Bronx Burners的动态

#QuestionForGroup Hi fellow educators! I've been trying to think of ways to get my middle school kiddos engaged in our school and town community. One thought which came to mind was creating philanthropic opportunity involving students identifying a school/town community need and working on it during their middle school years. Students would use their time and energy to better the community they are in, under the mantra "leave a better tomorrow." Now, I have a very rough draft of a outline with details for this but would love to hear from others if they have done this already or would like to collaborate on this!

Since sharing my perspective and insights on the State of Education as it affects our youth, specifically our marginalized youth, it has sparked conversations, opened eyes, and ignited interest in policies, resources, and advocacy. As a former teacher, I always ensured parents that I accepted the call to teach and fully embraced all children as if they were my own. I can only imagine what would happen if we all focused on humanizing policies and embraced our neighbors as our family. Collectively, we can bridge gaps between home, school, and our community if we embody the mindset that ALL children deserve the opportunity to achieve greatness. I have accepted the call to being a non-profit leader, and though the work is daunting, securing financial support is challenging, and spreading the mission and vision can sometimes feel like an uphill battle... regardless of the number of no's or "your organization was not selected as a grant recipient," I refuse to quit, fold, or give in because of OUR CHILDREN. To my fellow non-profit leaders: your work is not in vain, and it may take time for others to see your vision, but DO NOT GIVE UP. Shouting out and expressing my sincerest THANKS to all of you who have supported our efforts in various ways. “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” ― Audre Lorde P.S: This is just a snippet of my talk ?? ! Empower All Inc.

Throughout my childhood, I had a dream of pursuing a career in journalism and creative writing. So, how did I find myself earning an undergraduate degree in business administration? What led me to dedicate four years of hard work to this field, only to ultimately transition into education? My educational and career journey has been marked by numerous pivots. In this video, I delve into the twists and turns that have brought me to where I am today—just two weeks away from embarking on my master's program in education policy. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude for all the support I've received for my GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of my education. Together we have raised $8,400!! ???? Your generosity means the world to me and is enabling me to not only attend my dream program, but one of the best education policy programs out there. Harvard will provide me with the skill set I need to tackle the oppressive systems keeping students trapped in poverty today. It will also allow me to grow my network, introducing me to other highly motivated students looking to create a more equitable system. If you'd like to contribute or learn more about my journey, please visit https://gofund.me/62136e25. Thank you for being a part of my story! #hgse #harvard #pivots #gradschool #educationpolicy #nextchapter #blackexcellence #education #equityineducation #gofundme #funding #crowdfunding

Worth your attention…

After nearly two decades of helping students reach their potential in education, I'm taking on my own life-changing challenge – the 2025 London Marathon in support of Shaw Trust . While I've been a lifelong runner, this will be my first ever marathon. It's a fitting parallel to Shaw Trust's mission: taking that bold step beyond our comfort zone to create positive change. Just as Shaw Trust helps people overcome barriers to unlock their full potential, I'm pushing my own boundaries to support their vital work. Shaw Trust transforms lives by helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds access employment, education, and independence. Your donation will directly support: - Young people seeking their first career opportunity - Individuals with disabilities entering the workforce - People rebuilding their lives through education and training - Communities becoming more inclusive and accessible Every mile I run in training and on race day will be powered by your generosity. Whether it's ￡5 or ￡50, your support will help someone take their own life-changing steps toward a brighter future. Join me in supporting Shaw Trust's mission. Together, we can help create a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Thank you for your support – it means the world to me and will make a real difference to those Shaw Trust serves. Edit: Ignore the error on the page which says it's the London Half Marathon rather than the full marathon. it's the full one, I promise and I'm in the process of getting this changed. ????

Hi everyone! Exciting news - I'm bringing back my open-door mentoring sessions for the next two weeks! This time, I'm hoping to make a difference by raising money for a good cause. As a member of the board of NY Urban League Young Professionals, we are raising funds for the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Scholarship - an initiative to help deserving high school seniors in the community alleviate the financial burden of higher education. Here's how it works: In exchange for a donation to the cause, you'll get 30 minutes of my time to use as you wish. In previous sessions, I've given resume feedback, interview tips, answered questions on how to progress/pursue a career in strategy or advertising in general, and in some cases just offered some kind words & life advice. To participate, simply donate what you can to the cause using this link (every amount is welcome even if it is just $10 or $20): https://lnkd.in/eyQdeiXe. Be sure to select me as the team lead you are attributing your donation to so we can see our collective impact! Then, find a time on my calendar at this link: https://lnkd.in/efxK7za4 Finally, when it's time for your appointment, please bring a list of questions/topics you'd like to discuss. If you're not looking for mentoring, you can still help make a difference by donating to the fund directly or sharing this post with your network. Let's work together to support the future leaders in our community??

?? Ghost non-profits These are created by high school students for college applications How's it work? 1. Colleges say community involvement is important 2. The problem is doing real community work is hard 3. So student (along with parents) create bullsh1t non-profit addressing some societal hot-button topic (climate, equity - pick the most virtuous sounding) 4. They then paint a picture of quantifiable outcomes the non-profit has driven (which are conveniently impossible to confirm) 5. Bonus points if they get a local newspaper to cover it further laundering this nonsense 6. Colleges ?? this ?? - "look at the civic-mindedness of our students" 7. Student gets admission to college, essentially rewarded for lying 8. Student abandons non-profit right after admission This is the game some people play as they climb the endless ladder "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."

Look, I doubt that most foundation people will share this sentiment out loud, but aren't there days when you look at your grants and say, "isn't this philanthropic system wasteful?" Couldn't we just tax these families and companies and redistribute the money to these critical institutions? Skip all the foundation stuff, entirely? Instead the funds go to the wealthy, who then: 1) Move them to an institution with their name on it (The Foundation) 2) Receive a healthy tax exemption, which makes them more money 3) The Foundation invests 95% of it into hedge and venture funds, and their ilk 4) Pay their staff, like me, generous salaries, offices, etc 5) And then, only after all of that, do the resources make it to the financially deprived target [If they make it to a financially deprived target, given that most foundations lock up 95% of their assets in perpetuity in toxic societal investments] I respect the Bloombergs, the Alfonds, and Home Depot for chipping in for community colleges. They didn't create this system. But, shouldn't we all #BreakFakeRules a bit more? #philanthropy

This is the type of acquisition that won't show up in federal college closure data because the acquired colleges will continue operating as usual. And it's also a reminder that not all acquisitions are of colleges in financial distress...sometimes, they are just business opportunities.

With each chapter I read of Warren Berger’s “A More Beautiful Question,” I am constantly finding connections to our work in philanthropy – especially in the relationships between funders and nonprofits, and I wanted to share them with colleagues!?Here are a few quotes from the book, and some ideas for how we might consider their application in philanthropic practice. Berger tells the story of NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development professor Deborah Meier, who in the 1970s created a radical model for a school designed to foster inquiry. In her work, she raised several interesting questions: “Is a test-driven education the most likely path for producing an inventive and feisty citizenry?” and “What would it look and sound like in the average classroom if we wanted to make ‘being wrong’ less threatening.” Think about how this applies to the interactions between a nonprofit and a current/potential funder. Is a highly structured and formal application process the best path for encouraging nonprofits to be inventive or “feisty?” What can funders do to make ‘being wrong’ less threatening when it comes to developing and fostering positive relationships with their grantee partners? Here’s another one… Berger quotes Dennie Wolf, an education professor and consultant, whose research “The Art of Questioning” found that questions “were used by teachers primarily to check up on students, rather than to try and spark interest; such questions were apt to leave a student feeling ‘exposed’ rather than inspired.” Funders and grantmakers, do you use the questions in your application simply to “check up” on your grantees? How are you using your application or discussions with program officers to spark interesting conversations with your partners? Do those discussions leave those nonprofits feeling inspired? Or are your questions unintentionally leaving your partners feeling exposed? I hope these might spark some creative or innovative thinking as we head into the fall.?I’d be delighted to work with you to explore how these and similar provocative questions can have a positive impact on your philanthropy.?Feel free to reach out if I can be of any service. The concept of powerful questions is important to me! Later this month, I will be presenting a session for grantmakers entitled “Change Up Your Questions” at Blackbaud’s annual BBCON conference in Seattle. https://lnkd.in/emaCMq5u