. They’ll consider constraints like budget, space, setup time, and staffing to optimize the number of performances and learning sessions, ensuring the event runs smoothly and impacts the maximum number of people. (Major shoutout to Danielle Rock for so brilliantly crafting this!) Our Math Roundtables go beyond the traditional learning experience. They empower students to apply math in real-world situations, refine their problem-solving skills, and collaborate effectively. We're excited to see how these sessions will help our Fellows bring their vision to life and make a lasting impact in their communities. ***** New here? NewComm invests in and nurtures a community of BIPOC high school students, helping them maximize their full potential. At the heart of our work is a two-year paid fellowship program where our Fellows lead, develop, and execute annual $10,000 community projects that tackle real-world challenges, all while receiving comprehensive academic support, mentorship, and college preparation. Learn more here:

#Leadership24 In a few short weeks the new academic year will begin. With it will come another opportunity to impact students where they are and connect them with their community in an “experiential” way. “Classes aren’t just classes, they are tools”. ~Chidi Asoluka I invite you to join us at Saint Joseph's University for a documentary screening to launch our newest effort #DesigntoDisruptandReimagine Our goal is to create equitable partnerships and impactful collaborations prompted by the question: “Who is your neighbor and what do you owe them?” Register here: https://lnkd.in/eB_paGQk NewComm

At NewComm, we are obsessed with these questions: How can we repurpose the spaces of private/independent schools into crucial public infrastructure? How can these schools serve as hubs where historically marginalized learners, whether enrolled or not, can access and actively leverage these spaces to create programs and opportunities that invest back into their communities? In other words, what would it look like to transform these spaces into dynamic design studios for local innovation, where our students can maximize both their potential and that of our communities? This is our north star! We are profoundly thankful to Horace Mann School for their belief in and support of this vision. I know it sounds cliché, but words truly cannot express how grateful I am for the way they have made all of our students and their families feel at home on campus. I am excited to deepen our work at HM and explore ways we can bring this incredible programming to more communities. Stay tuned!

Yesterday, during the 2nd annual NewComm FELLOWS Forum, Cohort 2 announced their decision to invest their $10,000 in a project focused on at-risk, justice impacted young women of color in the Bronx and Westchester County, in partnership with 914United. They aim to create NewComm ProspHER, an education festival featuring workshops on alternative college pathways and financial literacy, utilizing interactive and immersive games and entertainment experiences. With the support of Cohort 1 and our Members, we are excited to bring this project to life in June 2025. If you are interested in helping our Fellows this year with their research and experimentation, feel free to reach out.

This is a total Hail Mary, BUT NewComm is holding a full day financial wellness summit on Sept 28th in The Bronx, and some of our Fellows have expressed interest in speaking directly to folks who work for scholarship organizations to demystify the whole process. If possible, I'd love to get some folks who are willing to break bread with our students. Is that possible?