February 2023 Updates
In the month of February, we had some very exciting updates and adventures across the Foundation. The month started off with some wonderful site visits down South, touching base with our Empowering the Future vertical and our HGB team visiting our BridgeUP: STEM and BridgeUP: Giddy UP programs!
Our first stop was to the campus of Georgia Tech, located in Atlanta, Georgia. We first met with administration from both our strategic partners, the National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) and Georgia Tech. These two institutions partnered together, co-operate our BridgeUP: STEM program. Both a cohort of Helen Fellows as well as a cohort of high school students meet at the GT School of Computing’s building for their weekly meetings and lessons. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet with the Helen Fellows, who are in their undergraduate career, and shared with us about their interests and passions in computing in college and their post-graduation plans. They all had varying passions and lanes they wanted to pursue paired with their skills in computing. The intersection of computing and reproductive health was one example of the disruptive innovation that these students are interested in! We also met with the high school students while they sat in on a lesson from the Fellows and their lead GT professor guiding them through their current research internships. They are all gaining such great exposure to the field at an early age, broadening the horizons of what they want to do in the future!
In Collierville, Tennessee, just outside of Memphis, the rain cleared up in time for the HGB team to meet McKrell and Christian Baier on their gorgeous farm, Southern Blues Equestrian Center. The entire BridgeUP: Giddy UP team is so clearly passionate and dedicated to providing these students with an enriching and educational experience. The students arrived at the farm after school, transported by a bus, and immediately jumped into their riding routines. Along with riding of course, education is really at the forefront of BridgeUP: Giddy UP’s mission and values. It is split 50/50 between riding,equine care, and personal Scholar health. The kids love all aspects which is a testament to their true care for the animals. The students are able to enjoy cleaning stables and wiping boots because they have love for the animals, the environment, and the community they make up. All these aspects make for a successful and well-loved program.
In our Empowering Women vertical, a BOLD Scholar from the University of Rutgers-Newark, Katherine C., was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society was founded in 1911 and was one of the first discipline-specific honor societies. Its membership is limited to the top 20 percent of those entering the field of education. Congratulations to Katherine, what an amazing accomplishment!
On February 1st, BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle Cohort members, Northern Stage & The Ensemble Theatre, hosted a special virtual talkback event exploring the experiences and artistry of Black Women Creators in American Theater, featuring four Black female artists as guest speakers. It was a wonderful evening of collaborative artmaking, and a celebration of these artists and their beautiful new works! A link to the event recording can be found on Youtube! The event was moderated by Carol Dunne, Northern Stage’s Producing Artistic Director, and featured playwright Celeste Jennings, director Abigail Jean-Baptiste, actor/playwright Crystal Rae, and Eileen Morris, Artistic Director of Houston’s Ensemble Theater.
Within our Empowering Innovation vertical, Immigrant Justice Corps celebrated their 9th Anniversary on the 14th of February, marking almost a decade of changing and growing the next generation of immigration advocates. It was launched in 2014, originally recruiting 25 lawyers and 10 advocates to defend immigrants’ rights. All 25 of those original lawyers are still working in the immigration field 9 years later. Congrats to IJC on an impressive milestone!
We are very excited for what is in store in March, check back for more updates then!