BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTEMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE

MONDAY, FEB. 15TH, 201610:00AM – 4:30PM

ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITYD’ANGELO CENTER 416 ABC

RISE2LEADREACH HIGHER: TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR DREAMS

LEARNING OUTCOMES:1. Introduce avenues of engagement and success to Black and Latino students.

2. Prepare Black and Latino college bound students for success in college.

3. Promote leadership development for Black and Latino students through networking and mentorship.

PURPOSE:The theme, “Reach Higher: Take Charge of Your Dreams” addresses how Black and Latino student retention in higher ed-ucation is the single most important solution to many civil rights issues. The RISE2LEAD Conference aims to empower young men and women of color to maximize their potential and inspire meaningful change for justice and equality.

We will bring together a diverse group of successful Black and Latino high school and college students, administrators, alumni and faculty to discuss challenges that Black and Latino students face in today’s society and educate, inspire, and encourage men and women of color to reflect on their own goals and build on their leadership.

CONFERENCE AGENDA:

10:00AM-10:30AM Check In/Continental Breakfast

10:30AM-10:35AM Welcome

10:35AM-10:55AM Energizer

11:00AM-11:15AM Opening Keynote Speaker - Karim Abouelnaga

11:20AM-11:50AM Panel Discussion:

Shawn Best - Assistant Director of CUNY Black Male Initiatives,

David Kirkland - Director of NYU Metro Center,

Jomaira Martinez - Director of Youth Empowerment Services at Goodwill Industries

Collin Craig - Assistant Professor of English, St. John’s University & Coordinator, Brothers For Excellence, Hunter College

Moderator: Vaughn Edmeade - Pastor/Author/ Entrepreneur

11:50AM-12:05PM Questions & Answers

12:15PM-1:10PM Concurrent Workshops/Sessions

1:10PM-2:10PM Lunch & Learn

2:10PM-3:05PM Concurrent Workshops/Sessions

3:15PM-4:15PM Mentorship Mixer

4:15PM-4:25PM Closing Remarks & Evaluations

Karim Abouelnaga, Founder & CEO, Practice Makes Perfect Karim is the founder & CEO of Practice Makes Perfect, which he founded at 18 while still a college student. He is the product of under-resourced New York City public schools, but benefited from mentors who helped lift him out of his neighborhood into Cornell University, where he received over $300,000 in scholar-ships and aid to make his college education possible. He founded the organization to “pay it forward,” to help students with a background similar to his who didn’t have the opportunities he had. 

For his work with Practice Makes Perfect, Karim has been featured in the New York Times and awarded several distinctions, including the Echoing Green Fellowship, Rob-inson Appel Humanitarian Award, Newman Civic Fellowship, Pearson Prize National Fellowship, Cornell’s Distinguished Leadership Award, the Cornell Class of 1964 John F. Kennedy Memorial Award, and recently named to Forbes 30 under 30 in Education. He is a Global Shaper through the World Econom-ic Forum and is a frequent contrib-utor to Entrepreneur and writes on the topics of education, millennials and entrepreneurship. 

Karim is a first-generation college graduate who finished in the top 10% of his class at Cornell Univer-sity’s School of Hotel Administration in 2013. As a student he served

as a student assistant to the Dean, a Hunter Rawlings III Presidential Research Scholar and a Presidential Fellow through the Center for the Study of Presidency & Congress. Karim serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell University for the 2015 – 2016 academic year.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:KARIM ABOUELNAGA

1. #GOALSAlexa Achille, Alumnus at St. John’s UniversityD’Angelo Center – 401 • Vision & Goal Setting – ALLThey don’t want you to be successful, but you’re going to be successful. The true key to your success is having #Goals. This session will teach attendees how to not only create goals but cre-ate a road map to achieving them through discussion and creative activity.

2. IMPOSSIBLEYanil Nuñez, Planning & Administration Assistant at Columbia Uni-versity & Lambda Theta Alpha Delta Kappa Chapter at St. John’s UniversityD’Angelo Center – 406

• Career Development, Confidence/ Resilience Building, Positive Psychology – ALL

With so many statistics disabling the faith Black & Latino students have for themselves, this program is designed to encourage each of them to find their internal motivation and create a positive dia-logue with it to achieve success.

3. KEYNOTE SPEAKER QUESTION & ANSWER SESSIONKarim Abouelnaga, CEO of Practice Makes PerfectD’Angelo Center – 407 • Entrepreneurship – ALLKarim Abouelnaga is an ivy-league educated, inner-city public school graduate. He received over $300,000 in scholarships to

12:15pm-1:10pm1st Reach Higher Session

make his education at Cornell University possible. He is the founder of Practice Makes Perfect, writes for Entrepreneur, is an Echoing Green Fellow, Global Shaper, and at 23 was named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in Education. If you enjoyed his keynote speech then this session will be a great opportunity for you to ask him questions about his path to success.

4. MEN & MANHOODLeonard Breton, Associate Director of Greek life at St. John’s Uni-versity, Terence Tillman, Job Developer/Job Readiness Trainer at NADAP

D’Angelo Center – 408

• Men & Masculinity - ALL

This presentation provides an overview of societal perceptions and definitions of manhood in America. In particular, the presentation will challenge stereotypes and social norms that continue to negatively impact the proper development of young men and what it means to be a man. Together, attendees will discuss ways to reverse poor practices and make positive changes through personal commit-ments to themselves, each other and the community at-large.

5. PRETTY ON FLEEKNatalie Muñoz, Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs at St. John’s University

Jomaira Martinez, Director of Special Projects at Goodwill Industries

D’Angelo Center – 409

• Women & Femininity – ALL

As women of color self- esteem has a huge impact on the choices that we make, the friends that we associate with, our college experi-ence, the jobs that we apply for, the partners that we choose to love, and how we treat our children. This workshop aims to reframe our

definitions of beauty as women of color despite what the media tells us about our skin color, body type, and hair.

6. WHO AM I? Jorge Alguera, Program Coordinator for Project ExCEL at the Aca-demic Advising Center at Queens College

Esteban Acosta, Vice President of Phi Iota Alpha, Fraternity Inc. at St. John’s University

D’Angelo Center – 410

• Confidence/ Resilience Building – Cultural Identity - ALL

At a time where enrollment in an academic institution is critical for financial stability, Black and Latino students should understand the meaning and functionality of culture. Black and Latino students need to gain insight as to how culture impacts value systems, atti-tudes, goals and achievements and how that understanding can be applied to their academic career, as well as their post-secondary life. This session will focus on celebrating Black and Latino identity.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY JASMINE MANSJasmine Mans, is an author, performer, poet, teacher but more importantly an artist...an artist who enjoys having various forums to express her thoughts, moods, opinions and a voice to speak out on behalf of others and the community around her. A recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison (2014), Jas-mine received her BA in African-American Studies (Black Theory & Literature) and is the recipient of the Star Ledger – NJPAC; Arts Millennia; and (New York) Knicks Poetry Slam Scholarships and other awards.

2nd Reach Higher Session2:10pm-3:05pm

7. DESIGN THINKING AND YOUJames Vanié, Graduate Student at the School of Visual Arts (Interaction Design), Shaton Winston Senior Copywriter at IBM

D’Angelo Center – 401

• Resilience Building – Vision & Goal Setting – College Only

A new business strategy called “design thinking” has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, designers, consultants, and engineers solve large-scale problems, develop new products, and start businesses. Design thinking is normally applied to business and social innovation to meet a consumer need. Ultimately, it helps identify the obstacles that block a person from achieving their goals, and it can help reframe problems to make them easi-er to solve.

8. SUCCESS IS INTENTIONAL: LIVING ON PURPOSE WITH PURPOSEVaughn Edmeade, Owner & Founder of Coach Vaughn Edutainment (Aver-age is Failure)

D’Angelo Center – 406

• Spiritual Development/ Vision & Goal Setting - ALL

When we see the breakdown of the family structure, the lack of financial competence, continuing education challenges, and a disregard for life with-in our urban communities, we know that there is an urgent need for Blacks and Latinos to be intentional about identifying and then living with purpose and a spiritual center. This workshop will include peer to peer interaction, insightful real life experiences and Q&A in order to give attendees tools and resources that will help to give them an educational and vocational target while providing them spiritual tips to remain balanced. Students will be challenged to identify their definitions of success and compare it to God’s definition of success.  The discussion will include basic steps to achieving God success and not merely good success.

9. PUBLIC SPEAKING WITH JASMINE MANSD’Angelo Center – 407

• Public Speaking, Spoken Word, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Confidence Building – ALL

If you enjoyed her performance then you will definitely enjoy her Stage Curriculum. Jasmine provides movement and speaking techniques to enhance students’ everyday Public Speaking and Spoken Word performance skills.

10. TURNING CRITICISM TO GREATNESS FEATURING STEPH CURRYLenny Williams, Dean School of Business at New Jersey City University

D’Angelo Center – 408

• Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Branding, Social Media, Confidence/ Resilience Building – ALL

During the 2014-2015 NBA season the Warriors ran off an amazing season. The season concluded with a championship banner being raised above the rafters. They weren’t his best performances, but Steph Curry played a huge part in winning the championship. Back in 2007 I told my barber to hit channel 2 for a Davidson game. The barbershop laughed at me, but in all honesty they didn’t know Steph Curry just yet. Earlier, I had watched this guy shoot lights out against a Michigan team that had bonafied NBA prospects. Like Steph, you never know who is watching you from the start. Let’s fast forward, Stephen Curry is having an amazing season leading his warriors team to a 19-0 record thus far this season. As a student, sometimes your greatness may be lost in criticism, better yet lost through self-doubt or lack of leadership. True greatness and leadership requires one to fight through and overcome adversity at all costs. Stephen Curry is now an NBA MVP and Champion. So with the help of my man Steph Curry, I will teach you how to find the greatness within you despite any odds.

11. WHY GET INVOLVED?Malcolm McDaniel, Graduate Student at Hofstra University

D’Angelo Center – 409

• Leadership, Career Development – ALL

Did you know that students who are involved devote more time and energy to academics, spend more time on campus, participate actively in student organizations, and have more positive interactions with faculty and staff? This session will explore why you should be involved in extracurricular activities, how you can get involved during your academic career, and how your involvement will benefit your future.

12. HOW TO GET S.T.A.C.K.S! (Strategies to Afford College, Knowledge, and Success)Xavier Vazquez, Graduate Assistant at Gear Up, Jessica Ortiz, Graduate Assistant at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, John Black, Homeland Security Major at St. John’s University

D’Angelo Center – 410

• Scholarships/Financing College – 8th Grade-12th Grade

This workshop will help students gain a solid grasp on financial strat-egies that they can utilize to help them eliminate any financial chal-lenges towards successfully pursuing a college degree. Students will learn about the different resources that are available to them, such as scholarships, grants, and other collegiate assistance programs. Stu-dents will ultimately learn how to take advantage of these resources so that they are prepared and confident when applying for colleges.

SPECIAL THANKS:Multicultural Affairs, RISE Network, Student Development, Gear Up, Liberty Partnership Program, Haraya, Student Government Incorpo-rated, African and Latino Fraternal/Sororal Alliance, Latin American Student Organization, Diversity Peer Educators, Admissions Office, Haitian Students Association, Alumni Association, McNair Scholars,

NAACP, Goodwill Industries,

and all our dynamic presenters, panelists and performers:

Karim Abouelnaga, Shawn Best, David Kirkland, Jomaira Martinez, Jasmine Mans, Collin Craig, Coach Vaughn, Leonard Breton, Jorge Alguera, Esteban Acosta, Alexa Achille, Yanil Nuñez, Lenny Williams,

Malcolm McDaniel, Xavier Vazquez, Terence Tillman, John Black, Jessica Ortiz, and James Vanié

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE RISE NETWORK CONTACT:

Natalie MuñozAssistant Director of Multicultural Affairs

St. John’s University, DAC 124AMunozn@stjohns.edu

718-990-6887