One of the reasons that the world has become global is because the internet has removed the geographical divide that did not allow us to connect with one another. No matter what part of the world you live in, you can connect with people in other parts of your city, your state, your country and the world. But have we really made the best use of the internet to achieve both our personal and professional goals. I'll admit that I haven't truly tapped into all the web can provide for me as a social entrepreneur to promote the mission of SEM Link and obtain the resources that we need to achieve our mission.
An advisory board member and I were discussing ways that we can increase our web presence as an organization. Our first steps were to reevaluate our website, which is our number one web tool for promoting the mission of the organization and obtaining resource, it is defining who we are as an organization and obtaining the resources that you need. In reevaluating our website, we discovered that it wasn't the best representation of our organization; therefore we have been on a website development project. Our new website will launch next month and I'm so excited because we have created a interactive website that not only describe who we are and what we do, but has a special tailored message for all of our target markets (K-12 students, parents and educators, volunteers, individual donors, corporate partners) as well as shows what our niche is as an organization in math and science education. The other part of our website was creating a facebook group for the organization. We have been posting pictures and events on this group and the size of our group is growing everyday. But we really do need to kick it up a notch and maximize how we utilize this free marketing and advertising tool to build an online community for the organization. Finally, this blog how to I get myself to blog on a more consistent and regular basis and increase the number of followers that we have.
So these next few months I am going to be on a mission to make the most of the use of the internet to promote the organization and obtain resources for the organization. My goal is to utilizing social networking and other online tools to increase the number of people that know who we are and what we do. Using a tool that a friend told me about www.prlog.com, which is a free online resource for distributing press releases online. Writing more articles on online magazines both in the educational field and outside of it. Promoting SEM Link more on the social networking groups that I am on through facebook.
I know that these last two blogs haven't necessarily been directly related to the mission of SEM Link. However, SEM Link is a business even though it is a non profit organization. Therefore I run it like business and divide my efforts to creating and developing quality programs that help us achieve our business; but we can't do that if we don't handle our business and do what we need to do to allow the SEM Link to become a sustainable organization "promotes student achievement and career in math and science for K-12 students" for years to come.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Creating A New Image and Defining a Brand for New Opportunities
At some point in order to get ensure its sustainability and growth as an organization, every business has to create a new image and define its brand. This goes for non profit organizations as well because your image and brand determines if you will obtain the resources needed to achieve your mission. SEM Link is currently in the process of creating a new image and defining our brand, doing that doesn't change who you are and what you do as an organization, but how you communicate the message of who you are and what you do.
We are creating a new image, by first creating a website that clearly communicates to all of our different audiences each having a crafting message based on their role or potential role within the organization. Secondly, we are showing that we are a green and an operational efficient organization by making all of our application and donation process online and automated. The use of automated online application not only reduces the waste from paper, but creates an automatic database for us to keep records of our clients, donors and volunteers.
Finally, the whole purpose and goal of creating a new image and defining our brand is to create new opportunities for SEM Link and the students that we serve. When you clearly communicate who you are and what you do, it provides new opportunities to attract donors, volunteers and partnerships. Which will ultimate lead to more resources to create new opportunities to impact more children and "unveil potential through exposure".
We are creating a new image, by first creating a website that clearly communicates to all of our different audiences each having a crafting message based on their role or potential role within the organization. Secondly, we are showing that we are a green and an operational efficient organization by making all of our application and donation process online and automated. The use of automated online application not only reduces the waste from paper, but creates an automatic database for us to keep records of our clients, donors and volunteers.
Finally, the whole purpose and goal of creating a new image and defining our brand is to create new opportunities for SEM Link and the students that we serve. When you clearly communicate who you are and what you do, it provides new opportunities to attract donors, volunteers and partnerships. Which will ultimate lead to more resources to create new opportunities to impact more children and "unveil potential through exposure".
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The importance of being a part of a child's village
This past few weeks, I have attended several college and high school graduation ceremonies. There was one in particular that made me realize how important it is for adults to be involved in children's lives that aren't your own. I was at a graduation and unfortunately because not everyone followed the proper etiquette and decorum for a graduation ceremony; several parents didn't get to see their child graduate because they were escorted out of the ceremony by the police for their inappropriate behavior. In addition, those of us who observed the etiquette and decorum for the ceremony, didn't fully get to enjoy the celebration of the huge milestone in the child's live we were there to celebrate because of those individuals.
This incident made me realize that although many of us where blessed to have wonderful parents that instilled in us for the lack of a better term good home training, so we don't act a fool in public; not everyone was blessed with that. So I know that I normally talk about preparing children for stem careers; but we can't always do that if we don't do some basic mentoring to the individual. We don't invest in a child's live because we assume that their parent's are doing something wrong, because just like every parent does when raising a child they are doing the best they know how. It is about exposing children to different experiences, different behaviors and mindsets and teaching them different skills sets that will give them an opportunity to be all they can be in life and do all that they want to do. That is truly "unveiling potential through exposure" at its most basic level.
This incident made me realize that although many of us where blessed to have wonderful parents that instilled in us for the lack of a better term good home training, so we don't act a fool in public; not everyone was blessed with that. So I know that I normally talk about preparing children for stem careers; but we can't always do that if we don't do some basic mentoring to the individual. We don't invest in a child's live because we assume that their parent's are doing something wrong, because just like every parent does when raising a child they are doing the best they know how. It is about exposing children to different experiences, different behaviors and mindsets and teaching them different skills sets that will give them an opportunity to be all they can be in life and do all that they want to do. That is truly "unveiling potential through exposure" at its most basic level.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Partnerships that create synergy and a win-win situation
Our career fair that took place on May 1st was the end of our 2008-09 program year and our 2009-10 program year begins again after Labor Day. During this time of transition as I reflect on the old and prepare for the new, I am always thinking about what went well, what needs to be improved and what we need to not do anymore. I'm always constantly trying to make sure that those thoughts are centered around the mission, vision and goals of the organization.
No organization can achieve its mission without partnerships; we are living in an interdependent world with limited resources. Partnerships allow us to share resources, so that we all can accomplish our organizational goals. However, how do we chose partnerships that are mutually beneficial and ensure that all parties involved stay authentic to who they are as an organization? Some of the lessons learned in the principles of leadership can be applied to selecting partners. Stephen Convey, has teaches the concepts of win-win and synergy; which I believe are great concepts and things that should be considered in selecting partners. Everyone organization has something to bring to the table that collaboration with another organization can help both organization's advance.
So as I look to the next few months, years and beyond for SEM Link to ensure our continued growth and sustainability, I'm going to have to put just as much effort into selecting our partners as I do in planning quality programs. As the saying goes, all that glitters isn't gold, not every organization is a good fit for a partnership. The exact criteria for what organizations are a best fit, that is something that my board and I, lead by our Strategic Partnership chair will have to determine. The most important thing for me to make sure if that I have the courage to stay committed to building partnerships that create synergy and are win-win for all parties involved and not be afraid to walk away from opportunities that don't. For me it is not important who we partner with, but that our partnership allow us to stay authentic to who we are and what we do as an organization, which is "unveil potential through exposure". We have to be associated with the "right" fit, not necessarily the "right" name.
No organization can achieve its mission without partnerships; we are living in an interdependent world with limited resources. Partnerships allow us to share resources, so that we all can accomplish our organizational goals. However, how do we chose partnerships that are mutually beneficial and ensure that all parties involved stay authentic to who they are as an organization? Some of the lessons learned in the principles of leadership can be applied to selecting partners. Stephen Convey, has teaches the concepts of win-win and synergy; which I believe are great concepts and things that should be considered in selecting partners. Everyone organization has something to bring to the table that collaboration with another organization can help both organization's advance.
So as I look to the next few months, years and beyond for SEM Link to ensure our continued growth and sustainability, I'm going to have to put just as much effort into selecting our partners as I do in planning quality programs. As the saying goes, all that glitters isn't gold, not every organization is a good fit for a partnership. The exact criteria for what organizations are a best fit, that is something that my board and I, lead by our Strategic Partnership chair will have to determine. The most important thing for me to make sure if that I have the courage to stay committed to building partnerships that create synergy and are win-win for all parties involved and not be afraid to walk away from opportunities that don't. For me it is not important who we partner with, but that our partnership allow us to stay authentic to who we are and what we do as an organization, which is "unveil potential through exposure". We have to be associated with the "right" fit, not necessarily the "right" name.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Operating on a Shoestring Budget
In preparing for our board meeting on Saturday and reviewing this year organizational finances, I realized that we only raised 49% of the funds needed for our organization's programs and operations. I realized that we are probably not the only non profit organization that did not raised 100% of the funds it needed for the year. However, when we don't raise all of the funds needed for operations and programs, some difficult choices have to be made about what programs will be cut and what operational needs we will do without.
As SEM Link's founder, my priority is to ensure that we provide quality programs each year. Therefore at times, I am willing to absorb some of the operational costs in order to ensure that as much as the money we get from grants, individual and corporate contributions goes towards programs. In addition, some of the professionals that volunteer for our programs were able to bring their own resources for the volunteer activities, which save money on our supply budget. However, we weren't able to help as many students that we wanted to through our Experimental Design Program and Math and Science Career Academy. It truly breaks my heart because I truly desire to impact as many students as I can, but I just have to be thankful that we were able to reach the students that we did reach through our 2008-09 programs.
Just like we all have to make adjustments to our personal budget, SEM Link has to make adjustments and prioritize our organizational budget. However, I truly believe that we can do a better job of generating revenue for the organization; even if we can't raise 100% we can do better than 49%. So internally, the board and staff of the organization is going to increase what we personally contribute to the organization and encourage more individuals and corporations in our network to make financial contribution to the organization. We will find ways to increase the financial contributions from our volunteers and the general public. The main reason that our individual donor campaign is called "Donate Your Lunch Money" because we want individuals to realize that even a small amount of money like what you spend on lunch daily, weekly or monthly can truly help our organization operates in programs. We have also restructured our corporate sponsorship plan so organizations including small businesses and professional societies, just like individuals can recognize that a small contribution to our organization can help as well. In addition, because we are in the days when less and less grant funds are available, we are finding other sources funding for our organization. Therefore we are listed as a charity on websites like www.Goodsearch.com, where you can contribute to the organization by doing things you do on a regular basis such as conducting online searches or online shopping.
Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to ensure that a nonprofit organization has the resources needed to achieve its mission in the community it serves. That is one of the reasons that we renamed our fundraising plan to our resource development plan. We realize that although we do need finances to achieve our mission, that an in kind donation of supplies can help or an professional donating their expertise to the organization that saves us from having to pay for the service will help. So whether you donate your lunch money to help us, a small business owner that becomes our corporate sponsor or begin using www.Goodsearch.com to help us raise funds, you are a part of our village that helps us "increase potential through exposure" and we appreciate your support.
As SEM Link's founder, my priority is to ensure that we provide quality programs each year. Therefore at times, I am willing to absorb some of the operational costs in order to ensure that as much as the money we get from grants, individual and corporate contributions goes towards programs. In addition, some of the professionals that volunteer for our programs were able to bring their own resources for the volunteer activities, which save money on our supply budget. However, we weren't able to help as many students that we wanted to through our Experimental Design Program and Math and Science Career Academy. It truly breaks my heart because I truly desire to impact as many students as I can, but I just have to be thankful that we were able to reach the students that we did reach through our 2008-09 programs.
Just like we all have to make adjustments to our personal budget, SEM Link has to make adjustments and prioritize our organizational budget. However, I truly believe that we can do a better job of generating revenue for the organization; even if we can't raise 100% we can do better than 49%. So internally, the board and staff of the organization is going to increase what we personally contribute to the organization and encourage more individuals and corporations in our network to make financial contribution to the organization. We will find ways to increase the financial contributions from our volunteers and the general public. The main reason that our individual donor campaign is called "Donate Your Lunch Money" because we want individuals to realize that even a small amount of money like what you spend on lunch daily, weekly or monthly can truly help our organization operates in programs. We have also restructured our corporate sponsorship plan so organizations including small businesses and professional societies, just like individuals can recognize that a small contribution to our organization can help as well. In addition, because we are in the days when less and less grant funds are available, we are finding other sources funding for our organization. Therefore we are listed as a charity on websites like www.Goodsearch.com, where you can contribute to the organization by doing things you do on a regular basis such as conducting online searches or online shopping.
Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to ensure that a nonprofit organization has the resources needed to achieve its mission in the community it serves. That is one of the reasons that we renamed our fundraising plan to our resource development plan. We realize that although we do need finances to achieve our mission, that an in kind donation of supplies can help or an professional donating their expertise to the organization that saves us from having to pay for the service will help. So whether you donate your lunch money to help us, a small business owner that becomes our corporate sponsor or begin using www.Goodsearch.com to help us raise funds, you are a part of our village that helps us "increase potential through exposure" and we appreciate your support.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The story of two little girls
On yesterday we had our 2nd Annual Science, Engineering and Mathematics Career Fair and Exhibition at Georgia State University. Each year, I am always amazed to see the parents and K-12 students that are interested or at least want to be exposed to STEM Careers. This year children as young as 4 and as old as 15 meet forensic scientists, chemists, biologists, biomedical researchers, engineers and public health professionals. Each year, there are always some students that capture my attention while they are enjoying their experience at the career fair. There were two young girls 7 and 8, that I watched enthusiastically bounce from table to table during the fair. Both of these young ladies have the potential of being future scientists, engineers or mathematicians that are women of color. Like several of our exhibitors and board members are.
The 7 year old bounced from table to table asking questions of each exhibitor, taking their goodies and was an active participant in the hands on activities that some of the exhibitors provided. This inquisitive 7 year old took her time going from table to table seeing what each had to teach her about STEM fields. The young lady had so much enthusiasm and energy, I don't think her parents could keep up with her they just watched from a distance to ensure that she was still in the ballroom. When I asked her what she learned and enjoyed from the fair, she had something to say about what she learned from each of the tables she visited. Being 7 she definitely enjoyed the tables that engaged her in hands on a demonstrations of science; but even for the table that she quite didn't get a grasp of the career path, she said with a smile " he gave me some candy".
The second little girl, who was 8 years old, walked in to the room and said "I'm in heaven". This little girl who in elementary school already has a passion and enthusiasm for science. I asked her why she thought she was in heaven and she stated she had the opportunity to meet so many scientists and engineers in one room. Her mother mentioned to me that the she works at a local university and has been trying to nurture her daughter's passion for science as much as she could through various activities. I watched this young lady as she went from table to table. As she was leaving the fair, I asked her did she still feel like she had been to heaven by attending the fair. She said yes and being the future scientist that she is, shared that the table she enjoyed the most was the Georgia Tech Women in Chemistry table, where she got an opportunity to do several chemistry and physics experiments.
If our fair doesn't touch any more than these two young ladies, we would have done our job as an organization. Although, I believe that when we get the data from our evaluator from the surveys that the attendees and exhibitors completed, we will find out that more than these two families were happy that they attended our career fair. Which is why we are already looking forward to next year's fair and the Experimental Design and Math and Science Career Academy activities we have planned for the 2009-10 Academic Year.
We are so very appreciative to the graduate students and professionals that took the time out of their busy schedule to showcase their careers to students. Most importantly we are also thankful to our event sponsors, Centers for Disease Control Career Paths to Public Health Program, Eiram Creative, Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the American Chemical Society who provide the resources for this event to take place. In addition, we are thankful to the individuals that support our mission and programs through their contributions to our "Donate Your Money" Individual Donor Campaign and Malcolm Pirnie our corporate sponsor for the 2008-09 program year. I would also like to thank SEM Link's Board of Directors and Advisory Board for their support of the organization. Last by not least, I would like to thank our Programs Assistant, Ms. Angela Hardin and volunteers Shenia Patterson and Derrick Standifer for all their help with the logistics the fair take place before and during the event; I couldn't have pulled it off with out your help. You all help us achieve our vision in the "unveiling potential through exposure"
The 7 year old bounced from table to table asking questions of each exhibitor, taking their goodies and was an active participant in the hands on activities that some of the exhibitors provided. This inquisitive 7 year old took her time going from table to table seeing what each had to teach her about STEM fields. The young lady had so much enthusiasm and energy, I don't think her parents could keep up with her they just watched from a distance to ensure that she was still in the ballroom. When I asked her what she learned and enjoyed from the fair, she had something to say about what she learned from each of the tables she visited. Being 7 she definitely enjoyed the tables that engaged her in hands on a demonstrations of science; but even for the table that she quite didn't get a grasp of the career path, she said with a smile " he gave me some candy".
The second little girl, who was 8 years old, walked in to the room and said "I'm in heaven". This little girl who in elementary school already has a passion and enthusiasm for science. I asked her why she thought she was in heaven and she stated she had the opportunity to meet so many scientists and engineers in one room. Her mother mentioned to me that the she works at a local university and has been trying to nurture her daughter's passion for science as much as she could through various activities. I watched this young lady as she went from table to table. As she was leaving the fair, I asked her did she still feel like she had been to heaven by attending the fair. She said yes and being the future scientist that she is, shared that the table she enjoyed the most was the Georgia Tech Women in Chemistry table, where she got an opportunity to do several chemistry and physics experiments.
If our fair doesn't touch any more than these two young ladies, we would have done our job as an organization. Although, I believe that when we get the data from our evaluator from the surveys that the attendees and exhibitors completed, we will find out that more than these two families were happy that they attended our career fair. Which is why we are already looking forward to next year's fair and the Experimental Design and Math and Science Career Academy activities we have planned for the 2009-10 Academic Year.
We are so very appreciative to the graduate students and professionals that took the time out of their busy schedule to showcase their careers to students. Most importantly we are also thankful to our event sponsors, Centers for Disease Control Career Paths to Public Health Program, Eiram Creative, Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the American Chemical Society who provide the resources for this event to take place. In addition, we are thankful to the individuals that support our mission and programs through their contributions to our "Donate Your Money" Individual Donor Campaign and Malcolm Pirnie our corporate sponsor for the 2008-09 program year. I would also like to thank SEM Link's Board of Directors and Advisory Board for their support of the organization. Last by not least, I would like to thank our Programs Assistant, Ms. Angela Hardin and volunteers Shenia Patterson and Derrick Standifer for all their help with the logistics the fair take place before and during the event; I couldn't have pulled it off with out your help. You all help us achieve our vision in the "unveiling potential through exposure"
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Our career fair is meeting a need in the community
I'm so excited because in 2 days, we will expose Metro Atlanta youth to the breadth and depth of careers in science, engineering and mathematics at our 2nd Annual Science, Engineering and Mathematics Career Fair and Exhibition. We have over 30 professionals that will be showcasing about 10 or 15 different career paths. Graduate students and professionals from GBI, CDC, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Tech and many more are giving a few hours out of there busy schedule to expose K-12 students to career paths that achieve by doing well in high school, going to college and possible graduate school.
As excited as I am about the professionals, I'm looking forward to the attendees that will be coming to the fair. Today as my program assistant and another college student she recruited to volunteer, both graduating seniors with science degreers, for the event were preparing for the fair we had a conversation about the event. Both of the students said what a great idea they thought the career fair was and how it was good that SEM Link was having this event. They expressed that they wished an event like this took place in their community when they were in elementary, middle or high school because it would have been great to meet people pursuing stem career before they came to college. Their sentiments and those of STEM professionals in my network is why I created SEM Link. Based on the response we are getting for the career fair, there are parents, educators and other people that work with K-12 students that feel the same way. As of today over 50 parents, church and youth groups have RSVP'd youth for the fair. We really believe that we will have a great turnout for the event because most of the attendees for the event, don't RSVP.
I know that this event is going to be successful and give us another opportunity to serve Metro Atlanta youth by "unveiling potential through exposure".
As excited as I am about the professionals, I'm looking forward to the attendees that will be coming to the fair. Today as my program assistant and another college student she recruited to volunteer, both graduating seniors with science degreers, for the event were preparing for the fair we had a conversation about the event. Both of the students said what a great idea they thought the career fair was and how it was good that SEM Link was having this event. They expressed that they wished an event like this took place in their community when they were in elementary, middle or high school because it would have been great to meet people pursuing stem career before they came to college. Their sentiments and those of STEM professionals in my network is why I created SEM Link. Based on the response we are getting for the career fair, there are parents, educators and other people that work with K-12 students that feel the same way. As of today over 50 parents, church and youth groups have RSVP'd youth for the fair. We really believe that we will have a great turnout for the event because most of the attendees for the event, don't RSVP.
I know that this event is going to be successful and give us another opportunity to serve Metro Atlanta youth by "unveiling potential through exposure".
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About SEM Link
- SEM Link
- Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link, Inc. (SEM Link), a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, was founded in 2004 on the premise that exposure to members of the science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) communities is critical to student development in math and science. Our mission is to promote student achievement and career exploration in math and science while increasing student exposure to the science, engineering and mathematics communities and enhancing resources that are available at local schools and community organizations. Our two core programs, Math and Science Career Academy and Experimental Design Program, provide students with an opportunity to develop their math and science skills by enhancing the classroom learning experience and teaching them skills that are transferable to other areas of life. We recruit students and professionals for our programs that have backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.