St. Philip’s School and Community Center will host the 23rd Annual Destiny Award Luncheon featuring Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sterling K. Brown on March 3rd. The Destiny Luncheon will feature a spirited and engaging conversation with Brown, in addition to performances by St. Philip’s students, tributes to St. Philip’s alumni and the presentation of the 2023 Mona and David Munson Humanitarian Award to Ellen and John McStay.
The Destiny Award Luncheon is the signature fundraising event for St. Philip’s School and Community Center. All funds raised from the event benefit the programs that service the 260+ students enrolled at St. Philip’s School, in addition to the more than 4,000 children, adults and seniors active in the St. Philip’s Community Center. Since its inception, the Destiny Award Luncheon has raised over $5 Million to support essential educational and social service programs at St. Philip’s School and Community Center.
It’s time again for the Annual Destiny Award Luncheon at St. Philip’s! The SMG Report has covered a share of these wonderful events and this year’s event is on par with the greatness of previous years! In prior years, we were on hand to behold conversations with the likes of Cicely Tyson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Taraji P. Henson. The Destiny Awards Luncheon brings together some of DFW’s greatest givers and each year, funds are raised to continue the excellence for which St. Philip’s is known. We look forward to this enthralling conversation with such a bright star in Hollywood and beyond. If tickets are still available, you can get them, here.
The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year, with the goal of addressing a crisis in educational opportunity equity and fine arts-based education. AVPA is enrolling 6th and 7th graders in its inaugural year and will gradually expand to all high school grade levels. Located on the city’s south side, AVPA brings arts focused instruction to students who because of distance or financial constraints, are unable to attend private or fine arts schools.
AVPA is open-enrollment, tuition-free, open to all students and exists to ensure all students are provided with equitable opportunities to learn through the arts, in the arts and with the arts. The admissions application takes 5-minutes to complete and there are no audition requirements.
AVPA students will experience arts-integrated, project-based learning across subject areas and conservatory programming in dance, digital media arts, literary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. The middle school program is an exploratory opportunity for students to learn and develop pertinent skills to make informed decisions about AVPA’s high school conservatory programs for which they’ll audition in the Spring of their eighth-grade year. Enrollment in AVPA provides children with access to a learning environment that is designed to meet their needs while also addressing the years-long deficits in literacy, art curriculums, and even culinary deficits that exist in public education. This is the direct result of Texas’ commitment to prioritizing school choice in educational program selection.
Another hallmark of AVPA is its dedication to personalized learning. This is bolstered by a commitment to provide a safe, challenging learning environment that cultivates, sustains, and promotes academic and artistic excellence. AVPA culture focuses on five tenets of well-being by addressing the needs of students enrolled. By addressing physical, psychological, social, emotional, and economic needs AVPA students are more apt to succeed academically and artistically.
Some of the world’s foremost entertainers the likes of Kirk Franklin, Major Attaway, Sedrick Huckaby, Leon Bridges, Tatiana Mayfield, Ornette Coleman, Dewey Redman, Channing Godfrey Peoples, and several others hail from Fort Worth, a city without a major school for the performing and visual arts in their home communities. Though proximity is not always the immediate crisis, opportunity equity, and impedances to fine arts-enriched programming, yet abound. AVPA seeks to fill this void and make futures in visual and performing arts a possibility for more students with the opening of their school.
AVPA Board of Directors
To schedule a group presentation or individual meeting, please email or call Dr. Stephanie Love at enroll@avpaschools.org or (817) 200-7299. Learn more about the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts today by visiting www.avpaschools.org or by connecting on social media using @AVPATexas on all platforms.
HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announced billionaire philanthropist Robert F. Smith as this year’s featured speaker at its second annual virtual HBCU technology conference for historically black colleges and universities. Presented by HP with support from partners, Microsoft and Intel, the four-day conference September 13-16 will open with a pre-recorded virtual fireside chat with Smith hosted by HuffPost Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton on Tuesday, September 13, at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Smith, who is the founder, chairman, and CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, is a digital transformation expert who founded the nonprofit Student Freedom Initiative to address college student debt and other barriers to success for HBCU students. Smith’s participation in the conference has ignited a broader conversation with HP around how the two organizations can work together to accelerate digital transformation at HBCUs through enhanced infrastructure, cybersecurity, talent development and access to tech careers. HBCUs produce 25 percent of Black tech talent and 42 percent of Black engineers.
As part of HP’s ambition to become the world’s most sustainable and just technology company, it launched the HBCU Technology Conference in 2021 to accelerate digital transformation at HBCUs and prepare for their students’ digital futures through: • Greater access to tech careers • Supporting innovation and tech entrepreneurs • Enhanced cybersecurity, tech infrastructure and faculty support • Working with and empowering HBCU leaders • Advancing access to quality healthcare
“We know that equal access and representation drive better outcomes which leads to innovation. After two years of remote learning and increased cybersecurity threats to institutions, advancing the infrastructure that supports tech curriculum, prepares students for tech careers, and mitigates security threats which is critical to advancing equity.”
Lesley Slaton Brown, Chief Diversity Officer, HP.
IT, Faculty, Staff and HBCU leaders will be able to take part in a four-day virtual conference that will include industry insights and workshops on topics such as safeguarding HBCUs against cybersecurity attacks, talent development, tech curriculum and diversifying the tech workforce.
“HBCU partnership with the tech industry will increase awareness and access, and offer opportunities to be at the table with advocates who can go to bat for the brilliant talent on HBCU campuses who will add value to tech corporations. Equally important is to have in place modern tech infrastructure to protect against ransomware attacks that threaten students’ privacy and institutions’ ability to thrive.”
Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., President, Jackson State University
HP’s commitment to HBCUs In addition to the tech conference, HP, a founding member of the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable, hosts an annual HBCU Business Challenge and invites students to craft a solution to an HP business challenge. The most recent HP Business Challenge, won by South Carolina State University’s team, called for the HBCU teams to build a model to change the bottom line for HP’s Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition virtual reality headset.
The 6th Annual HP HBCU Business Challenge has officially launched, and registration is now open. Go to http://www.hp.com/diversity for more information.
HP helped solidify the first relationship of its kind between the New York Stock Exchange and an HBCU. HP also joined the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus’ HBCU Partnership Challenge to further strengthen its relationships and programming with HBCUs.
In 2020, HP launched an innovative 3D printing learning pilot program at North Carolina A&T State University and partnered with Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and presented the school with an endowment to establish the HP Cybersecurity Scholarship. HP’s growing investments in HBCUs demonstrate its commitment to reflect the diverse markets and customers that the company serves.
Renowned scholar, intellectual and professor Dr. Cornel West, along with fellow scholar and conversation partner Dr. Robert George, will, in tandem, pay a special personal visit to the St. Philip’s School and Community Center campus this morning at 8:15 a.m. where they will participate in morning chapel service and engage middle school students in a Q & A session. George T. Lee, Jr., Principal Kellee Murrell will give the homily for the morning chapel that will be streamed live on St. Philip’s Facebook page.
“I’m so very honored to have Dr. West on our campus once again. His heartfelt commitment to St. Philip’s and our students has been invaluable. We also extend a warm welcome to Dr. George.”
Principal Kellee Murrell
Dr. West has long been one of the nation’s most regarded and sought-after intellectuals on matters of race, gender, class and politics. He is now the new Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair for the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, after leaving Harvard University this past summer.
This is Dr. West’s second stint at Union. Over his distinguished career, Dr. West has also taught twice at Harvard University, while also having served at Yale University, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University, and the University of Paris. Among the books written by West have been the highly acclaimed Race Matters (1994) and Democracy Matters (2004).
Dr. Robert George is a highly respected American legal scholar, political philosopher, and public intellectual who serves as the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.
West and George have been frequent conversation partners on the national lecture circuit and are considered good friends. In 2017, they jointly published the statement “Truth-Seeking, Democracy, and Freedom of Thought and Expression.”
The first school of its kind in Seagoville, Texas will officially open its doors on August 17, 2019
Little Britches Preparatory School, formally known as Little Britches Learning Center will officially open its doors to the community and host a grand opening celebration on August 17, 2019 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The school, located at 406 Cypress Street, Seagoville, Texas 75159, will offer a variety of food and fun activities for all ages to enjoy, including a video game truck, train rides, bounce houses, face painting, snow cones and more, as they kick off a new school year. The event is free and open to the public.
The curriculum at Little Britches Preparatory will center on Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and will also offer an after-school program. It will also include Amazing Athletes, yoga for kids, creative movement, field trips, tutoring and homework assistance. The robust curriculum and after school program are available to potty-trained students, ages 3-12. This new school model will include breakfast, morning snacks, lunch, afternoon snack and supper, with many meals prepared with fresh ingredients from the school’s garden.
Little Britches Preparatory School has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star 4-star facility, a 3-tier healthy start facility, and a “Texas School Ready” participant. All the teachers are highly skilled, CDA certified, and prepared to go on this new adventure with the students. The preparatory school centers its goals on its mission to foster a learning environment which promotes parent partnerships, student success and excellence.
“We are beyond excited to offer this type of schooling to the Seagoville community for the first time ever,” said Brandi Davis, owner and director of Little Britches Preparatory School. “My staff and I know switching the curriculum will allow us to make a positive impact on every child that walks through our doors.” Davis has worked with children for over 15 years as a teacher and mentor. She acquired Little Britches in 2014 and since then it has become an award-winning education center under her leadership.
Aside from an excellent staff, challenging curriculum, and a superb after school program, Little Britches Preparatory School exposes its students to additional learning opportunities through enrichment activities, foreign language classes, coding classes, math and reading focus groups, life skills summer work programs and community involvement. They also offer convenient drop-off and pick up services to and from areas schools.
“No matter what age, the teachers are hands-on and genuinely interested in the well-being and education of my children,” Erica King, mother of a Little Britches Preparatory student, said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more for my child.”
Little Britches Preparatory School looks forward to becoming a staple in the Seagoville community as well as the surrounding area. They look forward to transforming little learners into future leaders.
Little Britches Preparatory School is an award-winning preschool offering a robust preschool curriculum and afterschool programs for potty-trained students, ages 3-12. The comprehensive school model includes breakfast, morning snacks, lunch, afternoon snack and supper, with many meals prepared with fresh ingredients from our garden. The program also features Amazing Athletes, yoga for kids, creative movement, field trips, tutoring and homework assistance. Our curriculum is research-based and academically centered.
Ask
Donovan J. Greening to describe search-engine optimization, better known as
SEO, and his eyes will light up and his explanation speeds faster than his
Porsche Cayenne. When he sees your eyes glaze over in confusion, he’ll hit the
brakes, slow it down and give you enough examples until you both are sharing
the same road.
“Did
that answer your question?” He doesn’t demean; he’s sincere in wanting to
share his mastery of digital marketing and what it’s done for him, what it can
do for companies behind the scenes and what he hopes it can do for Bowling
Green State University.
Then
he laughs and says, “I’m the nerdiest person ever. I’m a super geek!”
Greening,
20, is an entrepreneur, consultant and full-time college student. He is the founder
of Greening Corporation United, a full-service digital marketing agency he
started at the age of 15 that focuses on law firm digital marketing. In 2017,
he helped generate several million dollars in new cases and revenue for his
clients and law firms while also helping multiple victims of mesothelioma and
lung cancer find justice.
A
junior, he is majoring in management of information systems in the Bowling
Green State University College of Business. He grew up in West Bloomfield,
Michigan, and attended Brother Rice High School. While in high school, he
founded two online companies.
“I
taught myself how to make a website based on my YouTube channel, XVSound, when
I was 15,” Greening said. “I would take music artists that weren’t
that cool and find cool movie clips and chop them up and make footage to kind
of go along with the song, almost like mood music. That channel started to blow
up and to date that channel has 3.9 million views in total and has more than
10,000 subscribers.”
That
positive experience got him thinking: How could he make this into a brand? The
result was XVTech, which focused on web design and social media marketing.
Greening quickly turned around three local clients, a juice shop, Chris Huff
from P80Fitness Studio, and DJ BJ 3525 from Hot 107.5.
His
next client was a hydro light factory in Warren, Michigan, which sells
hydroponic lighting for large indoor agricultural facilities.
“I
developed for them a brand-new website and an e-commerce system,” Greening
said. “I also helped them map out a shipping logistics system to make
their business more efficient. That business had made over $600,000 of revenue
two months after launching that website. Then, I was like, OK, now I can
actually make people some money.”
It
was about this time that Greening enrolled at BGSU, which he said was perfect
because, “I wanted to get away from home, but not too far from home. And
it’s a university my mother is really happy with, and only 90 minutes from
home. Plus, there are few distractions.”
Once
he arrived at the University, he decided to delve deeper into online marketing.
Now, Greening Corporation United specializes in online marketing and rankings
as well as public relations and content creation for law firms and large
corporations.
One
of Greening’s clients is Goldberg, Persky, and White P.C., a national
mesothelioma law firm specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation. He
began to work with one of their managing partners while he was only 19.
“This
firm had never run large advertising campaigns other than some TV spots,”
Greening said. “Lane Clack is a nationally recognized mesothelioma lawyer
and managing partner of Goldberg, Persky, and White. Having done hundreds of
millions of dollars in legal case work, Lane was not an easy man to impress. It
took months of hard work and dedication to bring their firm to top spots in
Google and help victims of asbestos exposure get the compensation they
deserve.”
He
started working with Clack during his freshman year and signed a contract for
$55,000 out of his Centennial Hall residency to develop and rank in Google a
5,000-page website and asbestos exposure jobsite database.
“There
were a lot of multimillion dollar law firms outranking my client online, and,
honestly, I didn’t know if I would be able to do it,” Greening said.
“But two months later, I was able to beat every one of them with the new
website I built for the firm. I did their commercial, their press release
content, I write their blog posts – I’m pretty much a full-suite marketing
solution for them, and I automate the online presence of the firm. Since then,
they’ve expanded their website into other states and my company signed a new
contract with them worth several hundred thousand dollars to begin to market
the firm nationally.”
“Donovan
Greening has helped us dominate our Michigan and West Virginia markets,”
Clack said. “From his digital marketing efforts, we have seen several
million dollars in new claims being filed with our firm.”
Greening
says he often feels like Bruce Wayne with two identities, being a full-time
student while working to achieve his personal and professional goals with his
company.
“Focusing
on business and balancing business with school is very difficult,” said Greening,
who recently picked up a local Stanley Steamer franchise as a client.
“Within 15 minutes, I could be jumping on the phone with an attorney or
another executive and I need to be a high-level consultant very quickly. But
when I am back in my dorm, I get to be a kid again. It’s very interesting, this
double life I’m living right now.”
Greening
says it’s hard to connect with his peer group, and not just because he is
working full time and earning a large income while also being a full-time
student. He remains very career focused and doesn’t have time for some college
activities, which is hard for some of his peers to understand.
In
using SEO to get his clients to be highly ranked, Greening combines his
computer skills with his business acumen. He says a lot of companies don’t
realize how important SEO is to their bottom line.
“If
you get a Michigan personal injury law firm ranked high in Google for a keyword
like Michigan auto accident lawyer, it’s very valuable to him and his
clients,” he said. “Something like that is universally applicable to
just about anything: auto insurance, buying a house, schools, online degree
programs, appliances, whatever.”
Greening
currently is seeking more law firms that would like to be ranked in the top
spots for their state in a practice area of their choice.
“Companies
have to design their websites with SEO in mind, and if they don’t understand
this critical feature, they’re going to miss out on a lot of business,” he
said. “Most people are on their phones all day long and they’re going to
do a quick search and go with whatever is the most convenient. Being on Page 1
is where they are going to turn to because they don’t really second-guess those
rankings. A lot of companies that deserve to be at the top are on the back
pages because they don’t really understand how people are searching for their
products.”
Eventually,
Greening wants to have a small, agile firm in which “I work with some of
the top brands in the world while at the same time doing something beneficial –
something that adds to the value of people’s lives and makes them No. 1.”
The
networking he’s done and the business connections he’s made at the University
have been priceless, Greening said.
“The
upper-level connections I’m making with people like President Rogers and
others, I believe will really help me out, not only with growing my business
but also in helping me develop as a young man,” he said.
“I’m
still trying to find myself, but I’ve solidified what I want to do and I’m
running as fast as possible to accomplish my goals. I’ve not slowed down at
all. It’s cool making connections with faculty because just talking to them you
learn a lot more. One of the best connections I’ve made is with Dr. Gene Poor.
I love that guy and really look up to him.”
Poor,
the Hamilton Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship emeritus, began the visual
communication technology program at the University, teaches in the
entrepreneurship program and is the founder of LifeFormations, which makes
animatronic figures for museums, theme parks and other venues.
“It’s
taken me 50 years to have a student like him,” Poor said. “He’s
aggressive, passionate, persistent and full of energy. He’s an amazing young
man; one in a million. He’s so interesting in terms of how he thinks. I have
him speak to my classes and it’s like having a 50-year-old business man speak
to a bunch of 19-year-olds telling them about the world of business.
“Donovan
understands things that most young people don’t understand. He has a unique
perspective about work and what he can learn from the University. He takes this
whole experience very seriously.”
Greening
would like to demonstrate to his peers that if he can start his own business
and be successful then they can, too.
“My
goal is to help Bowling Green State University become the school for young
entrepreneurs,” he said. “If we could become the go-to university for
entrepreneurs in the Midwest and beyond, that would be awesome.”
