Effective to Great Education

On January 29th, our CEO Lori Jackson participated in the Ward Infinity Pitch Competition and Community Innovation Awards Ceremony. The event recognized the remarkable efforts of our community to improve health, wellness, and sustainability outcomes in the District of Columbia. We would like to extend our congratulations to Effective to Great Education (ETGE) and their mentor, Dr. Barbara "Bobbi" Kurshan, for winning the Social Entrepreneur Team of the Year Award and a prize of $25,000. Their groundbreaking product, Mindfulness Labs, utilizes advanced AI technology to help schools improve teacher effectiveness, enabling access to create numerous culturally responsive professional development and well-being resources. Our foundation is committed to supporting innovators and amplifying innovative solutions that have a real, positive and transformative impact in our communities. #JBRF2024 #Innovation #JBRFoundation #FlashbackFriday

I had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the Ward Infinity Pitch Competition hosted by The Johns Hopkins University a few weeks ago, and I must say, I am still in awe of the incredible ideas and innovation showcased by these Change Agent entrepreneurs. It was truly an honor and a privilege to be part of an event showcasing these transformational innovators who are dedicated to making positive changes in their communities. This competition was all about highlighting innovative solutions for health and wellness that serve underinvested communities in the District of Columbia. And let me tell you, the ideas presented were nothing short of inspiring. From improving access to nutritious food in food deserts to creating accessible mental health resources for underserved populations, these entrepreneurs showed us the power of innovation in addressing the most pressing issues facing our communities. I want to give a special shoutout to Al J. Browne for running into me one morning and inviting me to speak at this event and to share what Albertsons Companies & Safeway is doing in the community. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to join this incredible platform and to be a part of these important conversations. And yes it was a great way to start the week! I also want to express my gratitude to The Johns Hopkins University for providing the space and resources to host this competition and investing in these entrepreneurs. It is through initiatives like this that we can continue to support and uplift those who are making a difference in our communities. Congratulations to the winners of the Ward Infinity Pitch Competition, EightFold Farms DC LLC and Effective to Great Education. Your hard work and dedication to creating positive change in the District of Columbia is truly admirable. And Congratulations to Marissa McKeever, Esq. who has been using her superpowers to help uplift others, who will in turn change the world for good. I am honored to have been a part of this event and I am looking forward to seeing the impact these innovative solutions will have in our communities. Let's continue to support and uplift these visionary entrepreneurs as they work towards building a healthier and more equitable world. #WardInfinityPitch #TransformativeInnovation #HealthandWellness #UnderinvestedCommunities #InnovationInspiration

Great work to gBETA’s Social Impact Equity in Education Fall 2023 Alumna Effective to Great Education! Are you an early stage EdTech founder ready to grow your company this spring? Let’s chat! American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact

Our 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 this past Monday was a testament to the power of social entrepreneurship and community collaboration!   Eight teams of health-focused ventures from Wards 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia showcased innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the health and strength of our under-resourced communities. These teams dedicated five months to mastering social entrepreneurship design under the guidance of industry thought leaders nationwide.   A distinct panel of judges, representing various sectors including healthcare and technology, had the challenging task of selecting the winner for the Best Pitch prize. Congratulations to Effective to Great Education for winning the $25,000 prize for 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡, and to EightFold Farms DC LLC for winning the $10,000 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞, presented by Mario Acosta-Velez on behalf of Verizon!   Yet, every team deserves recognition for their remarkable contributions towards the development of Ward 7 and 8 in DC. This event wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of our teams, judges, speakers, sponsors, The Johns Hopkins University, instructors, coaches, mentors, partners, and the dedicated Ward Infinity team.    Together, we are building a healthier, more vibrant future for our communities. 🙌    ➡️Stay tuned to know more about our program!   #SocialEntrepreneurship #CommunityCollaboration #PitchCompetition #WardInfinity

Ready for a Mental Health Revolution in Education? 📚   At Ward Infinity The Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins Medicine, we are so ready for the impact of our final featured venture of this series, Effective to Great Education will continue to make in our community!   We are especially grateful for initiatives like Effective to Great Education that focus on enhancing #mentalhealth and #wellness technology solutions in our school communities.   Effective to Great Education is developing a transformative platform that is revolutionizing the way we approach mental health education in Wards 7 and 8 of Washington D.C. Their focus is not only on integrating social-emotional wellness and mental health solutions for students but also for educators and families. They are a movement towards a 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫, more 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 for the entire community!   Leading this transformative project is Founder Laura C. Thomas, MPA, PMP, a social impact technology leader. Alongside her, Dr. Sandra R. Jeter, Ph.D., LMSW, Mr. Jon Rolle, Mr. Raymond A. Weeden, Jr., and Dr. Nia West-Bey are each playing crucial roles in the launch of this initiative.    ➡️Join us for updates on the transformative impact ETGE will continue to have on our communities in the new year! #WardInfinity #MindfulnessLabsAI #ETGE #MentalHealthInEducation #CommunityWellbeing

Happy New Year! Our newsletter is changing in 2024. This version is to reflect on 2023 as we usher in the new year.