Braven

“I know I can achieve my dreams and goals at NIU, no matter how big or small they seem. Braven is helping me to get a step closer to achieving my dreams.” Meet Fabrice Kitungano, a first-generation Northern Illinois University student and Braven ‘23 Fellow pursuing electrical engineering. With the support of NIU’s Career Services and the virtual Braven Accelerator course, Fabrice feels confident in his future career opportunities upon graduation. We are proud of Braven Fellows like Fabrice who are living their legacy and utilizing the resources available to achieve meaningful careers and lives of impact. To learn more about our partnership with NIU and the UNIV 301 course at NIU, visit https://lnkd.in/ddZw4GKM.

The Fall 2024 Accelerator Course is now underway and I am thrilled to kick off the semester with an incredible group of incoming Fellows and our ever dedicated Leadership Coaches! Thank you to our panel discussion participants for inspiring us with their Braven journey, and a huge shout out to my team for their amazing work in making the Accelerator course an exceptional experience for our Fellows.  

What am I doing? Oh nothing...just excited finishing the second week of my 3rd year volunteering with Braven, being a human billboard 🤣 . This year, I've transitioned from Leadership Coach (facilitating content in the classroom to students weekly) to a Coaching Partner (coaching Leadership Coaches, assessing them, providing feedback and giving support). I really didn't know what to expect in this new role, but I knew I had the "juice" to coach the Coaches. So far, it's been amazing. So glad I took the leap. To the Leadership Coaches I've been assigned...y'all gave me ALL the feels tonight for many different reasons. I am so very inspired by each of you! Thank you for your authenticity, empathy and unwavering support of our Spelman ladies. This semester is going to be life-changing for them because of YOU! Cicily Robinson Renea Sampson Edeline Dormevil, MPH Yomi Awomolo, MBA, ITIL, Leadership Coach . Danielle Lyn, Esq., SPHR Kelli Kelley

Earlier this year, Braven launched its partnership with Delaware State University (DSU). And, a few weeks ago, we officially opened our new office space at the Delaware State University Wilmington Riverfront location.  “Being at the DSU Riverfront location provides not only a beautiful space for our team, but also greater opportunities to collaborate with key faculty and staff to deepen our partnership and foster innovation,” shares Kia Ervin Williams, Braven’s Executive Director of Delaware. Big thank you to those who helped bring out the Delaware site to life--we wouldn't be here without you. If you’re in the Delaware region, feel free to drop by and say hello! #BeBraven #BravenDSU

One of the best parts of my job at Braven is the opportunity to collaborate with our #alumni, mostly #firstgeneration college students from 💛 San Jose State University 💙 who have strengthened their #skills, #network, #confidence, and #experience through the Braven experience and want to positively impact incoming graduates! This past week, Braven SJSU's Alumni Advisory Board: Samantha Dejos, Neema Mohseni, Yonjoong Choi, and Emily Burger FLAWLESSLY executed our first-ever kick-off event. ❤️ They "proved the possible" 🏔 by believing in our collective vision, owning their workstreams, going beyond by building #genuineconnections, and boosting our community's #confidence! 💥 Thank you as well to the staff at SJSU Bowling Center! Our #BravenSpartanNetwork (a community empowering first-generation students and early-career professionals on their college-to-career journey) is only growing, one genuine connection at a time. 📣 If you are a Braven SJSU fellow or alumni, follow us @bravennationSJSU on Instagram for the latest updates 📣 Link: https://lnkd.in/gQFBTQSa 📷 Photo Cred: Samantha Dejos

I'm excited to announce a new partnership between Braven and Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI), an organization led by the fantastic April Arnold, CFRE (She/Her), to bring the BravenX program to Augustana College, Judson University, North Central College, and Rockford University! This fall, dozens of students will benefit from an ACI sponsorship to participate in our BravenX experience, equipping them with the skills and connections needed to find success in their post-graduate careers. 

Today is Women’s Equality Day. It commemorates the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. While there have been great strides made toward gender equality, significant inequalities exist for  women still today. “Women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median weekly earnings of $1,005 in 2023. That was 83.6 percent of the $1,202 median for men who were full-time wage and salary workers" (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). At Braven, we’re proud to work alongside our innovative higher education and employer  partners to close these gaps and ensure that all college graduates are putting their hard-earned degrees to work. #BeBraven #WomensEqualityDay

#Synchronicity - It still amazes me that out of the thousands of students walking on 7th Street Plaza, I still get lucky enough to run into my former 4th graders, who are starting their first years as Spartans. It reminds me that there are people in your life who you are supposed to meet over and over again. This happened multiple times this week as we kicked off Welcome Week at San Jose State University. Another example, Diana Olvera (Rubio)'s advisee, Carlos Martinez Castrejon, who was a Braven Fellow, whom she never met during the Pandemic, finally meet during the resource fair. Carlos is in his last semester at SJSU. After the Braven course, he received an internship and was hired full-time at KIPP Public Schools Northern California, where Diana O. just transitioned from. He was surprised because he didn't realize that she transitioned to Braven. A #fullcircle moment! Then, on Thursday, we gathered at LinkedIn with our incoming class of Leadership Coaches. This is a historic moment for us as we prepare to launch at both SJSU and San Francisco State University. Keren Baruch, our very first Capstone Challenge partner at Yahoo, who is now working at LinkedIn NYC, happened to be in the Bay Area and saw our signage, and stopped by. Y'all! What are the odds? Welcome back to all the Spartans and Gators! To everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey, to the people who work hard, chase their dreams, and look out for one another...have a great semester! Make a new friend and ask for a connection because you never know where those connections lead.

Yesterday, Braven, City Year Chicago, and One Million Degrees co-hosted the “2024 Election Impact on America’s Youth” breakfast event held during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. We convened 40+ leaders across sectors to highlight the importance of civic engagement among young voters and to elevate their voices in the 2024 election. (Please note: These conversations do not reflect the opinions of our organizations or reflect any endorsement.) Special thank you to all who joined us as well as our speakers and panelists: Erick Deshaun Dorris (Midwest Executive Director at Young Invincibles, B Goode (City Year Alum), Emily Ibarra (Braven National Louis University Alum), Chakena D. Perry, Senior Policy Advocate, Environmental Health at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Shanna Landheart (One Million Degrees Alum), and Aneesh Sohoni (CEO of One Million Degrees). Big thank you to Adrienne S. (Award winning Journalist) for moderating the two panels during this event. Finally, thank you to Morningstar, one of our incredible employer partners, for offering your space for this event.    #BeBraven

A new school year means new volunteer opportunities! Braven is seeking volunteers for our virtual mock interviews happening this October! By participating as a Mock Interviewer, you will: - Interview 1-2 Fellows and provide real-time feedback on their interviewing skills - Build your interview skills - Continue to support college students who are applying for internships and jobs by offering to stay in touch - Connect with other professionals Sign up today at braven.org/interview. Questions? Email us at volunteers@bebraven.org! #BeBraven #BravenVolunteer