“I hope that The Liberation Foundation helps close the door to recidivism and becomes a platform for men and women to highlight what true “Reform” looks like.”
“I spent almost 10 years as a K12 educator, first as a teacher, then an instructional coach, a career academy leader, and a principal-in-training. No matter whether I worked in a private school, public school, or district office, I was constantly confronting systems bound by constraints and bureaucracy. Finally, after years of trying to implement change from within, I realized I could help more students and affect greater systemic change outside of the system.”
“I hope Poder Capital will transform the way BIPOC communities access capital and build wealth in the present and generations to come. I hope we play a role in undoing centuries of exclusion from the financial system.”
“At Abloom, we're bridging the mental health gap and making schools better for students. We achieve this by leveraging machine learning and AI to provide personalized student check-ins, real-time analytics, and proactive support to educators and students. It's about creating positive change through technology, and that's what I love most about being a founder.”
“I hope [GACHEP] will be the start of a transformation in the way that we approach people who have committed crimes. Education is essential in this world and I believe that if this fact is supported the most, we can create interventions at different points of peoples’ lives and create pathways to success for all.”
“[Black Girls Film Camp] is cultivating the next generation of Black girl storytellers who will shift the narratives that have been culturally and historically limited.”
“The legacy I hope to leave behind is to see Black men have opportunities to lead in the transformation of our public school system while also owning homes in the neighborhoods where these schools exist so that they are not impacted by gentrification when it shows up in their communities, but can instead tell a story of "re-intrification" and how they decided to return to the places where they came from after college to transform it from the inside out.”
“Many thought this was an unattainable task, while others had concerns over my safety ‘if/when’ we succeeded. What they didn't know was that we (including those that joined the cause along the way) decided early on that accepting this lack of transparency and colonial governance that fed corruption and mismanagement of public funds was out of the question. We were and are willing to die for this, and thus, determined to find a path. And we did. And we are just getting started.”
“As a founder, what I enjoy most is the ability to bring my vision to life freely and in collaboration with young people and educators. It's about having the autonomy to directly challenge and transform the systemic issues I encountered during my time as a teacher and administrator, and co-create solutions with those most impacted by inequity in schools.”
“I ultimately pursued entrepreneurship to control my time and working conditions, and to have the potential for unlimited wealth. I want this freedom not only for myself, but for others as well. That’s why the businesses I’m building will help employers, employees, and stakeholders prosper together.”
”Being an entrepreneur is like walking blindfolded. Sometimes you don’t know where it leads you or the outcomes. You just have to do it. I walk into every scenario with the sense that I have to try and if I fail, it is a lesson learned.”
“Every child needs mirrors in which to see themselves, windows in which to see different worlds, and sliding glass doors with which they can access their own futures. My venture provides books for children that are mirrors of themselves, windows to other worlds, and literacy is the skill that slides open doors for them to walk through.”
“Founding a company is like parenting - there are many books on the subject; it looks easier from the outside than actually having to live into your responsibilities everyday; it is totally consuming. And even on the hardest days you love this other thing more than you love yourself.
What I’ve come to believe is that just as children don’t belong to parents, that companies do not belong to founders. We’re entrusted with a gift that life has given us. And that one day we must give it back.
It is time for me to give the gift of Camelback back so that someone else can lead.”
“When I went through the process of being pregnant and postpartum for the first time, I realized that so many of the mental wellness systems that touch us - communities of color, immigrants, etc. - erase these beautiful gifts that were passed down to us, and that we want to continue to pass down to future generations. I was frustrated and didn’t want to wait around for someone else to build a system that is more responsive to our needs. I wanted to be a part of shaping the world I wanted to see.”
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“I do this work because it is deeply personal. It is what I wish was in place for my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. It is what I wish for my children and for all children.”
Read More“What I enjoy most about being a founder is the freedom to create, to change course, and to dream big.”
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“I love sharing about the changing world with today’s youth and creating a space for curious kids who love to explore and make a difference in their community.“
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“I believe that Cohort Sistas will be able to not only help increase the number and percentage of Black women and non-binary scholars who complete doctoral degrees, but will also empower more scholars to utilize their academic and professional skills post-doctoral degree to change the world in significant ways.”
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