A Better Chance for Youth Futures Inc.
A Better Chance for Youth Futures Inc.
Podcast Description
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of mentorship, community impact, and educational empowerment, with episodes highlighting personal journeys and testimonials. Specific topics include social work, family legacies, and the inspiring stories of individuals like Manasseh Thornton and gospel legend Doug Toles, emphasizing leadership development and cultural identity.
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. “Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities.”
A teenager goes from years of homelessness to working hands-on in STEM labs and aircraft hangars, and she can explain every step that got her there. We sit down with Donna Lee Dawes from Point and Beach, Florida, a standout in the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipend contest, as she shares the story behind her decision to attend Morgan State University and major in coastal science and policy with a minor in computer science.
Donna reads her scholarship essay in full, reflecting on her Jamaican upbringing, her parents’ immigration journey, and the instability of moving between shelters, couches, cars, motels, and temporary housing. She doesn’t soften the hard parts, but she also names the moments that built her: a mother who spoke affirmations, “little adventures” that sparked a love of the natural world, and a choice in high school to chase opportunities that once felt out of reach.
We also dig into the practical path of building a real STEM career early: interning at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, leading at the Boeing Aerospace Science Academy as the first Black female choice program president and student director, earning awards, completing dual enrollment, and interning at Gulfstream Aerospace at 17. Finally, Donna explains how she plans to leave her mark at Morgan State by building community, creating programs for students with similar backgrounds, and mentoring the next generation of Black leaders in STEM, marine conservation, and environmental science.
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Disclaimer
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