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Link alumna starts college scholarship organization

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In the Link tradition of “giving back to the community”, Alecia Barnett’ 06, launched her non-profit organization, Seymour Be More! to provide support to youth in underserved communities, helping them “cultivate upward mobility in social and professional development.” In partnership with her cousin Malikah Morris, she named the nonprofit after the street they grew up on in Newark, NJ to honor their late grandparents. Currently, they are serving their hometown of Newark, NJ with plans to expand to other cities throughout the country in the future.

Right now, Seymour Be More is offering five $1,000 scholarships to residents of Newark or graduates of a high school in Newark, NJ who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or enrolled in trade school. To apply for a scholarship and for additional eligibility requirements, click here. The deadline for this year’s scholarships is September 12, 2020.

When Alecia reached out to Link to share the scholarship opportunity, she also  brought  us up-to-date on her life. After graduating from Link, Alecia attended Science Park High School and then Penn State University, where she earned a B.S. in Labor Studies and Labor Relations. She is thriving in her career in Human Resources, having worked for Amazon and now working  in Human Resources Operations as a People Operations Partner at Facebook. Alecia stated that she is grateful for having had Link’s Core Values instilled in her throughout her tenure at the school. She states “ I am who I am today because of Link and grateful to be able to give back to my community! “ She remembers fondly her first international experience, through Link, to The Island School in Eleuthera, The Bahamas, and credits it for inspiring her passion for travel, culture, and water sports.

For giving back to the community and the Core Values of respect, responsibility, caring, and doing one’s best. As well as for “giving back”: two claps and a stomp for Alecia!!!

Learn more about Seymour Be More on Facebook and Instagram.

Dr. Keisha Mack ’84 credits Link with empowering her to fill mental healthcare gaps for unserved communities

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Link recently caught up with Dr. Keisha Mack ’84 who truly lives a life following Link’s Core Value of “caring for others” by giving back to her community. Upon graduating from Link, Keisha attended Mt. St. Dominic Academy and continued on to Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, followed by a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology. After her time at Howard, Keisha continued her education at The George Washington University, earning a Doctorate of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. Keisha, a licensed clinical psychologist, has used her education to give back to others.

As a founding partner of The MECCA Group, LLC, a private psychological and rehabilitative services consulting firm in Washington D.C., Keisha and her partner have focused on providing care to under served youth and families who live in D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Inspiration for the company came during Keisha’s time as a post-doctoral clinician in Washington, D.C., where she and her colleagues acknowledged the need to better serve minorities and under served youth within the area. Recognizing this, they took matters into their own hands and formed the company which works with charter schools, the majority of which serve youth of color, to provide care to students with special needs whose mental health needs might be otherwise overlooked or not adequately met. They use a holistic approach to counseling and behavior support, which emphasizes the importance of accounting for one’s individual culture and cultural identity. Former Link teacher Ms. Kathy Rehack, a language arts instructor, helped Keisha see the importance of this early on. Keisha said Ms. Rehack was one of her favorite teachers at Link in part because of how sensitive and aware she was of the importance of respecting the cultural backgrounds of her students. In particular, Keisha fondly recalls when Ms. Rehack, a white teacher, taught the Black National Anthem (Lift Every Voice and Sing) in sign language to her class.

Along with giving back to the community in her professional life, Keisha also serves others in her personal time. As an active member of the charity Twelve Days of Christmas, Incorporated , where she currently serves as Parliamentarian on the National Board, Keisha helps provide Christmas presents and school supplies for underprivileged children in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In addition to this, Keisha also sits on the Board of Directors for the Williams Franklin Foundation which gives students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) academic scholarships as well as mentoring and internship opportunities. Finally, she is also a very active member of the Howard University Alumni Club of Greater Washington DC, where she has served as vice president, supporting students attending Howard University through programming and scholarships.

When asked what part Link played in all of her success Keisha responded, “Link instilled the idea that I could do whatever I wanted, and that college and beyond was not a choice; it was a given.” Furthermore, Keisha said Link not only provided her with an environment which encouraged her to become her best self but also gave her the tools and support to do so. Through Link, Keisha participated in programs, such as the Prudential After School Enrichment Program, where she was exposed to different cultures and opportunities that made her want to grow as a person by embracing all the world had to offer. In addition to all this, Keisha emphasized. “Link was more than a school; it was a community – a “safe haven” in a tough area where you always felt supported.” It is for this reason that when Keisha meets up with her two lifelong friends, Monique Outerbridge and Crystal Fedd Tolliver, whom she met on her first day at Link, they still recite the Link cheer, “Linker! So proud to be a Linker! So proud to be a L-I-N-K-E-R!”

Keisha Mack headshot (1)
Keisha Mack MH Fair 2019 (1)
Keisha Mack ScholarAwardCeremony 2
Keisha Mack WF 2018 Fundraiser
Keisha Mack Emerging Leaders Graduation (1)
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Keyshawn Phelps ’11 sets up scholarship for high school students

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Keyshawn Phelps providing advice to students at his HS alma mater, University Heights HS.

“Always go for it and don’t shy away from your goals.” This is the motto of Keyshawn Phelps ’11, who recently reconnected with Link. Keyshawn graduated from University High School (2015) and, this past spring, graduated from Virginia State University (2019) with a degree in mechanical engineering. Currently, Keyshawn works as a systems engineer for Northrop Grumman in Melbourne, Florida and will begin to pursue a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Florida Tech in January 2020. He landed his job by “going for it” – pitching himself to a Northrop Grumman executive during a chance encounter on an elevator at a networking conference. Whether it be breaking into the engineering field where only 4.1% of degree earners are African American (ASEE, 2017), or landing a job with one of the biggest government contractors in America, one would be correct in saying that Keyshawn has taken his own advice and “gone for it.”

Keyshawn discovered his passion for engineering in the sixth grade through his participation in an after school robotics club and decided he wanted a career in the engineering field. He put in the hours, both inside the classroom studying and outside of it networking, to make his dream a reality.

In addition to his tremendous work ethic and opportunistic outlook, Keyshawn largely attributes his success to his education, saying “education is everything.” The cornerstone of Keyshawn’s education was laid during his time at Link as he states, “Link showed me the way to be successful in education; it showed me the blueprint.” In addition to providing a solid educational foundation, Link also helped Keyshawn learn the importance of giving back. Keyshawn recalls that at Link the teachers and staff always went the extra mile and created a school climate where kids were constantly challenged and rewarded for their efforts and successes. In particular, Mr. Michael Wilson ’94, Link’s former basketball coach and also a Link alumnus, impacted Keyshawn’s life. Mr. Wilson became Keyshawn’s mentor during his time at Link and the two remain in contact – talking on a daily basis. In addition to Mr. Wilson, Keyshawn’s mom has also played a huge role in his life. She has showed him firsthand what hard work and dedication look like day in and day out. Keyshawn has himself gone the extra mile to give back to the community, founding the “Just Want to Inspire” scholarship, which gives two Newark residents (one male and one female) $500 each for their college education.

Link could not be more proud of Keyshawn and his achievements. We hope that Keyshawn continues to inspire others and that you follow his words of advice to “never give up.”

Link Alumnus to speak at A Taste of Newark

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Link is pleased to announce that Khalid Jordan, Link Class of 2006, will be the Alumni Speaker at Link’s Annual gala fundraiser, A Taste of Newark, to be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at NJPAC in Newark. Khalid, who is pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, will speak to the impact that Link had on his life.

After graduating from Link in 2006, Khalid Jordan attended Science Park High School for his freshman year before transferring to and graduating from Arts High School, where he was following the family legacy and majored in Television Production. During high school, Khalid played football for Malcolm X. Shabazz High School which led to an athletic scholarship to play football at Howard University in Washington, D.C. While at Howard, Khalid procured various internships with companies such as Sesame Workshop as well as  BET (DC and NY) and other Viacom companies. After graduation from college, he moved to California to work in the entertainment industry, beginning his career in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor talent agency. After three and a half years working in the Television Literary and Digital Department, Khalid gained employment as a manager at Mass Appeal and then landed his current position as a Creative Development Executive at Warner Brothers Television.

We are thrilled that Khalid will share his reflections with our guests at A Taste of Newark, and hope that his fellow Link alumni come out that evening to reconnect with him and with Link!

Link Alumna Lawrese Brown motivates Linkers!

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Lawrese Brown and studentsLawrese Brown ’02 inspired students in Morning Circle last week, encouraging them to consider their education as an “investment” in themselves and to believe that “anything is possible if you want it badly enough.” She told students that every experience, no matter good or bad, “allows you to get better” and that “what only seems bad will get better and build you for the future.” She suggested students “find people who will support you” and to “support others rather than shame them.” Students were motivated and energized by Lawrese’s speech!

After graduating from Link, Lawrese, who had been a NJSEEDs scholar, attended Westover School, a boarding school in Connecticut. She earned a B.A. from Gettysburg College and now is enrolled in New York University’s graduate school, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Advocacy and Politics. Lawrese runs her own business – Brown Coaching and Consulting LLC, an organization that creates learning partnerships with organizations, colleges and community groups to promote confidence, resiliency and achievement. She has facilitated workshops for students at the boys and Girls Club, Step Up, Big Brothers Big Sisters and other organizations serving youth. Link is so pleased that Lawrese returned to share her experiences beyond middle school and her advice with our students.

Alumni speak to Linkers about high school

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Taylor Jones ’09 and Rafiki Johnson ’09, now seniors at American History High in Newark visited Link today, assisting with recruitment for their high school. They spoke to students during Morning Circle, encouraging students to do their best. They both said they were well prepared at Link for high school, but advised students to “study hard” and take advantage of all the Link has to offer, so that they are ready for high school, as it is “much harder” than middle school.

Taylor has been accepted to Drew University to major in English and education and plans to teach English after graduation. Rafiki is headed to New York University in the fall to study journalism. Both students are recipients of scholarships to attend college. Congratulations to Taylor and Rafiki! Link is proud of you!

Link hopes that more members of Link’s Class of 2009 update us on your progress and your next educational step! Email us now and tell us about your plans!

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