PENCIL, Inc.

Join PENCIL today in honoring and celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples on #IndigenousPeoplesDay. This day is a powerful reminder to recognize the resilience, traditions, and diverse cultures of Indigenous communities. Here are a few meaningful ways to celebrate today: Read: Explore the works of Indigenous authors. Check out these recommendations from Penguin Random House: Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie Dove Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan Gather: Experience the largest celebration of its kind at Indigenous Peoples’ Day NYC! Enjoy 24 hours of performances, traditional ceremonies, and cultural activities on Randall’s Island. Join us in celebrating and supporting the rich heritage and contributions of Indigenous communities!

As we kick off PENCIL's Legal Industry Advisory Group (LIAG) programming, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on the talented students who have been part of this initiative. One standout story is Jayda Edwards, a high school student who, through her participation in PENCIL's LIAG, secured an internship at the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division this summer. Reflecting on her experience, Jayda shared, "When I interned at the Appellate Division Court, I was excited to expand my interest in law. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. Thanks to PENCIL, I had the opportunity to connect and grow with clerks, justices, and lawyers. I strongly feel that I am one step closer to success." We’re eager to continue creating opportunities for students to explore the legal field and build bright futures thanks to our incredible partnerships with law firms like Mintz, Paul Hastings, Perkins Coie, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP!

Continuing our celebration of the 2024 PENCIL Volunteer Award recipients, today we're excited to shine a spotlight on Olivia Akerley! Olivia, an Experience Designer at WongDoody, is being recognized for her dedication to equipping her mentees with the tools they need to thrive. Reflecting on her journey as a PENCIL mentor, Olivia shares, "It’s a privilege to inspire and guide students as they explore the world of design and technology, sparking their curiosity and creativity." Explore how you can become a PENCIL volunteer: https://lnkd.in/e6xgaMTf

PENCIL is thrilled to recognize Joshua Harris, the recipient of the 2024 PENCIL Volunteer Award! As a Senior Tech Support (Mobile Application Development) specialist at Infosys, Joshua has shown unwavering dedication to mentoring students through a range of PENCIL programs. His commitment to guiding the next generation of tech innovators has truly made a lasting impact. Reflecting on his experience, Joshua shares, "The joy, excitement, and happiness that come from mentoring these students is truly unmatched." Discover current opportunities to volunteer through PENCIL — https://lnkd.in/e6xgaMTf

Thank you to Paul Hastings and Lauren (. for the invitation to this wonderful event! ? PENCIL's Angelie Singla is honored to join in celebrating the rich and vibrant Hispanic and Latinx heritage and hear from executives at Citi and American Airlines. The event was made even more unforgettable with the vibrant sounds of Peace & Drums filling the air!

Join us for PENCIL's Celebration of Success Gala on November 12th at the iconic Pool in the Seagram Building! We are thrilled to announce Sn?hetta as a proud sponsor of the 2024 Celebration of Success Gala! Secure your ticket or join our growing group of esteemed sponsors to celebrate our work and all of the accomplishments of our students in 2024! https://lnkd.in/gQFZeWRi

Yesterday, PENCIL had the pleasure of participating in the CSR & ERG Fair at The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) Jersey City! We shared exciting volunteer opportunities and connected with the incredible DTCC team members, including Jason Harrell, CISM and Jessica Yang. We look forward to continuing our impactful partnership with DTCC! Learn more about how you can volunteer through PENCIL: https://lnkd.in/e6xgaMTf

PENCIL is proud to celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth by recognizing influential Hispanic leaders like Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and CEO of Point Foundation, the largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students. As a first-generation Mexican American, Jorge’s leadership and advocacy for LGBTQ youth have made a profound impact. In a recent interview with Hispanic Executive, Jorge shared his guiding principle: “My North Star is young people who are growing up in oppressive environments. That is what leads me to advocate for and empower the LGBTQ youth of today who will serve as role models and be a symbol of hope for others who don’t have support in their respective communities.” Leaders like Jorge Valencia inspire and uplift PENCIL students, showing the power of resilience, representation, and community. Click the link to read his full interview: https://lnkd.in/eceaK5PM

Big shout out to Zeck for not only providing an outstanding platform that helps us seamlessly organize our board meetings, but also for the adorable (and delicious) cookies! Zeck was co-founded by Edward Norton, the award-winning actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, along with Robert W. and Jeffrey Wolfe, the minds behind Moosejaw (acquired by Walmart) and CrowdRise (acquired by GoFundMe). Additionally, James Zubok, a seasoned software executive and private equity investor, serves as a founding partner. Thank you, Zeck, for making our board meetings both efficient and enjoyable!?

Thank you to everyone who joined PENCIL in kick off the 2024-25 school year! Congratulations to the volunteers who were recognized for their contributions to PENCIL: Roy Adams?| Con Edison Olivia Akerley?| Infosys Malav Chakravorty?| Bank of America Danice Dittmar, MBA?| Verizon Joshua Harris?| Infosys Caroline Johns| Saatva Brianna Kostecka?| OUTFRONT Media Shirin Malkani?| Perkins Coie Bryan Rojas?| OUTFRONT Media Ronald Sarubbi?| Perkins Coie A special thank you to Nicole Gallagher and Deloitte for hosting us! We look forward to another successful school year of connecting NYC Public School students to success!