Uncommon Schools’ Post

I was all set to wish you a happy Black History Month, but then something happened that completely flipped my perspective. I was mentioned by Rhiannon Gallagher as a "black futurist" in reference to a recent Variety article https://lnkd.in/exB2_uDn. Instead of dwelling on the past, it made me start thinking ahead about black futures. My daily mission is to get more black students and job seekers excited about designing the technologies of tomorrow and enriching the manufacturing workforce of the future. My goal is to inspire and equip the next generation of black innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders in fields like STEM. So this month, while we honor the struggles and achievements of the past, let's also envision the boundless potential of the future. The past is prologue, but the future is ours to write. This Black History | Black Futures Month, I feel energized about all we can accomplish. I hope you feel inspired too about the endless possibilities ahead. We stand on the shoulders of those before us, now let's reach for the skies! The key is opening doors for young people today. So that with hard work and opportunity, they can achieve things we can only imagine. The future belongs to those who prepare for it. And it's on us to make sure black youth are ready to make their mark. Black Futurists Mentioned In This Video: Dr. Onome Scott-Emuakpor - Hyphen Innovations Will Drewery - Diagon Courtney Tate - Ontime Quality Machining LLC

Black History Month Speaker! As we approach Black History Month, I am not only excited to celebrate and appreciate the amazing things that blacks have done in the world, but I still have dates available in February and would love to serve as a keynote speaker for your Black History Month Program next month! With so many things to share about when it comes to the accomplishments, success, impact, and excellence of blacks in the world, I have four signature programs for Black History Month that have been very impactful for students and professionals in years past. Those four signature programs are as follows: The Power of Black Excellence! – 5 Lessons of Success That We Can Learn from Black Excellence That Will Enable Us All To Thrive, Succeed, and Make A Positive Impact In Our Community, Nation, and World! Speak Black Man! – 4 Career and Leadership Lessons of Success from A Successful Black Man In America! A Call to Action! – Igniting The ‘Leadership Greatness’ Within Emerging Black Leaders To Make A Positive Impact In Their Community, Nation, and World! You Matter! – 4 Self-Care/Wellness Strategies That Will Strengthen, Re-Energize, Motivate, and Protect Black Leaders from Becoming Burnt Out Doing The Good Work For Our Community! To learn more about my style as a speaker, you can watch the virtual presentation that I did a couple of years ago for Black History Month entitled, "I am Because We Are". https://lnkd.in/eTCQ42G6

An afterschool program is the perfect space to engage students in Black History Month, where the meaning behind this month can come alive through art projects, special guest speakers and more. Here are a few creative ways to incorporate Black History Month into your programs: 🚀 Spotlight Sessions: Dedicate specific sessions to learn about and discuss achievements of Black leaders. Share stories, videos, and encourage open discussion among students. Need some inspiration? Check out this list of 50 Black Women in STEM you should know about. https://lnkd.in/eD8SZfGv 🚀 Interactive Workshops: Conduct hands-on workshops inspired by the contributions of Black leaders. From science experiments to coding challenges, make STEM education engaging and accessible. 🚀 Artistic Expression: Encourage artistic expression through projects that celebrate Black History Month. This could include creating drawings, writing essays about students' favorite trailblazers, or even trying their hand at poetry. 🚀 Guest Speakers: Invite Black leaders in various fields to speak with students and share their success stories firsthand.

👋🏿 Meet Kennedy Studdard, Director, MAIP Alumni & Education Programs. 🌟 A little known fact about me: I have a huge passion for food, cooking, and the culinary world. I've attended several food festivals and hope to get to more this year! Moreover, I'm hoping to start a garden 🌱 and grow my own produce starting this year. 🌟 Three words that sum up my experience in the industry: Memorable, Challenging, Impactful 🌟 Advice for my younger self: Your timing is YOUR timing, so bet on yourself the first time. Also everything will turn out just fine so trust the process! 🌟 What Black History Month means to me:  Black History Month is a celebration of culture, community, identity, creativity and joy. It's a month-long reminder of the pride and brilliance that comes with being Black. It's a reflection of our history, the good and the bad, and it encourages what's possible for the future. Black pride lives all year long. 🌟 How I would like the industry to recognize Black History Month: Honor and recognize those who embody this identity – elevate and raise them up; support, sponsor and provide access, resources and opportunities. This industry can do more, and it starts with inviting folks to the table (or letting them build their own and fully supporting that process). Invest in programs like 4A's Foundation MAIP and continue the commitment even after the summer ends – we can do so much more when unified! ✊🏿✨ #4AsBlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth

Full stop. *********************************** "When you hear that someone has become the first Black person to achieve a certain rank within a corporation, institution or the government in America please understand that, that person is not the first Black person who was actually capable of achieving that rank. That person was probably one of a few who were allowed to develop and deploy the requisite skills and accumulate the necessary experience to be elevated to that rank. Black achievement is not about Black people finally becoming capable of doing anything, it is about Black people having the opportunity and resources to develop and deploy the requisite capability and skill, and then being allowed to take on roles commensurate with those skills. Black achievement or lack there of, says more about the practices and culture of the company, organization, or institution than it does about the individual." Author – Shawn D. Rochester

As we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black innovators in education, we asked Dr. TJ McCray, Deputy Superintendent for Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin, how to highlight their contributions to education. "Black pioneers like Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington were instrumental in advocating for education for African Americans during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They established schools and colleges to provide educational opportunities for Black individuals. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks fought for equal access to education for all races, leading to landmark desegregation rulings like Brown v. Board of Education. Today, Black educators continue to make strides in education, becoming teachers, professors, administrators, and researchers who contribute to the advancement of educational practices and policies. Black inventors have made significant contributions to technology. For example, Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal, paving the way for modern traffic management systems. Lewis Latimer was key in developing the light bulb, working closely with Thomas Edison. Black pioneers have excelled in various STEM fields, contributing to innovation and technological advancements. Figures like Katherine Johnson, who worked for NASA and calculated trajectories for the Apollo missions, have made significant impacts." To ensure that the achievements of Black innovators and educators are recognized and celebrated, he says we must "advocate for policies and initiatives that support innovation in education and recognize the importance of innovative educators. Engage with policymakers and stakeholders to raise awareness about the impact of innovation on learning outcomes." #ISTEcommunity

Meet Gabrielle Palmer CAGS, NCSP, who works in human resources at BMC as an organizational development and effectiveness trainer. This Black History Month, Gabby shares more about her role, how her background influences her work and why she is #BMCproud this month. 💭 What is your role at BMC? 🗣 I train our staff on various non-clinical topics, including cultural responsiveness. This training helps employees provide exceptional care by knowing their patients (“cultural competence”) and checking their biases (“cultural humility”). We're proud to say that in four months, we’ve trained almost 5,000 people who work in areas like ambulatory, nursing, pharmacy, food and nutrition, and support services. As employees, it is our job to build bridges to meet our patients where they’re at, not the other way around. I feel that after cultural responsiveness training, our employees are more likely to stop and ask, ‘What assumptions am I making about this patient? And how have they affected the care I am providing?’ It feels so good to know that by changing just one person’s perspective, I can improve hundreds of patients’ experiences. 💭 How does your background influence your work? 🗣 My mom immigrated from Guyana when she was 17 and has worked in education her entire life. My dad is from Jamaica, and he started out as a special education teacher. So, the importance of education was always instilled in me. I think about how I can make our content as trustworthy and accessible as possible for everyone, particularly folks who come from BIPOC backgrounds. 💭 What does Black History Month mean to you? 🗣 For me, it’s about building that critical consciousness to learn and understand. It’s a time to focus on icons of our history and monumental shifts in perspectives and a chance to really listen to the stories, lessons, and experiences of Black Americans. There’s a lot of power in just being heard and seen and believed. I hope that we get to a point in the near future where our focus on Black history is not catapulted by traumatic events. I have hope that as a society we will get there. I think we've been inching closer and closer every day. Black History Month is a time for reflection and celebration of the incredible contributions made by Black people. Black history continues to shape BMC Health System’s ability to close health disparities through our innovative and equitable care.

Celebrating Black History Month: 29 Days of Inspiration 🌟 Hey everyone! Tomorrow, we kick off an incredible journey through Black History Month! 🎉✨ Get ready for 29 days of enlightenment, empowerment, and celebration as we embark on a meaningful exploration of Black history, culture, and contributions. Each day, we'll shine a spotlight on remarkable individuals, pivotal moments, and the rich tapestry of achievements that have shaped our world. 📚 Our content lineup includes: 1️⃣ Hidden Figures Revealed: Unearth the stories of unsung heroes whose groundbreaking contributions often went unnoticed. 2️⃣ Trailblazing Leaders: Explore the lives and legacies of influential Black leaders who paved the way for change in various fields. 3️⃣ Art and Expression: Dive into the vibrant world of Black art, literature, music, and creativity that has left an indelible mark on our global culture. 4️⃣ Sports and Athletics: Celebrate the dynamic world of sports, recognizing the achievements and contributions of athletes who have excelled in their respective fields, leaving an indelible mark on the world of athletics. 5️⃣ Innovators and Inventors: Discover the brilliant minds behind groundbreaking inventions and innovations that have shaped our modern world. Join us on this incredible journey of discovery and appreciation. Let's celebrate diverse achievements and foster a deeper understanding of the astonishing impact Black individuals have had throughout history. Don't miss out on a single day of inspiration! Follow us, engage with the content, and make this Black History Month a time of reflection, education, and celebration. Let's amplify Black voices and shine a light on the extraordinary contributions that have enriched our shared history.  #BlackHistoryMonth #CelebratingExcellence

Happy Black History Month! As a Black-owned company, we know that every month is Black History Month, but we like to go all out in February. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s dive into a crucial aspect of economic empowerment: Generational Wealth. Generational Wealth is not just about financial prosperity; it’s a testament to resilience, vision, and the enduring legacy of Black communities. During February, let’s leverage this month of reflection to understand, appreciate, and amplify the importance of building and preserving wealth across generations. What is Generational Wealth? From a textbook standpoint, it’s the accumulation of assets, resources, and financial stability passed down from generation to generation. For most of us, it is building and amassing assets to pass on to our children and family, and it can take the form of real estate, businesses, stocks, cash, etc. Let’s use this month not only to celebrate past achievements but also to actively engage in conversations that propel us toward a future of economic empowerment and financial well-being.