This Week @ NewComm: WE DID IT!

Dear NewComm Community,

I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you today with a heart brimming with pride and joy, filled with a sense of accomplishment that resonates not just within our organization, but extends to the very communities we passionately serve.

This summer, we set out on a remarkable journey with the launch of our NewComm FELLOWS pilot. Our vision was ambitious yet simple: to create a program that empowers underserved students. But as the weeks unfolded, we realized we had crafted more than a program; we had created a home. A home where our fellows spoke openly and honestly, engaging in profound conversations about the joys and challenges of building powerful BIPOC spaces.

If you missed our first Forum, you missed the birth of a brilliant idea: "The Net Gala." Inspired by a shared passion for entering the healthcare field, our students conceptualized an event to bridge the gap between BIPOC students and healthcare professionals. This high fashion gala, to be hosted in the South Bronx, will facilitate valuable networking sessions and build lasting connections.

The feedback about this venture has been overwhelmingly positive, to the extent that we have already begun establishing partnerships with local hospitals. We're thrilled to announce that we plan to launch the Net Gala in Spring 2024, marking another significant milestone in our mission.

Reflecting on this incredible summer, I am filled with hope and anticipation for the future of NewComm PROJECT. Our vision - to be a catalyst for transformative education - is alive and thriving. It is not just a statement on paper; it's a reality that we live and breathe, and every success takes us one step closer to fulfilling this promise.

To our students, our staff, our supporters, and all who have joined us on this inspiring journey, I extend my heartfelt gratitude. Your belief, your energy, and your unwavering support have made all this possible.

As we look to the future, let us carry forward the momentum and the lessons of this summer. Together, we can continue to co-create transformative futures for our learners and their communities.

With warm regards,

Chidi

Founder and CEO, NewComm PROJECT

RESOURCES THAT HAVE INFORMED OUR WORK THIS WEEK:

Esther Phillips: The Esteemed First Poet Laureate of Barbados Renowned For Her Poetry Breathing Life Into The Untold Stories Of The Past

• "Esther Phillips, the esteemed First Poet Laureate of Barbados who is renowned for her poetry that breathes life into the untold stories of the past, will be based at SOAS University of London this summer as Visiting Fellow. Esther’s poetry invites readers to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past, encouraging dialogue and understanding. Her poetic work embarks on a profound exploration of the legacies of the slave trade through her research, leaving an indelible mark on the realm of poetry and academia alike. With her verses and imagery, she sheds light on the complexities of human suffering, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit.?As Visiting Fellow at SOAS, she will conduct research using the SOAS Library’s historical archives, unearthing the experiences of those who endured the horrors of slavery and their descendants, and seeking to honour their narratives. Her research at SOAS will foster a renewed sense of empathy and empowering the world to confront the lasting impacts of slavery on contemporary societies.?[...]" / SOAS University of London

RISD Studio: Promoting Activism Through Graphic Design

• "In a spring?Graphic Design?studio called?Be the Change, faculty member?Rene Payne 83 GD?asked students to imagine and design real-world interventions that lead to social change. The three major projects throughout the semester were guided by the key phases of activism derived from the philosophy of artist/activist and?2017 MLK keynote?speaker?Emory Douglas: inform, enlighten and educate. At the beginning of the semester, students explored individual notions of security, ranging from their personal experiences with climate change to racism to religion and more. They worked closely with?RISD’s Center for Complexity (CfC)?to learn directly from Providence community members of all ages what security meant to them and then designed detailed informational kits that communicated the individual perspectives gathered. A kit by?Erin Roman 23 GD?conveyed a message about animal cruelty via an informational poster and stickers.?Emma Caama?o 24 GD?designed an emergency care kit for the elderly, and?Chancellor Joyer 24 IL?put together a box that unpacks the effects of racism on adolescent girls. [...]" / Rhode Island School of Design

"I Will Do Everything I Can To Make Sure My Team Can Work Without Noise"

• "Benito Piuzzi is quite frank when it comes to his fifteen years in?operations, his expertise in driving operational transformation for Fortune 100 companies, and his capacity for thought leadership in that space to deliver clear and definable advantages for the bottom line. “If you don’t understand operations, you’re either solving the wrong problem, or making existing problems worse,” says Piuzzi, the?chief operating officer?of?Lakeview’s residential lending group?and a member of the invite-only Forbes Business Council. The native Chilean studied in the US after securing scholarships to cover the opportunity. To study in Italy, he got an ambassador on the phone to help him work through visa issues. And had he not gone to Italy, Piuzzi wouldn’t have met his wife who was in teaching English in France at the time. [...] All that to say: Piuzzi will find the answer to the problem. He’s been doing it since before he even knew what career he wanted to pursue, and his capacity to implement transformational operational excellence is as much obsession as it is skill set. [...] Despite his passion for delivering operational excellence, the COO is not a micromanager unless he has to be. “When it comes to my own team, I want to empower them, I want to remove obstacles for them, I’ll help them manage their time if they need it, and I will do everything I can to make sure they can work without noise,” Piuzzi says. / Hispanic Executive

Decades Of Research Support It: Kindness At Work Pays Off

• "When?anxiety is high?and morale is low, kindness isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. With?mass layoffs, economic uncertainty, and?geopolitical tensions, kindness is needed now more than ever, especially at work. Research?suggests that kindness yields positive outcomes for businesses. If you’re an emerging leader, being kind to your employees can help you retain top talent, establish a thriving culture, increase employee engagement, and enhance productivity. When people receive a compliment or words of recognition, it helps them feel more fulfilled,?boosts their self-esteem, improves their?self-evaluations, and?triggers positive emotions. The result: happier, more engaged employees. [...] Decades of research support it: Kindness is good for everyone. Whether you’re just entering the workforce, starting a new job, or transitioning into people management, kindness can be a valuable attribute that speaks volumes about your character, commitment, and long-term value.?What’s more, when you show kindness, your goodwill will encourage the same in others within your organization. Here are a few simple routines you can integrate into your everyday work life that will spread kindness and help create a culture of kindness at your organization. [...]" / Harvard Business Review

FEATURED CONTENT:

Exciting news! We just launched the official?NewComm YouTube page! To get things started, we put up the extended version of our FELLOWS documentary trailer that features footage of Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins' talk to our fellows. In the coming months, we will share more content from this summer as well as more content featuring young people from across New York City. Like, subscribe, share!

Video produced and edited by?Ekaterina (Katya) Zapletina

INSIDE NEWCOMM:

Here are some of our favorite pictures from Week 3 and 4 from our FELLOWS program

HOW TO JOIN IN

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Thank you for reading! Feel free to reach out to us?HERE?if you have any questions. We would love to hear from you. We’ll see you again next week!