Camelback’s Superheroes: Introducing the 2019 - 2020 Alumni Ambassadors
Caroline Lutkewitte is Camelback’s Operations Manager.
At Camelback, we have the mantra “Fellows First.” Short and succinct, it says it all. Over the past five years and six Fellowship cycles, there have been 65 entrepreneurs granted the title Camelback Fellow. But we know it doesn’t stop there. Once they graduate, our newly-minted alumni have proven themselves time and time again are our most ardent supporters. A few years ago, we started to call this expanded network of past and present Fellows our #camelbackfam.
This year, we are embarking on a journey to involve our alumni more in our decision-making process, culture building, and keeping connections going across cohorts. We’ve assembled a group of six alumni from around the country to unite in this mission, kinda like our very own Camelback Avengers. We’re calling them our Alumni Ambassadors. In addition to their entrepreneurial superpowers, we believe that alumni are the ideal people to help us because they know our programming the best and already have close relationships with other alumni in their regional communities.
With the help of these folks, we’re transforming “Fellows First” into “Fam First.” We’ll call on these Alumni Ambassadors to host events in their cities, participate in Fellow recruitment & selection, and advise our larger alumni engagement strategy. We're excited to introduce you to our six Alumni Ambassadors with reflections on their journey and shout-outs to some of their peers!
Hattie Mitchell (Los Angeles, 2017 Camelback Fellow)
Tell me about an experience you had growing up that defined who you are today.
I grew up in rural California in a small town. With little opportunity, I was placed on a non-college track in high school. My high school counselor told me that I was, "not college material." Her words ignited a fire within me that ultimately caused me to work really hard to get into college.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
Life as an entrepreneur can be challenging at times. One thing that helps on tough days, is referencing the Camelback manifesto. The line in the manifesto that always encourages me and keeps me moving forward is "give freely." When I give of myself, the reward is always greater than anything I may be feeling at the moment.
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out? Why?
I love everything Ashley Edwards from MindRight is doing. She's so dope!
Learn more about Hattie’s school, Crete Academy, and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Sunny Williams (Chicago, 2016 Camelback Fellow)
Tell me about an experience you had growing up that defined who you are today.
When I was a kid, I was teased and bullied because I was overweight. I didn't like who I was. So I made a conscious decision to improve myself and be a better me each day. I'm still on that journey.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
I pitched a famous venture capitalist and in the middle of my presentation, he laughed at my idea and told me "there is no business here." He was mean and insulting. He made me question my worth and my vision. But I persisted, the Tiny Docs team persisted, and we are growing.
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out? Why?
Shout-out to the 2016 fellows. Continue to shine bright.
Learn more about Sunny’s venture, Tiny Docs, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Byron R. Arthur (New Orleans, 2018 Camelback Fellow)
Tell me about an experience you had growing up that defined who you are today.
I watched my mother work as a teacher. There was a boy in her 3rd-Grade classroom who was not only living in poverty, but was the most challenging discipline case in the school. She thought to bring him to our home for dinner and, since he was a year older than I, needless to say, was nervous. But I saw the love and care that she showed to him, and the difference that she made. It has always shaped my approach to educating young people.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
I had to "learn to be okay with being wrong." Trying to get a charter approved meant that we were rejected multiple times. I had to shift my perspective about making mistakes and realized that they were critical to our success. We were determined to be authentic and own our work even if it meant that we were wrong at first.
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out? Why?
I am so appreciative of the entire Camelback Fam especially the #4Reals.* I love all of you. My shout-out goes to Morgan Ripski, my Camelback Coach, who gave me the tough feedback and loving guidance to move us to charter approval.
Learn more about Byron’s school, The Delores Taylor Arthur School for Young Men, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
*Editorial note: We ask each cohort to choose their own Slack Channel hashtag at the end of their Fellowship to move the channel from active programming to alumni kinship. #4Reals is the name the 2018 Fellows, the fourth Camelback Fellowship cohort, chose.
Sophie Shrand (New York, 2018 Camelback Fellow)
Tell me about an experience you had growing up that defined who you are today.
Recently I've been reflecting on the female relationships in my life; growing up, I felt consistent pressure to compete with my female friends in academics and as a performer. Looking back, most of that pressure came from adults. I'm changing that narrative to a spirit of collaboration, both in my own life and through my mission as a founder, educator, and role model for girls (and everyone). Why waste energy competing when we can achieve so much more together?
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
Right there at the top of Camelback’s Ruthless for Good manifesto: "when there are difficult decisions to be made -- commit." Let me share about committing to NOT compromise. Several times I've chosen not to partner with certain funders, networks, sponsors, etc, because it would have compromised my mission and vision. Choosing mission over money is capital P Painful when you're bootstrapping. Now, I'm so glad I made those tough calls, and that I trusted myself to know when to make them. I respectfully demand nothing less than my standards, and that has paid off in ways far beyond what money could buy.
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out? Why?
My #4real femmes Nicole Bishop (Quartolio) & Auset Ali (Visions Performing Arts College Prep) who hop on the phone SO often to help me work through questions, concerns, and celebrations! (And I can't go without sending love to my whole 4real fam: Yulkendy, Antionette, Martha, Vanessa, Janine, Tammy, Byron, Myron, Damola and Brandon. Love ya babes.)
Learn more about Sophie’s venture, Science with Sophie, and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Sage Salvo (Washington, D.C., 2017 Camelback Fellow)
Tell me about an experience you had growing up that defined who you are today.
I had a traumatic middle school transition. I moved from inner city Washington, DC to a suburb in Virginia. All my grades plummeted. I went from an all-black school to being the only African-American male in many of my classes. I was also told that I couldn't transition into the Gifted and Talented program which I was accustomed to. I immediately fell victim to stereotype threat.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
I share the belief that genius is liberally distributed throughout the population. When I first began this work, administrators did not want me to record and highlight students’ original written productions. But because my work is literally elevating the literary works of urban song writers to comparable features of traditional authors, I forced the issue and included students’ works! This allowed students, for the first time, to see themselves as authors and capable of literary work!
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out? Why?
Camelback’s founder & CEO, Aaron Walker, for connecting me with Al Motley, Jr who is now our Tech Advisor and soon-to-be Interim CTO!
Learn more about Sage’s venture, WordsLiive, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Brandon Anderson (Oakland, CA, Camelback Fellow 2018)
Tell me about an experience you had growing up that defined who you are today.
My best friend and I lived homeless as teenagers for a few years. We found an abandoned house next to a used car lot to squat in. It was there that I fell in love. In a house that nobody wanted next to a car lot that nobody visited, I fell in love with my best friend — a tall, skinny, big-headed black boy who I first met in 3rd grade.
In 2007, police killed him, my fiancé, during a routine traffic stop. He was my best friend, my only friend. His love was radical, unapologetic, and it changed my life.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
I sublet my apartment for two years, and built RAHEEM, my venture, from the backseat of a parked car that doubled as my home and a taxi for two years.
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out? Why?
Antionette Carroll, founder of Creative Reaction Lab, proudly shares her gifts, her trauma, and her hope for designing a better world even in the face of bullshit. She inspires me, daily.
Learn more about Brandon’s venture, RAHEEM, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Find out more about all of our Fellows on our new index: