Brown University's Inman Page Black Alumni Council (IPC)

Editorials

Shades of Brown Reunites to Give Back by Anniedi Essien '02

May 11, 2010

On April 10, 2010, Shades of Brown alumni reunited to host “Lift Every Voice,” a benefit concert dedicated to recovery efforts in Haiti. Organized by Anniedi Essien ‘02, the Shades concert featured the a cappella group accompanied by a live band and a special performance by founding member and Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Gordon Chambers ’90. The event, held at Zorzi NYC, was sponsored by the Brown University Multicultural Alumni Committee and the NYU Stern Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association and also promoted through the Brown University Office of the President as well as local affinity groups including Inman Page NY and the Brown Club of NY. Over 150 Brown alumni and friends came out to support the show and volunteer their talents for a worthy cause. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Partners in Health Stand with Haiti Fund.

Ms. Essien opened the evening with a touching tribute to the earthquake survivors who, having lost the most important people in their lives, could be seen walking through the streets of Port-au-Prince singing. "If they could sing," she said, "then surely I can, too." She was joined onstage by the Shades group she formerly directed [see complete listing of vocalists below] to perform a set featuring soulful jams, old-school hits and beautiful harmonies. Backing the vocalists, the Shades band members, Dan Edinberg ‘03, Graham Norwood’03, Eugene Song ‘02, Nick Panosevich and Paul Stivitts, struck an R&B groove that brought the crowd swaying to its feet. Later on in the show, Mr. Chambers performed songs from his album, “Love Stories,” and capped the set off with a performance of "If You Love Me," his hit single popularized by Brownstone. Mr. Chambers has written hit songs for many leading artists, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Beyonce.

With ticket sales, a raffle, matching funds donations, and a tremendous outpouring of support from the Brown community, the Haiti benefit concert raised over $2,500 for Partners in Health. Headquartered in Boston, MA PIH collaborates with Harvard Medical School to improve the quality of health services delivered to the poorest communities around the world. PIH has been working in Haiti for over 20 years and the international development organization was co-founded by Brown alumni, Jim Yong Kim ’82, the current president of Dartmouth College. A recording of the benefit concert will soon be made available via YouTube.

To get involved, visit: http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/LiftEveryVoice.

A warm thanks from the Shades of Brown Alumni Vocalists:

Eldridge Brown ‘02

Anniedi Essien ‘02

Gordon Chambers ‘90

Robin Dupree ‘03

Diarra Guthrie ‘06

Brittany Harris ‘08

R. Jefferson Joseph ’02

Gabriel Marquez ‘01

Anup Mehta ‘01

Jolene McAuley ‘96

Risa Puno ‘04

Jessica Reid-Adam ‘99

Jamal Shipman ‘07

Allison Watson ‘09

Quentin Youmans ‘09

Zachary Youngerman ‘05

Developing the Next Generation of Physicians and Scientists by Judith Sanford-Harris '74, PhD

May 11, 2010

We knew each other at Brown but from 2003-2006, Joan Y. Reede, Sc.B.’76, MD, MBA, MPH, was my boss. I was, and still am, awed by all she has done and still does to bring students of color into the biomedical sciences pipeline. Joan gives and gives, and when she’s not shepherding her many programs, she spends every waking moment convincing others to give. She is Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School, and founded the Biomedical Science Careers Program, Inc. (BSCP) in 1991. BSCP was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1994; Joan is president and CEO.

BSCP has one goal: to increase the representation of underrepresented minorities in the sciences. Since its inception, more than 6,900 minority students and 1,100 postdoctoral trainees and junior faculty members have participated in BSCP programs. All programs are free to student participants.

BSCP identifies supports and provides mentoring for academically outstanding students from middle school to postdoctoral level, particularly African-American, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native students. The organization helps improve communication among physicians/scientists and students at varying stages in their career development.

BSCP is completely community supported. Thanks to its sponsors, including area hospitals and research organizations, and an annual fundraising dinner, BSCP offers the biennial BSCP Student Conference with over 1000 registered students/fellows and 250 advisors/speakers. The conference is designed for students from high school to postdoctoral level to address the need for student mentoring, guidance, support and career development. Physicians and researchers volunteer to serve as mentors during the conference, with many mentoring relationships extending into students’ professional careers.

New England Science Symposium is an annual symposium for over 175 postdoctoral fellows, medical, dental and graduate students, post-baccalaureates, and college students. At this symposium students have the opportunity to present their research projects through oral or poster presentations to a registered audience of over 350.

An annual Career Development Series Conference provides networking opportunities, skills enhancement and tools for career advancement for approximately 100 physicians in postdoctoral training, junior faculty and fellows.

The biennial Skills Workshops, for over 350 high school and college students and 100 parents, provides information and guidance in areas such as the application process for college and medical/graduate/professional schools, interviewing skills, financial planning, resume writing and internship opportunities.

Explorations, an annual program for approximately 400 Boston and Cambridge middle school students, expose them to research laboratories, science career paths and discussions about the importance of academic preparation.

Expanding Horizons seminars and conferences, focusing on emerging and expanding areas of employment related to biomedical sciences.

In Touch With BSCP, a newsletter distributed to 8,400 students, advisors, teachers, guidance counselors, administrators and community organizers.

The New England Resource Directory, online and in print, providing information about outreach efforts, internships and science-related programs at New England institutions, hospitals, biomedical and biotechnology organizations.

Hope Scholarships, funded through annual corporate and foundation sponsorships, awards $7,500 to BSCP high school, community college, college, medical and graduate students who are active in BSCP programs.

BSCP Linkage Program, connecting BSCP students in need of advice and/or assistance with BSCP Hope Scholarship recipients and the BSCP Alumni Council.

Students join and return again and again – and some come back as advisors. To date, there are over 1000 faculty members and professionals (including a number of IPC members), have volunteered their time and expertise in support of BSCP students. In recognition of Joan’s pioneering work through BSCP and more than a dozen other programs she has created, she was elected as a member in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in 2010.

Youth Day

Building Youth Leaders by Iman Tyson '96

May 11, 2010

Iman Tyson ’96 is the Board President at Facilitating Leadership in Youth (FLY). For the past 4 years, he has worked with the FLY Board of Directors to lead an organization that is truly making an impact in the lives of youth.

FLY is a vibrant, community-based nonprofit which provides vital youth services to one of Washington DC's most neglected neighborhoods. FLY serves 29 youth (7-18 years old) primarily from the public housing community called Barry Farm in Southeast DC. In a community like Barry Farm, in which more than half of the heads of households are listed as unemployed, the median income is $14,000, the high school graduation rate is less than 30%, and the crime rate is one of DC’s highest, the need for long-term youth support has never been more evident

Their mission is to support youth east of the Anacostia River in achieving their academic goals, developing their artistic talents, and expanding their leadership roles. Since our incorporation as a 501(c)3 in 2002, FLY’s program has been designed to engage students in free, year-round activities starting in late elementary or middle school, and continuing for 6–12 years, through the first years of their post-secondary education. FLY takes a unique, long-term, youth-led approach of matching students with volunteer mentors who provide after-school one-on-one tutoring/mentoring in a safe location, and empowering these students to be leaders and advocates. As part of its programming, FLY monitors and supports the academic performance of its youth through educational advocacy and college preparation activities. FLY also expands the horizons of its youth through field trips throughout the DC area. FLY promotes leadership development for its older youth through young men’s and women’s programming. A youth leadership council that elects members to FLY’s Board also provides outreach activities that support leadership development. FLY also extends its support for youth year-round, by providing a Summer Camp for its younger youth in which some older youth participate as counselors. Summer internships and other programs are provided for older youth.

Since 2002, FLY has helped over 70 youth in Barry Farm to reach their academic goals. This includes all 13 of FLY’s high school graduates, who are currently attending college with scholarships. FLY has provided youth-led, direct services to over 200 youth in underserved areas of DC through FLY’s Youth Council, whose members reach out to their peers and provide workshops and trainings. Last year’s accomplishments include:

6 out of 7 high school students graduated from high school in 2009
In 2009, over $500,000 in scholarships were awarded to FLY youth
3 FLY youth were winners of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ‘DC Achievers Scholarships’ (another youth was awarded the DC Achievers Scholarship in Feb 2010!)
4 FLY youth were winners of The Children’s Defense Fund ‘Beat the Odds’ Program
Younger youth advancements to the next grade for School Year 2008-2009 was 100%
FLY provided youth with 15 weekly volunteer tutors and mentors, 12 instructors & camp counselors, 3 interns and 2 staff

FLY continues to help the youth in underserved communities beat the odds and achieve their goals.

Spotlight on HIV/AIDS Prevention for Young People by Kezia Ellison '05

May 11, 2010

When Kezia L. Ellison, Class of 2005, learned that some companies in African countries were hiring two people for one job because of the likelihood that one would die with AIDS, she was appalled. She recognized that unlike the world of professional theater, it is impossible to hire an "understudy" to replace another person's life. While serving as a Pennsylvania Delegate to the National Summit on Africa in February 2000, she became determined to do something about HIV/AIDS in her community.

In 2001, Kezia launched the Educating Teens about HIV/AIDS project as a senior in high school with the motto: "HIV/AIDS is 100% preventable." Originally part of a Service Learning Project for the 2000 Pennsylvania Governor's School of Excellence for Health Care, Educating Teens about HIV/AIDS, Inc. (ETAH) is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in its tenth year. ETAH has reached more than 6,000 students, and comments such as "Our whole school should come to this next year!" and "I'm never having sex again!" suggest that the project is having an impact.

At Kezia's request, in 2001 the Pittsburgh City Council proclaimed the month of March "Educating Teens about HIV/AIDS Month," and the Allegheny County Council echoed the proclamation a year later. Educating Teens about HIV/AIDS Month highlights the need for educating pre-teens, teens, and young adults about HIV/AIDS, and calls attention to how the HIV/AIDS epidemic is affecting youth. In collaboration with other community organizations such as schools and houses of worship, ETAH encourages and supports program planning for educating teens about HIV/AIDS during the month of March, and throughout the year. In March 2005, the program was expanded statewide, and Awareness Days were held in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.

As Founder and President, Kezia is committed to reducing the number of new HIV infections in youth. Half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. occur in youth ages 15-24 and African-Americans make up half of all new infections in 13-29 year olds. Kezia also works to decrease the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS, which is still a barrier to prevention. Her organization works to address the factors that lead to youth engaging in risky behaviors, including self-esteem, drug & alcohol abuse, economic difficulties, and unhealthy relationships. ETAH is committed to a comprehensive approach that addresses all facets of the youth experience. Teen HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is the Project’s activity that brings prevention experts and students together to dialogue and participate in various activities, including art, to learn of ways to protect themselves from HIV infection. As teenagers learn about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, they are given tools to make informed decisions about how to protect themselves and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Kezia hopes to expand her organization nationwide, and is seeking grants and other sources of funding to roll out two new programs, Project Hopes & Dreams and Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Girls. She hopes to launch these programs by 2011, so that the need for "understudies" is once again exclusive to world of theater.

Playing Cash Flow to learn financial literacy

Nsoromma’s Shining Stars by Madge Gill Willis '73

May 11, 2010

It began with two newly acquainted parents chatting about their young daughters and preschooling experiences, and one happened to mention something she did “while at Brown.”

“Did you say you went to Brown? I did, too!”

Folami Prescott-Adams ’82 and Madge Gill Willis ’73 soon learned that they had a great deal more in common. They also had similar educational philosophies (stimulated in part by education courses at Brown) and a vision of a school centered around academic excellence, character development and cultural connections. Three years later they became two of the co-founders of the Nsoromma School, Inc. Nsoromma’s mission is to create educational programs in a rigorous yet nurturing environment that emphasizes African and African American culture and history. Since its incorporation in 1992 as a 501(c)(3) organization, Nsoromma has offered Saturday enrichment programs, summer camps, a full-time K-8 school, professional development for educators, and parenting seminars to the metro Atlanta area.

Nsoromma is a star-shaped adinkra symbol from the Akan people of Ghana and is translated as "children of the sky" or "children of God". Nsoromma teachers say, “Our children are stars with the potential to illuminate the universe as they develop their unique talents and gifts.”

Several other Brown alumni soon became involved in Nsoromma’s leadership: Dan Willis ’74 (President, Board of Directors), Idorenyin Jamar ’69, Ph.D. ’77 (Board member), and Juarlyn Gaiter, Ph.D. ’74 ((Advisory Council). Also, one of Nsoromma’s graduates was just accepted to Brown!

Some of Nsoromma’s successes include:

* Future Cities Engineering Competition (2006, 2007) -- Middle schoolers won first place in the region in manufacturing design, research paper, and presentation areas. Several team members are now pursuing engineering and architecture careers!

* Study tour to Ghana -- 26 students and teachers celebrated Ghana’s 50th independence anniversary and donated hundreds of books about African American history to two schools to help fill the gaps in the Ghanaian students’ knowledge of the history of Africans in America.

* Nsoromma Youth Entrepreneurs -- Elementary through high schoolers develop their own businesses, create and sell Nsoromma’s unique fabric flowers, analyze and plan how they can meet their community’s service and product needs (and not just their individual monetary goals), work with local businesses, and develop financial literacy.

* SAT preparation courses – Effectiveness is enhanced by addressing the psychology of test-taking for African American students. One student has progressed to become a National Achievement Scholar, another will be named a Semi-Finalist shortly, and more successes are in the pipeline.

What stars will be shining in the future of Nsoromma? This economically-diverse, tuition-based school was impacted by the country’s economic situation. In 2007 Nsoromma’s Board decided to put the full-time school on hiatus and focus on Saturday and summer enrichment programs for the short-term. However, plans are underway to re-open the full-time school by 2012. There are many more stars waiting out there to learn to shine their brightest and Nsoromma will continue to support their development with the help of Brown alumni!