Welcome to Minds Matter, Inc.'s quarterly national newsletter!                                    

In this issue:

• Letter from the Presidents
• Chapter Updates
  • Boston
  • Chicago
  • Denver
  • New York City
  • Portland
• Student Spotlight
• Alumni Spotlight

Letter from the Presidents

In our first year as a national organization, Minds Matter not only welcomed two new chapters in Chicago, Illinois and Portland, Oregon, but also hired our second full-time employee and increased enrollment by more than 40 percent.  As you will read in this newsletter, the larger group of Minds Matter students accomplished great things and will be expanding their educational horizons in the months to come.  While we measure our successes through the achievements of our students, we know none of this would have been possible without our 350+ dedicated volunteers.  And so we'd like to say THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!  We are eternally grateful for the time you have shared and the difference you have made.

In addition to the Chapter updates and student spotlight, we would like to use this newsletter to introduce our newest initiative: the Minds Matter Alumni Program!   Minds Matter is an organization built on providing the resources that enable high-achieving, low-income tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders to obtain a college education.   As we continue to grow nationally and see our student alumni coming back to serve as volunteers and advocates of the organization, it is time to expand our mentoring network beyond high school graduation.  The Alumni Program will focus on keeping student and volunteer alumni connected with the organization while providing guidance catered to our graduates’ college experiences and professional endeavors.  As we develop the new initiative, we want to reach out to any Minds Matter student and volunteer alumni who would like to get back in touch with the organization.  If you are a Minds Matter alum or know of anyone who would like to reconnect with us, please send us an email at alumni@mindsmatter.org.  We would love to know what you have been up to since your time at Minds Matter and find ways to build our already growing network!  We hope you enjoy reading about the latest developments at Minds Matter and encourage you to stay tuned for our next update when we kick off the 2007-2008 school year!

Best,

Bijal Choksi and Rissa Durham

Co-Presidents, National Executive Committee

info@mindsmatter.org

Chapter Updates

Boston

Minds Matter of Boston enjoyed another very successful year.  All nineteen Prep Program students will be attending a summer program and both of our seniors will be attending a four year college in the fall.  The two graduating seniors, Makhissa Damba and Laurys Abreu, plan to attend Babson College and Pine Manor, respectively.  Makhissa will be attending Babson on a full scholarship.  In another exciting first for the Boston Chapter, two students will be traveling overseas this summer.  Lyndsay Jones will be attending an AFS Program in Spain and Brandon Lee will be traveling to Morocco.  Minds Matter students also enjoyed a number of events outside of the classroom this fall.  On April 18th, Minds Matter of Boston students participated in a tour of the state house that was capped off by an opportunity to meet the Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick (see photo).  Finally, the mentors and mentees enjoyed a year end picnic on the Boston Common.  In the biggest upset of the year, the mentees beat the mentors by two touchdowns in the annual touch football game for their first ever victory.  The mentors have vowed to take back the title at next year's picnic.

Chicago

What a great year!  The Chicago Chapter raised over $11,000 at our 1st annual spring fundraiser, which enabled us to send our sophomores to outstanding programs at schools such as University of Chicago, University of Maryland and Indiana University. More importantly, we forged some long-standing relationships throughout the year.  Our end of year picnic was complete with food, fun and games.  We plan on having a reunion at the end of the summer – after all of the students return from their summer programs.  Also this summer, the management team will be working on improving the program and expanding our relationships with local high schools and universities, as we plan on doubling our size next year as well as implementing a junior program.

Denver

Denver's students wrap up yet another successful year

The past three years have been a great growing and learning experience for all of us.  We have matured from a pilot program to a full-fledged operating entity with over 75 volunteers and 18 students.  Our inaugural class graduated from North High School this spring and next fall, each of these motivated students will embark on their four year college experience.  Three of our seniors were awarded the coveted Daniels Scholarship which will cover all of their college expenses.  And one of our seniors has received the Gates Millennium scholarship which will pay for her education through to a PhD.  The others have received a combination of scholarships, awards, and financial aid packages.  Congratulations to our first senior class and to their dedicated mentors!  In addition, the Denver community once again came out to support the efforts of Minds Matter.  At this year’s fundraising event, more than 200 people were in attendance at the annual dinner and casino night.  We feel very fortunate to have raised over $30,000!  The Denver chapter is looking forward to the coming school year and the new opportunities to have a positive impact in the lives of our amazing students.

New York City

New York City's students were rewarded for their efforts with a fun day of bowling at Harlem Lanes.  Above, Debi Lee's sophomores show team spirit clad as Debi's Dominoes.

Minds Matter of NYC wrapped up yet another successful year with 19 sophomores and 46 juniors off to exciting summer college prep programs, and 32 seniors set to attend four-year colleges and universities in the fall.   New York's sophomores will be attending summer programs at schools across the United States, such as Georgetown University, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Stanford University, while our juniors will attend schools both domestically and abroad.   Several lucky juniors will study in countries such as Ireland, Italy, Morocco, and Japan!  As mentioned in our spring newsletter, three outstanding seniors will attend college on full scholarships from the Posse Foundation and two students will receive scholarships from the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).  The proud recipient of this year’s Minds Matter Achievement Award Scholarship is Alex Flores.  Mr. Flores will attend Stonehill College in the fall with the help of this $10,000 scholarship from Minds Matter of NYC over the course of four years.  We could not be more proud of our students in the New York Chapter and look forward to hearing about their summer experiences and accomplishments in the fall! 

Portland

Left to right: Mentors Tara Dillon and Carmen Doom, Mentee Grace Tshimanga, and Director of Mentors Turid Owren enjoy the First Annual Jazz Soiree Fundraiser

Over 140 guests joined Minds Matter of Portland students, mentors and staff for the First Annual Jazz Soiree Fundraiser at Jimmy Mak’s on May 7, 2007. After Six, featuring Graham Covington (Director, Minds Matter of Portland) on the piano, wowed the crowd with the sounds of Gershwin and the other American jazz masters.   Speaking from their hearts, students and mentors shared with the group the impact that Minds Matter of Portland has made in their lives. Guests repeatedly commented on how impressive the students and mentors were and what fun they were having! At the end of the evening, over $12,500 was raised to help fund the summer school programs this year’s students will attend.  Minds Matter of Portland wishes to extend a special thank you to Jimmy Mak’s, Ant Hill Marketing and the Minds Matter volunteers who donated their time and expertise to make this a successful inaugural event!  Our heartfelt appreciation to Minds Matter’s Executive Director, Rissa Durham, who attended the event while visiting our Chapter in May.    We thank you for joining us and sharing your wisdom and insight with us!

Student Spotlight: Denver

Roberta Garcia

In addition to a scholarship awarded by the University, Ms. Garcia is a recipient of the coveted Daniels Scholarship.  The award is a fully supplemental amount awarded after all other financial aid resources are taken into consideration.  Ms. Garcia and her mother were ecstatic when the news came, but within a few weeks, Ms. Garcia respectfully declined the scholarship.  Instead, she accepted the Gates Millennium Scholarship, which will pay for her education completely through to a PhD.  Since Ms. Garcia plans to practice Native American law, she feels fortunate to now have the resources to pursue that aspiration.

While some people might point to her humble beginnings as an obstacle to overcome, Ms. Garcia focuses on the inspiration and support entrenched in her family’s Native American heritage.  She looks at the poor graduation statistics on reservations, the crime rate, and the drug-use, and she believes that she can make a difference.  There is no doubt that she will.

In addition to her successful high school career, Ms. Garcia volunteered in local organizations, played on the tennis team, organized her high school’s first annual Pow-Wow, and was a dedicated attendee to each Minds Matter session.  Her mentors will tell you that she is as much an inspiration to them as they hoped to be to her.  “Roberta has a joy for life!  She is obviously smart, bright, and determined.  But she also has this indefinable quality about her that is warming.  People smile when Roberta is around.  Her laugh in infectious.  We are just two of the many people who will miss her at Minds Matter next year.”

Alumni Spotlight: New York City

Marlene Brito

“I attribute most of who I’ve become to Minds Matter.”

As we worked hard to build our first ever Alumni Program this year, we were delighted to receive an unexpected email from a Minds Matter of NYC alumna, Marlene Brito.  “I wanted you guys to know that Minds Matter has had tremendous impact on my success; I owe a lot of who I've become to Minds Matter,” the email read.  “My group was one of the pilot groups and I am pleased to see the program … has had tremendous success.”

Ms. Brito, a Minds Matter mentee from 1997 until 2000, is now a proud graduate from both George Washington High School as well as New York University.  Today, she lives with her husband and two-year-old son in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and works as the Community Outreach Manager at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.  In her current position, Ms. Brito is spearheading an initiative to foster and maintain relationships with Philadelphia’s various communities.  Ms. Brito’s experience at Minds Matter is part of what drives her to reach out to the community in which she now lives to create opportunities the way that Minds Matter did for her, she says.

Reflecting on her time at Minds Matter, Ms. Brito said that she would not be who she is today without the experiences that she had in the Program and with her mentor, Michael McCartan.  She described Mr. McCartan as relentless and steadfast on his mission to help her realize her dreams.  While she definitely encountered some challenges along the way, Mr. McCartan made her hour-long commute to and from the Program every Saturday worth it.  “He taught me to be prepared and to think about my decisions critically and thoroughly,” she says.  When her high school counselor discouraged her from applying to college, saying that she would not be able to compete with the other candidates, Mr. McCartan told her differently.  The Program gave her the confidence and resources not only to apply, but also to gain admission as well as a scholarship to attend New York University.  “Minds Matter made me feel like I was part of something great,” she says.

We could not be more proud to be affiliated with such an impressive young woman.  As more mentees continue to graduate from the Program across the United States, we look forward to seeing the continued impact that our students have as key-players in the communities in which they live.

Thank you for supporting Minds Matter!

Stay tuned for our quarterly electronic updates!!