Magic Is Needed In The Classroom

Teaching is often referred to as a skill. One I can imagine needed to maneuver and mold the minds of many young impressionable children. The goal is to develop raw talent into critical thinkers as well as doers. Skill comes into play, especially, when you apply it to schools located in underserved communities where resources are scarce. The skill is to make something out of nothing, to reach beyond circumstance, to provide a safe, conducive haven for learning.

Some would say it's an art form. The art is in knowing how best to reach as many students possible in a given period of time. It's an art to hold the attention of students for more than five minutes. Not every teacher has mastered the artistry, they're mechanically following rules set up by others outside of the classroom. How can you make policy for people you don't come into contact with? I guess that's where the art comes in. The art is balancing the needs of students with the policies in place that herd them along but leave them less than anything resembling a full 360 degree education.

Christopher Emdin, in a Ted Talk, poses the challenge of how to create magic by enthralling and teaching students at the same time. While this sounds easy, putting it into motion is insurmountable for many; especially, when teachers are placed into environments they have no connection to. They miss out on certain nuances that create the fabric and pulse of the lives of their students. This pulse can be found in barbershops, churches, and street corners, and can be used as a key to transforming the classroom experience. This is where you find the key to making 'magic.'

Mr. Emdin eloquently explains what his idea of magic is and how it works in the classroom. He provides us a with an engaging presentation that I think you will find very interesting.

Take a look: http://bit.ly/1hszLxd

Birds Of A Feather.....

Introducing Kat.......

Kat has been an integral part of Project Brownstone from its inception. She's helped with fundraising, and also with our Silent Auction at the Annual Event in May 2014. She was able to bring very interestingly valuable items for auction. However, the contacts that she brought to the organization are priceless.

Her attention to detail and her skills for organizing provided us with an incredible Silent Auction that eclipsed anything I expected. We had people, literally, arguing over items. If that's any inclination to the pedigree she brought to the table, now you know!

Kat and I met in college many years ago. There are those people who you automatically click with and she is definitely one of them. She's been a cheerleader by encouraging me when I embarked on a career in fashion. She sort of 'taught me the ropes.'

Kat told me what to expect when I decided to go work in Europe. She saved me a lot of wasted time by schooling me on what I needed to know going into a competitive industry like modeling. Actually, prior to going she grilled me hard to make sure it was something that I really wanted to do. Now, that's a good friend!

Both of us left school in order to pursue our dreams. Kat went back to expand on hers. She went on to graduate from undergrad with honors, and then on to getting a masters in psychology. As usual in Kat fashion, she encouraged me to go back and finish what I started.

I'm grateful....without that, there would be no Project Brownstone!

Thank you, West Harlem Development Corporation!

Project Brownstone is extremely pleased to announce the receipt of grant funds for the Textbook Stipend Project from the West Harlem Development Corporation/Tides Foundation. The grant will enable us to expand on the Textbook Stipend Project. We will be able to double the number of participants by September 2015.

The Textbook Stipend Project provides much needed financial assistance to underserved students transitioning from high school to college. The stipends are in place to provide money for textbooks and supplies that will result in the matriculation of the participants. Students are required to build a relationship with the organization that will serve as the underpinnings to their initiation into this new area of education.

It is our desire to provide services for the parents that will show them how best to advocate for their children in the education process. Many of our participants are first generation college attendees. It is important to help them navigate this new environment in the pursuit of retention as well as completion.

We want the students to serve as advocates to increase the enrollment of students of color into college. By their participation they can share their experiences with their peers. By this, we want to motivate and take some of the mystery out of applying and attending college.

We are honored to receive this grant money from the West Harlem Development Corporation/Tides Foundation. It will help us to grow and service the West Harlem area better. For this, we are grateful for this partnership.

Thank you!

Catching Up With Gavin Ferguson

This past week Gavin Ferguson stopped by the office to give us an update on his progress. Gavin is one of our students participating with the Textbook Stipend Project. He is an electrical engineering major at the College of Staten Island. He's about to finish his first semester and wanted to discuss some of his future desires and plans.

Gavin did very well on all of his midterms except Spanish. He didn't fail it; he just doesn't feel confident about the exam. We talked about the best way for him to get the best grade possible in the class. He's going to investigate all of his options. I was so glad to hear him explore all of his options before pulling the trigger and possibly adversely affecting his GPA.

While Spanish is a core class, it's not the most important class he'll take in his career as a student. I advised him on what I thought he should do. That will remain to be seen, but I have an hunch that he'll do the right thing. We don't want him to get hung up and demoralized by subjects that do not edify his chosen major. This is where we step in as an organization and explore the best paths to take in order to reach the goals set forth.

Our job is to make sure he gets out of his college experience whatever he needs to place him in the right position once he graduates. When you see how Gavin's eyes light up when he speaks about the electrical engineering classes, you know we can not afford to put unnecessary obstacles in his way. So here's to making the best out of a not-so-great situation.

I know he'll do fine.....

Cheers Gavin!!

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

Introducing to you our hashtag #ProjectBrownstone campaign, and introducing you also to one of our lovely members Terry

Project Brownstone is excited to launch itself into unchartered territory - we are kicking off our #ProjectBrownstone campaign. What better way to reach the public than through a hashtag? Times have changed. Once upon a time, we only had the telephone and post available to us. It was time consuming and laborious to get the message to reach its intended targets. Now we have moved into another realm of communication using social media where hashtags can take your message far beyond what you thought possible.

Introducing #ProjectBrownstone

Project Brownstone wants to share its message with the world. We've enlisted the help of seven amazing women who support our organization. Each one brings a different perspective, and a richness that enhances our desire to empower and develop underserved youths. Our host campaigners range from every demographic. Their contribution is valuable as well as unique. Their diversity helps us to grow into the type of organization that can make a difference. We're hoping that you can see yourself in our efforts, and enrich yourself with these personal messages.

Introducing................Terry.

Terry comes to us from Harlem. She's an avid supporter of the organization. She's been with us since its inception and has witnessed our growth. When we approached her to participate in the campaign she got a little nervous. Mainly, because when someone points a camera at you and wants a profound quote, it's easy to choke. After the initial shock, Terry was able to give us a great quote that speaks to the privilege of having great health and the privilege of being able to work as a woman at any age.

Terry's message resonates with us because her brand of freedom and power speaks directly to empowerment. Little girls will be able to see themselves in this example. It exudes confidence and independence. It sends a strong message to kids that if they take care of themselves, they too will have many work-filled, healthy years ahead of them.

Thank you, Terry!

In Order To Make A Difference, You Have To Do Something!

Every day that I awake starts with the hope that there's something that can be done to make a difference in the world. The news is fraught with so many stories of disenfranchisement, abuse and hopelessness. It's overwhelming when you try to put it all into perspective. How do you explain what people are going through? What can we do to help?

Some people help tremendously by donating large amounts of money to nonprofit organizations. Money is always a salve in the pursuit of social justice. But what can people who don't have the funds or access do in the fight for social justice? It's hard to answer that question because what it looks like to some has no resemblance of what you might think it needs to be.

As a nation, we have become cause-weary. The information highway has provided enough misdeeds and injustices to last us for a lifetime. Every day comes with a new story, more hideous than the day before. It's like when your bank account is low and numerous bills come at the same time. Since the funds are limited, you have to contemplate deeply what shall I pay first?  That internal conversation can be so overwhelming that it renders you paralyzed. You do nothing.


For that reason, it's important to be proactive in the pursuit for change. Your version of helping can be the thing that makes the difference in the lives of many. We must do what we can, however big or small, to make a difference. Collectively, we can move mountains. No, we can't single-handedly change the world. But we can take the first step in making a change, a difference.

Rules of Writing

Every time I sit down to write an email or some kind of document, I consciously ignore some of the rules of writing. It's not that I want to completely ignore them but I need to double back when it's time to edit. I do this so I don't lose the precious morsels floating around in my brain. I can spew inspiration then go back to clean it up. Sometimes you lose your trend of thought when you engage too closely in particulars. Like anything else, what really matters is the final edit. By then, you pored over the document to add, take away or change any unwarranted punctuation, especially commas.

It's been quite some time since I sat in an English class. I actually enjoyed it until we had to write poems - that's another blog. My choice of major during undergrad was history. It's a major that requires a lot of writing and research. This is something I really enjoy doing, writing papers. I never had any real difficulty producing them. This can be attributed to having proper instruction during school.

There are many rules I can not tell you specifically; nonetheless, how to structure a sentence and convey thoughts has become second nature. It's not something I put too much energy into. However, there are many people who are easily intimidated by it. In fact, I had a friend in class that used to melt down every time we had to write a paper. She's well-spoken. She has no problem articulating clearly her thoughts but there's something that stops her dead in her tracks when she has to write something.

Luckily, I've come across a TED instructional video that can be of great assistance. It's a pity we didn't have this while we were in class. It instructs us how to best use commas. It also simplifies sentence structure and makes easy construction.

Mind you, it's not a semester of English class but it's a start that will hopefully take a bit of the panic out of writing. http://huff.to/1wAtfu7

When Subliminal Messages Are Loud And Clear

Are you sure you know what's in your children's textbooks? Do you prefer to leave that up to their schools? Or their teachers? What are the hidden messages in the materials your child has access to every day?

I recall certain images that struck me as odd when I was in grade school. A lot of that was at the hands of some of the more religious imagery used to indoctrinate us into said chosen religion.

Nevertheless, this has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with the impact some of the earliest imagery that I saw in school and elsewhere, and how it helped to inform and shape some of my views.

In hindsight, I realize that the use of certain images were just a non sequitur used to induce fear and control. Little did they know that there's no logic in fear. So graduating fearful, illogical children was more important than vetting the books for their subliminal messages.

By no means am I advocating a grand conspiracy...but wait, I am.

We're talking about the impressionable minds of our children. What gets put in their heads and spirits, ultimately, will be visited upon the earth. So if we can stem some of the more negative belief systems that are developed as a result of manipulative brainwash, we can save the planet!

So I implore all parents to flip through your children's textbooks to get an idea of what type of conditioning might be taking place. It only takes a few minutes.

Imagine what you can do with a group of parents concerned about the content in a book?

You can change things.....

Does the color of your teacher matter?

Just recently I read a very interesting article about the impact of teachers of color on children of color in the classroom. It forced me to think about the important role models I had growing up in New York City. My first experience with a teacher was, Mrs. Henson, a black kindergarten teacher. Of course, I do not remember specific details about her, but I do remember how familiar she felt to me. Leaving home to go to school for the first time was traumatic enough. It was comforting to have someone guide me that wasn't alien to my existence and had high expectations for us as students of color.

After kindergarten, I went to St. Clement Pope School. It was our parish school that was full of nuns. They were white women dedicated to God, who I would like to think had our best interests in mind. What I do recall was the heavy-handed discipline at the hands of these women that, at times, bordered on abuse. I was too young to understand the implications of their treatment but had a firsthand purview of the 'difference' in treatment of the few white students versus the black and Latino ones. Please take my word for it...that's another blog.

However, it was Mrs. Bryant and Mrs. Franklin who had the strongest impact on us. They were two black teachers that I can clearly recall the impact they had. I'm sure most kids in this predominantly black Catholic School have stories of high expectations and no-nonsense treatment from these women who were aware of the world we lived in. Nonetheless, they gave us something that no white teacher could - they instilled a passion for learning, the beauty of our skin color and history, and incorporated many cultural references that provided direction and guidance. Their expectations were that we reach the goals they set, exceed them, and do even better in society. The most impactful things was - if they could do it, so could we!

Eventually my mother and aunt taught at St. Clements. There's no need to elaborate on that - they gave us everything we needed in and out of the classroom.

Our children need examples of what they can attain. They need teachers that understand them as well as have the highest expectations of them. Our children need teachers that will go the extra lengths to assure that our children reach their highest potential. From my experience, I will always know what can be achieved because I saw it firsthand in school!!

Here's an article that quotes studies on this topic.  http://bit.ly/X02ssQ

Is It Wrong To Create Higher Expectations For Students Of Color?

I just came across an article that posed the idea that by raising the expectations of students they will do better in school. If you look at the biases that enter the classroom with many teachers in communities of color as well as areas of poverty, you have to wonder what the answer to this is.

I've heard stories for over twenty years of students of color who were discouraged and blocked from obtaining something their white counterparts have ready access to - opportunity. They were told to apply to trade schools so they could 'make a living' and told they were unrealistic when they spoke of attending college. This is by their guidance counselor! I even have a friend that is extremely intelligent and talented who was told because of his height and color that he should play basketball instead of applying to college. Go figure?!

What's worse is a lot of the teachers not only have low expectations for these students, they have NO expectations. Therein lies a big problem. It's important for them to address their biases way before they enter the classroom and adjust their mindset to fit the situation.  

What do we do about teachers that enter the classrooms with these biases? According to the article,  “Teachers do have these low expectations for these types of students, and we know that these expectations are important. So what can we do to give educators both the tools that they need and the kind of culture that they need to make sure that they can reach out to these students? That they can give these students higher expectations that also then help those students reach those higher expectations?”

This is the challenge.

Read the article here:
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/10/study_raising_expectations_actually_raises_students_grades.html

How Schools Kill Creativity

A while back, I came across one of the TED Talks by Ken Robinson. It was refreshing to watch because it upended all that we consider when seeking an education for our children. Childhood is probably the most creative part of our lives that, if harnessed properly, can change the trajectory of the world as we know it. How many closeted or frustrated creatives are meandering through life with a sense of dissatisfaction and malaise? The answer could be as simple as we didn't have the proper tools or framework to explore and cultivate our creative impulse.

This is not to say that schools that adhere to the state curriculum don't work; but it's an affront to the idea that one size fits all children. We've been moved into what I consider dangerous territory because we're presently given the one size fits all model in most schools. Teachers aren't allowed to explore the possibility that education needs to be tailored to the needs of children. Not the other way around where all children must tailor their scope to fit the needs of state exams.

You may wonder what can you do against a beast like the Department of Education. I honestly cannot tell you. But I think if parents come to the table with a better awareness of the needs of their children and their community, and articulate what they want, that's the first step. Subsequently, of course, it will take some organizing. However, we have to start somewhere.

We can take the first step by looking at this TED Talk with Ken Robinson called How Schools Kill Creativity (link provided below). It may provide the beginnings of something revolutionary in education. It can't hurt.

bit.ly/1xzYXdp

The Textbook Stipend Project Welcomes Faith Culpepper

Meet Faith Culpepper our newest addition to the Textbook Stipend Project. She is attending BMCC and has plans to transfer to the University of Delaware. She's majoring in Nursing. She hails from Harlem.

Faith came to our attention via her mother who was chatting about her youngest daughter starting college. She was talking about the prohibitive costs involved with college and looking for ways for Faith to maximize all opportunities available. Let's just say, it brought about a lot of stress.

Faith is outgoing and smart. She easily gets A's in her classes. But as I explained, getting A's indicates you follow direction well; however, being excellent means you exceed expectations. This is what we see for Faith - excellence.

Please feel free to welcome her! Here she is in her own words:

Please feel free to congratulate and encourage our students. We can help more students like Faith, by making a generous contribution to Project Brownstone's Textbook Stipend Project:
http://bit.ly/1pc2msM

Please remember, $5 can buy pens and pencils, $10 can buy notebooks and paper, no gift is too small….
Thank you!

Introducing 2014 Textbook Stipend Project Recipient Gavin Ferguson

We want to introduce to you our second student recipient of the Textbook Stipend Project, Gavin Ferguson. He came to us via a recommendation from a high school guidance counselor as someone who would benefit from the stipend. The counselor thought he was a great candidate based on his history of facing academic challenges head on. See, Gavin came to the US from Jamaica at an early age. He had to adapt to a new system, new schools, friends etc.

Gavin has done very well and now is on his way to being an electrical engineer. He's enrolled in the College of Staten Island. He balances school with work and sports. He plays soccer. It takes great discipline to manage all of the activities mentioned. This is what makes Gavin an attractive candidate. He has the moxie to complete his studies as well as the qualities we look for in students.

Gavin is somewhat reserved. But he shares a great quality with our other awardee, Dina Atwa; he's driven. This is the drive that will help to lead other students along the path to better futures. He's willing to accept the role of leader amongst his peers - we applaud that.

Here's what Gavin had to say about the Textbook Stipend Project:

Please feel free to congratulate and encourage our students. We can help more students like Gavin, by making a generous contribution to Project Brownstone's Textbook Stipend Project:
http://bit.ly/1pc2msM

Please remember, $5 can buy pens and pencils, $10 can buy notebooks and paper, no gift is too small….
Thank you!

Introducing 2014 Textbook Stipend Project Recipient Dina Atwa

Project Brownstone is extremely proud to introduce Dina Atwa as one of our recipients of the Textbook Stipend Project. She's an affable, intelligent young woman on her way to Suny Oneonta where she will major in Psychology.

Dina has that rare quality that we look for in students. She's a go-getter and does not take 'no' for an answer. She has big dreams for her future. She plans to etch out a career using her degree in Psychology as a springboard. She has already set in place an internship even before school started! So, it's evident why Project Brownstone is honored to have her as one of our first recipients of the Textbook Stipend Project.

The stipend will assist by providing funds for Dina and others to purchase textbooks and supplies for their courses. It is our goal to act as an advocate, guide, interventionists, or whatever we can do to make her academic journey a success.

Hear from Dina herself what the Textbook Stipend Project means to her:

We can help more students like Dina, by making a generous contribution to Project Brownstone's Textbook Stipend Project: http://bit.ly/1pc2msM

Please remember, $5 can buy pens and pencils, $10 can buy notebooks and paper, no gift is too small….

Project Brownstone Gallery Series

The mission of Project Brownstone is to find ways to empower underserved youths. Art plays an important role in the development and empowerment of children. We will host a collaboration with artist Noel Donaldson to add further context to the role of uplift through stories told through painting.

Noel was generous to donate artwork to the Annual event for the silent auction. His work caused a stir and a bidding war ensued. There were a few hurt feelings but what it did was inspire us to bring a more comprehensive collection of his work to the community.

What makes Noel's work important is that he documents the human experience from the perspective of Africans of the Diaspora. Now it's possible to adorn your homes with artworks that have relevance to the time and space we reside in giving historical context to it.

The Gallery Series will begin on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 at 3:00pm-8:00pm, and September 28 3:00pm-6:00pm at Project Brownstone 133 West 131st Street, New York, NY 10027.

A portion of the proceeds will go to support the ongoing work of Project Brownstone.

We hope to see you there!

Rules of Engagement - Textbook Stipend Project

People are starting to inquire about the the requirements to participate in Project Brownstone's Textbook Stipend Project. I think it's time to be a little more specific as to what we expect from our participants.

Some may find it strange that we're not necessarily looking for the straight 'A' student. We want the ones that stand out, the ones that have big ideas about their futures. We want students with leadership qualities. These qualities have a different way of showing other than with grades.

Here is a list of the requirements:
- must have parents' permission/participation
- maintain a full time caseload, 12 or more credits per semester
- proof of enrollment
- provide syllabi for all courses
- must maintain no less than a 2.5 GPA
- must check in regularly
- must participate in an end of semester discussion about challenges, successes etc.
- must develop a discussion group/workshop of peers to take place on breaks
- must develop relationship with faculty/staff advisor
- must attend Project Brownstone Annual event in May

Of course, students will have a more detailed list. This is to give you an idea of what it will take for them to benefit fully from this experience. The most important quality that has to emerge from this 4 year commitment, is that each student learns to think outside of the box. They need to learn how to take an idea and bring it to fruition.

So, big thinkers are welcomed!

Nominees for the Textbook Stipend Project

The Textbook Stipend Project

We're very happy to announce the nominees for the Textbook Stipend Project. This coming school year, September 2014, we will award these students with an opportunity to partner with Project Brownstone. We will act as advocate, advisor, interventionist and guide. Our goal is to establish a relationship with the students that will assist, not only in their transition from high school, but their whole college experience. This will enable us to achieve the longterm goals we set for each other.

Everyone should have expectations!

We expect our students to attend a four year college. We expect them to allow us to track their performance and correct whatever is necessary in order for them to succeed. We expect that they'll apply themselves to their studies and use the funds we provide them with to purchase the needed textbooks and supplies (i.e. notebooks, pens) that will ensure success. They're expected to provide their syllabi and exam schedules, and be open to being 'checked on' periodically, to make sure they're applying their studies. They have to be open to an ongoing conversation about their studies, their future, careers, ideas whatever we can do to motivate them.

The students can expect us to be there to guide them, to answer all questions, and point them in the right direction. They can expect an occasional conversation with their parents so that they can become active participants in their children's academic success. They can expect that, if they need help, they can get it. After four years of school, all of us will come to some conclusion about what to do to make a living and how to go about it. Above all, they can expect a lifetime of support from us.

We are very happy to nominate Dina Atwa of LaGuardia High School, and Gavin Ferguson of August Martin HS. Stay tuned to find out more about them….

Post-Award Benefit Interview With D. Carrie and Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright

D. Carrie speaks with the Assemblyman to get his insights into the meaning of the "Making A Difference" award, and what it means for the future. She also probed into what impact, if any, does he think Project Brownstone's efforts will have.

Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright was honored and awarded at Project Brownstone's 'Making A Difference' Award Benefit on May 23, 2014 at Faculty House at Columbia University. He was awarded for his work in conceiving the legislation that created the Amistad Commission. This, in turn, brought about the founding of the Amistad Watch.

The Amistad Watch, while based on this legislation, is a community response to the disconnect between youths, their history and community. Many don't feel like they're part of what we consider citizenry. Neither do they feel the connection to the past struggles that paved the way for their freedoms. This has resulted in a 'lost' generation that is in need of empowerment and development as well as esteem building.

Let's hear what the Assemblyman had to say: http://youtu.be/foNXMrDDJnA

Textbook Stipend Project - the beginning

The process of finding candidates for the Textbook Stipend Project is no easy undertaking. We discussed criteria, how to go about the mechanics of giving out financial awards to students. I knew it wasn't appropriate to just hand over cash, so the question of how to operate and administer this transaction proves daunting.

It's a special combination of qualities that make a great candidate for the Textbook Stipend Project. While academics play a role - just not the main focus- they don't solely determine our interest in a student. Grades are the obvious indicator to how well a student takes exams and does the work but that alone does not determine if they have the hutzpah, drive or desire to do anything beyond reporting to the office, 9-5, until retirement.

Creativity plays a more prominent role in my eyes because making it in the marketplace requires the ability to attack and carry out challenges, and to be able to think outside of the box, the ability to reinvent.  In other words, leadership ability far outdistances academic prowess. We can all be managers, but we all can't be leaders!

Once we identify the students, we'll create a database where we will chart the journey we'll take together. Systems have to be put in place to record and track activities pertaining to the student. We must be able to evaluate and take measures of the progress of the student as well as the program. However, systems cannot measure the impact of face-to-face interaction or the channel of communication set in place. So the relationship component dictates the success of the project.

Once we make our choice of students we will make sure you're the first to know!

We will keep you posted.

Adding music to the mix...

There is no set way to educate children. Recently, I saw a segment of the TED series on Revolutionizing Education. While informative, it supports what we thought all along - not every child is hardwired for school. To be more specific, not every child thrives using the curriculum models set forth by Education Departments, nationally.

All children need direction but it's necessary to find more innovative ways to reach them. We have to be willing to revolutionize their experience by tapping into their talents. Passion and talent can provide the drive necessary to make it in a more competitive environment. That is why Project Brownstone is introducing its music program.

Our program is designed to take a 'theme' song for the organization, record it, and ultimately perform it. However, our goal is to involve area school kids in all processes from writing, recording to marketing music. It's designed to expose children to all aspects of the music industry giving them the necessary information to make a knowledgeable choice of a career in music....or whatever they choose.

Exposure will help each child to explore the avenues available in the pursuit of a career. We will film the process that will result in a documentary. This documentary will be a blueprint for future programs involving the arts.

More details to come....

Life After The 2014 Awards Benefit

The week after the 1st Annual Project Brownstone 'Making A Difference' Award Benefit has come and gone with new developments. The event turned out to be a great success. We recognized NYS Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright. His contribution of the legislation that created the Amistad Commission, in 2005, has made a big difference for our community as well as the organization.

The creation of the Amistad Commission, by way of Wright's legislation, has provided an opportunity for us to realize our goal of incorporating the African American experience into the curriculum of the New York State public schools. While this lends an overall direction for us, the benefit has shown us just how palpable the need is and further motivates us to do this work.

The elation lasts for some time; however, it's time to get back to work and stay on target of our goals. We've seen some success in partnering with the NY Department of Education and have managed to successfully have our notes to the framework incorporated and adopted by the NY Board of Regents. So, with great pride we were able to make this assertion at our benefit giving us all something to celebrate.

While, a beginning, much work is still necessary. Upward and onward....

Check us out:

Please support our fundraising, by visiting: https://fundly.com/amistad-watch-program-liaison

Our First Program Fundraising

This campaign is to find the funding necessary to hire a liaison between the public and Amistad Watch, which is a program of Project Brownstone. Project Brownstone works with the Amistad Commission, which is mandated to integrate and implement the African American experience into the curriculum of the public schools of New York.

The Amistad Commission was created in 2005, based on legislation, New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law, Article 57B (57.51-57.54) Amistad Commission, Bill A6362, by Assemblymen Keith L. T. Wright and Tom Alfano.

Our organization has been challenged with trying to find a non-paid intern to serve in the position of liaison the public and our outside partners. This funding will enable us to hire someone who is qualified and passionate about this project.

Please support our fundraising, by visiting: https://fundly.com/amistad-watch-program-liaison

Welcome!