Introducing the Camelback 2020 Fellows
A NOTE FROM THE CAMELBACK TEAM:
This spring, Camelback team leadership took an intensive reflection at how our program was developing. We looked at the exciting results of our Good Jobs Initiative pilot, celebrated school founders as they readied to open their doors, and reviewed wins from our technology organizations. We chose to redefine the Camelback Fellowship into a program with three tracks so that we could better serve all of our organizations. Change is always hard, but progress is worth the challenge. This year’s selection process reflected those evolutions.
This year, we placed more emphasis on the qualities and competencies of the leader in addition to closely examining their business model. Our shift to focus on videos in the application rounds gave us more variety to evaluate and increased accessibility. Throughout the candidate review process, our team was delighted to see the nuanced application of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) efforts in hiring processes and program development throughout different sectors. For our Education track, we were looking for imaginative leaders with innovative approaches in school models and programs. For our Conscious Tech track, we were encouraged by the sheer number of founders building products that hope to shift the trajectories of individuals and the communities in which they live. For our Local Economies track (formerly our Good Jobs Initiative Pilot), we considered more mature companies as well as founders in the second wind of their career who were ready to pivot. We want to express gratitude and appreciation for all candidates who shared their vision with us; thank you, and we see you.
We were inspired by founders’ tenacity to create opportunities for and to move barriers that exist in Black and Brown communities. We are honored to introduce you to the 2020 Camelback Fellows — 18 ventures, 19 leaders. This cohort is a diverse group of entrepreneurs who individually, and as a collective, have the ability to revolutionize the lives of their communities. These organizations are connecting youth to jobs and building generational wealth. These entrepreneurs are leading healing, of both the self and of others, through technology and programming. There are local businesses in our city of New Orleans that are boosting the economy, creating good jobs, and making an impact. Schools will open that will impact and shape the next generation to be empowered, thoughtful leaders. Other organizations, we believe, will revolutionize the way we see the world, such as an augmented reality tool to literally change how we see cities around us.
Before we sign off and let you explore this list of inspiring individuals, we have one more “give.” We have space in our Local Economies Track for 2020 for three more leaders--do you know anyone? We’re seeking New Orleans-based businesses that are ready to scale and have a commitment to creating good jobs for local residents. If you or someone you know is interested, please email our program director Nadiyah Morris at nadiyah@camelbackventures.org as soon as possible!
Without further ado, the Camelback 2020 Fellows.
2020 Camelback Fellows
Education
Fellows are listed alphabetically by venture name, and share details as provided by leaders. Education Fellows may be nonprofits, for-profits, hybrids, or schools. Schools are listed separately below.
Taylor Toynes - For Oak Cliff
Dallas, TX - Nonprofit - www.foroakcliff.org
For Oak Cliff’s overall goal is liberation for our community, by organizing the community and serving as a convener we're able to provide resources and connect neighbors to service providers and experiences that remove the barriers of systemic oppression.
Taylor: “I'm grateful to be in the position to shine light on Oak Cliff. I'm eager to work and learn more and continue to refine the work we're doing in Oak Cliff.”
Reuben Ogbonna - Marcy Lab School
Brooklyn, NY - Nonprofit - https://marcylabschool.org
The Marcy Lab School redefines higher education by creating direct pathways to rapidly growing career fields for students who need it the most.
Reuben: “I'm feeling excited about the opportunity to join such an impressive community. Over the past year, I've had the pleasure of meeting and learning from so many Camelback Fellows from previous cohorts. I feel honored to be considered for such a dope group.”
Martrice Gandy - MindWorks Collaborative
Riverdale, MD - Nonprofit - www.mindworkscollab.org
MindWorks Collaborative co-creates spaces for diverse special educators to accelerate their impact and support one another through professional learning networks, a virtual community portal, and other programming grounded in anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy and self-care.
Matrice: “I am grateful that the organizational changes we co-created with our community are paying off. I am in love with the possibility that we may finally have the chance to prove we are ready to collaborate within this super dope network of innovative and critically conscious edu-preneurs of color.”
Ronnie Frizzell - Sacred Generations
Yokuts Territory - Nonprofit - www.sacredgenerations.org AND www.sacredvote.com
Sacred Generations is an intergenerational movement of healing dedicated to restoring Native land and people by organizing system-impacted tribal communities to end educational inequity, mass incarceration and climate injustice.
Ronnie: “Educational inequity, mass incarceration and climate injustice are interconnected issues and we’re building the power of sovereign solutions to drive transformative systems change. Thank you for the opportunity to bring educational sovereignty and Indigenous innovation to the forefront of change in our homelands. I'm deeply grateful about the possibility of joining the Camelback family during a critical stage of venture growth and impact. It's an honor and privilege to represent my family, community and tribal nation as a Camelback Fellow!”
Elisa Hoffman - School Board School
Cincinnati, OH - Nonprofit - www.schoolboardschool.org
We empower aspiring school board members and engaged citizens with the knowledge, skills, and network to drive systemic change.
Elisa: “We are so grateful that the team at Camelback wants to support our vision for empowering aspiring school board members and education advocates with the knowledge, skills, and network to build more just & equitable school systems. We are eager to learn from and with a community of smart, passionate, experienced people!”
Kimberly Gray - UVII
For profit - New York City, NY - www.uviiapp.com
Uvii is a mobile app and video plugin for LMS (Learning Management Systems) to post curriculum and respond with video comments from a smartphone amplifying student engagement and retention for faster more affordable learning outcomes, simply put Uvii is Snapchat meets Blackboard.
Kimberly: “I’m excited about connecting with thought leaders in EdTech who are here to excel and prevail. Knowledge is power and creating the future of education through technology and collaborative learning is key.
Education - Schools
Fellows are listed alphabetically by venture name, and share details as provided by leaders. Education Fellows may be nonprofits, for-profits, hybrids, or schools. Non-schools are listed above.
Lanette Dailey-Reese - Capital Experience Lab
Washington, D.C. - Nonprofit - capxlab.org
Capital Experience Lab is middle school to high school model, immersing students in Washington DC museum, research and cultural learning centers connected to meaningful inquiry based projects.
Lanette: “I am blessed, excited and filled with joy, to become a part of Camelback. In those moments when the charter application seems impossible, I go back to my that Camelback help me reignite throughout this process. I cannot wait to be a part of cohort of leaders that I can share and learn with today and beyond.”
Kimberly Townsend - The Leadership School
Normandy, MO - Nonprofit - www.theleadershipschoolstl.org
The Leadership School is a new K-8 charter public school that puts student leadership at the center of learning.
Kimberly: “Each day, we take steps closer to opening an amazing school where young people will grow their leadership capacity. What's most exciting about the Camelback journey is that the application process has already helped me to grow my own leadership capacity and I am thankful for the opportunity to share our vision and have it be seen and validated. Being a member of the Camelback family will strengthen my ability to serve our future students, families and teachers extremely well. For that, I am grateful.”
Phillip Hon - Unbound Stockton Community School
Nonprofit, School - Stockton, CA - website in progress
Unbound Stockton Community School is an intentionally integrated 4th-8th grade school in Stockton, California that teaches students how to work across lines of difference in our 21st Century society.
Phillip: “I'm extremely grateful for the continued belief and support behind this school. I am excited to continue to grow and spread the idea that will be transformational for our home community.”
Conscious Tech
Fellows are listed alphabetically by venture name, and share details as provided by leaders. Conscious Tech Fellows may be may be nonprofits, for-profits, or hybrids.
Norma Parraz - KONEKTI
Phoenix, AZ - For profit - www.KONEKTIapps.com
KONEKTI is the Parent/Family Engagement Tech Tool to Achieve Student Success.
Norma: “Camelback is truly modeling the way forward by bringing transformational change to our communities while continuing to inspire the next generation of wealth creators. The Camelback journey has not only expanded opportunities but continues to promote and empower social entrepreneurship for minorities.”
Julio Rivera - Liberate
For profit - Greenwich, CT - liberatemeditation.com
Liberate is a meditation app created to support the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community on our path of healing and thriving.
Glenn Cantave - Movers and Shakers
Brooklyn, NY - Nonprofit - https://www.moversandshakersnyc.com/
We use augmented reality to teach the history of marginalized people in the classroom and in public spaces.
Glenn: “I am humbled to be among the few to have made it this far a long in the process. Last year, our team's application did not make it past the first round. This speaks to the growth and applied lessons that our company has implemented in the past year.”
Geno Miller - SHtudy
Washington, D.C. - For profit - www.shtudy.info
Shtudy is a career advancement platform that trains and connects top tech talent of color with companies who are striving to increase diversity and innovation within their workforce.
Geno: “I’m extremely humbled, while at the same time feeling a refreshing sense of empowerment. Every day my cofounder and I are driven by one central goal - to positively impact lives through providing opportunities for success. I’m excited to join Camelback because the team provides us with the resources to accelerate that mission, while allowing us to join such an amazing community of people and founders who care, and are striving to do amazing things as well.”
Local Economies
Fellows are listed alphabetically by venture name, and share details as provided by leaders. Local Economies Fellows may be for-profits or hybrids, and all must be based in New Orleans. We have space in our Local Economies Track for 2020 for three more leaders--do you know anyone? We’re seeking New Orleans-based businesses that are ready to scale and have a commitment to creating good jobs for local residents. If you or someone you know is interested, please email our program director Nadiyah Morris at nadiyah@camelbackventures.org as soon as possible!
Charon Flowers Maple & Spencer Davis -
Bypass Line by Designumm Technology
New Orleans, LA - For profit - www.designumtechnologies.com
Designum is a solutions-based technology company that develop mobile apps and software to ease and eliminate pain points.
Charon & Spencer: “Finally a dynamic initiative that focuses true ideas, real creativity and amazing innovations directly into providing solutions inside communities that desperately need them. We are extremely excited to share our voice to help those who are talking but no one has been listening. But, Camelback has started listening. That’s why are excited to be a part of this journey.”
Don Harding - Cool Fruit
New Orleans, LA - For profit - www.coolfruitsensations.com/
Cool Fruit uses fresh fruit to create a healthy product that breaks the rules by being unapologetically delicious!
Don: “Unbridled enthusiasm! I anticipate working with Camelback will be like getting the right prescription for glasses. I will be able to clearly see the path from point A, to point B. This will allow me to unleash my passion, and my drive without hesitation, or uncertainty! Exciting prospect.”
Myra Barnes - Dollar Pot
New Orleans, LA - For profit -www.dollarpot.org
DollarPot is a mobile app that allows users to create digital rotating savings clubs.
Myra: “I am honored to be chosen as one of the 2020 fellows. I’m looking forward to the mentoring offered by this fellowship because guidance in the world of entrepreneurship is something I think we are in dyer need of In our community. This has been a tedious process however, it’s been worth every drop of blood sweat and tears because I know it will be worth in the end.”
Shakeia Kegler - GovLia
Fort Lauderdale, FL - For profit - http://www.Govlia.com
GovLia makes state and local government procurement easier for small and diverse businesses to foster economic opportunity and growth for diverse companies and communities.
Shakeia: “The news of being selected as a Camelback Ventures Fellow is exactly the win we need right now.”
Greg Harris - Meusu
New Orleans, LA - For profit - www.meusu.com
Greg: “My current stage of emotion is rather hard to describe in words alone. I’m somewhere in between the most excited of my life and the most nervous I have ever been. these past few weeks have been such a nail-biter as I feel now my company and I need this opportunity more than ever. I can’t wait for the day that I get to send out the email to all of my family and friends that I have finally been accepted for me it will be Christmas coming early!”