Post by title1parent on Oct 13, 2009 5:36:50 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1821192,2_1_AU13_BLACK_S1-091013.article
Black leaders tell teens: Persevere, contribute
October 13, 2009
By LINDA GIRARDI For The Beacon-News
AURORA -- Seventy-five African American students from across the city spent the Columbus Day holiday discovering their brand.
"It's making your personal mark, being unique, persevering and contributing to life," West Aurora High School senior Jazzlyn Luckett said.
"There are a billion of things you can do to get yourself out there, help people and give your opinion," she said.
The African American Heritage Advisory Board on Monday hosted its second annual youth leadership conference titled, "Discovering Your Brand." Students from West High, East Aurora, Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley High schools were invited to attend.
The idea behind the conference is that today's high achievers can build upon the legacy of members of the African-American community to leave their own imprint on society.
In exchange for spending their day in school on a day off, they got to meet and network with some of Aurora's leaders -- people who are making a difference in society through their successes in life. They also got to meet three young CEOs who understand the importance of education and entrepreneurship.
"We want to continue to move them into action and develop a base of solution-minded young people," said Clayton Muhammad, chairman of the African American Heritage Advisory Board.
"We want to allow them to have a voice for solutions."
The kids get it.
"When I think of branding for yourself, I think of building a company from scratch -- you can make it whatever you want," said Jomar Mendoza, also a senior at West High.
Mendoza wants to become a mechanical engineer, while Luckett has her sights on medical school.
The event featured several speakers, including author and business consultant Julius Rhodes.
"All of us should understand that we should expect more and do more," Rhodes said.
Rhodes told his audience to have a plan, to have the passion to move forward and the persistence to rise to the challenge, and to learn how to deal with problems and establish relationships.
"Your brand conveys your standards of values. If you don't live it, you don't have it," Rhodes said.
Barbara Wesby, moderator for a panel "Remembering the Lessons of Yesterday for Tomorrow" featuring Aurora community activist Lillian Perry and West Aurora Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Latimer, described her guests as "trailblazers" of their time.
"They had struggles and strife in their lives. It wasn't easy -- they had some rough roads and came out on the rough side of the mountain," Wesby said.
Perry shared her life story of being born in Georgia and raised by an aunt in Youngstown, Ohio. She described how from an early age she lived by the family mantra: "Always be self-sufficient." She stressed the importance of education, hard work and honesty.
Latimer told the students she was born in Chicago and attended high school in Wheaton, where there were just two black students in her graduating class.
"I had to acclimate and got involved in school activities," she said.
Latimer was awarded academic and sports scholarships and attended Illinois State University, where she studied education.
She told the students, "Overcome the limits of other people outside your influence."
"I can think of a college professor who told me I would never be a teacher," she said. "I actually did look him up. I became a teacher and have been a principal, and I am an assistant superintendent, of which I am very proud."
Perry said she believes her life had a reason by design to make a better tomorrow. "Someone has to be there to tell the story," Perry said.
"They didn't let anything stop them," West Aurora High senior Mariah Smith said of the speakers. "It is inspiring to think it was a big climb but they did it."
-------------------------
WAUBONSIE GRAD ALREADY HAS OWN PERSONAL BRAND
At age 19, Waubonsie Valley High School graduate Aaron Westbrook has started his own clothing line, while studying marketing at Northern Illinois University. His T-shirt line is available at House of Bidalle boutique in Chicago.
"I am in the beginning phase of my product," the young CEO said at a conference for Aurora high school student leaders Monday, as he opened a tissue-lined box with a T-shirt bearing his personal brand name.
Westbrook said he gets his inspiration from his parents.
"My father especially," he said. "He is the epitome of hard work and determination."
"I didn't really study too hard in high school. If I could, I would change it, but I don't regret anything in my past because it has made me who I am today," Westbrook said.
"When I started college, I went with the mind frame of doing great and got a 4.0 in my first semester and I still have a great GPA. Having a great foundation is one of the key aspects of success."
"This speaks highly of the students attending the conference. They had the day off and could have done whatever they wanted today," he said.
Linda Girardi
Black leaders tell teens: Persevere, contribute
October 13, 2009
By LINDA GIRARDI For The Beacon-News
AURORA -- Seventy-five African American students from across the city spent the Columbus Day holiday discovering their brand.
"It's making your personal mark, being unique, persevering and contributing to life," West Aurora High School senior Jazzlyn Luckett said.
"There are a billion of things you can do to get yourself out there, help people and give your opinion," she said.
The African American Heritage Advisory Board on Monday hosted its second annual youth leadership conference titled, "Discovering Your Brand." Students from West High, East Aurora, Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley High schools were invited to attend.
The idea behind the conference is that today's high achievers can build upon the legacy of members of the African-American community to leave their own imprint on society.
In exchange for spending their day in school on a day off, they got to meet and network with some of Aurora's leaders -- people who are making a difference in society through their successes in life. They also got to meet three young CEOs who understand the importance of education and entrepreneurship.
"We want to continue to move them into action and develop a base of solution-minded young people," said Clayton Muhammad, chairman of the African American Heritage Advisory Board.
"We want to allow them to have a voice for solutions."
The kids get it.
"When I think of branding for yourself, I think of building a company from scratch -- you can make it whatever you want," said Jomar Mendoza, also a senior at West High.
Mendoza wants to become a mechanical engineer, while Luckett has her sights on medical school.
The event featured several speakers, including author and business consultant Julius Rhodes.
"All of us should understand that we should expect more and do more," Rhodes said.
Rhodes told his audience to have a plan, to have the passion to move forward and the persistence to rise to the challenge, and to learn how to deal with problems and establish relationships.
"Your brand conveys your standards of values. If you don't live it, you don't have it," Rhodes said.
Barbara Wesby, moderator for a panel "Remembering the Lessons of Yesterday for Tomorrow" featuring Aurora community activist Lillian Perry and West Aurora Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Latimer, described her guests as "trailblazers" of their time.
"They had struggles and strife in their lives. It wasn't easy -- they had some rough roads and came out on the rough side of the mountain," Wesby said.
Perry shared her life story of being born in Georgia and raised by an aunt in Youngstown, Ohio. She described how from an early age she lived by the family mantra: "Always be self-sufficient." She stressed the importance of education, hard work and honesty.
Latimer told the students she was born in Chicago and attended high school in Wheaton, where there were just two black students in her graduating class.
"I had to acclimate and got involved in school activities," she said.
Latimer was awarded academic and sports scholarships and attended Illinois State University, where she studied education.
She told the students, "Overcome the limits of other people outside your influence."
"I can think of a college professor who told me I would never be a teacher," she said. "I actually did look him up. I became a teacher and have been a principal, and I am an assistant superintendent, of which I am very proud."
Perry said she believes her life had a reason by design to make a better tomorrow. "Someone has to be there to tell the story," Perry said.
"They didn't let anything stop them," West Aurora High senior Mariah Smith said of the speakers. "It is inspiring to think it was a big climb but they did it."
-------------------------
WAUBONSIE GRAD ALREADY HAS OWN PERSONAL BRAND
At age 19, Waubonsie Valley High School graduate Aaron Westbrook has started his own clothing line, while studying marketing at Northern Illinois University. His T-shirt line is available at House of Bidalle boutique in Chicago.
"I am in the beginning phase of my product," the young CEO said at a conference for Aurora high school student leaders Monday, as he opened a tissue-lined box with a T-shirt bearing his personal brand name.
Westbrook said he gets his inspiration from his parents.
"My father especially," he said. "He is the epitome of hard work and determination."
"I didn't really study too hard in high school. If I could, I would change it, but I don't regret anything in my past because it has made me who I am today," Westbrook said.
"When I started college, I went with the mind frame of doing great and got a 4.0 in my first semester and I still have a great GPA. Having a great foundation is one of the key aspects of success."
"This speaks highly of the students attending the conference. They had the day off and could have done whatever they wanted today," he said.
Linda Girardi