The Foundation has many exciting updates from July of 2024!

     July started with a beautiful executive retreat in New London, NH, where the HGB team gathered to discuss accomplishments from the past year, as well as what is to come in the future. We enjoyed outstanding performances from some of our participants from BridgeUP: Theater in the Schools as well as BridgeUP: Bootcamp Company. They put on a mini-showcase, singing various songs from theater productions. It was a real treat to see these Scholars in their respective academic and professional journeys. We are fortunate to have such inspiring individuals as part of our community.

     BridgeUP + OUT Scholars are well into their Public Health and Racial Justice Program at Mount Sinai. The program serves young women of color, ages 15-18 years of age from various boroughs in NYC. Over the course of six weeks, they explore a variety of public health topics through a racial justice lens, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement, community advocacy, youth activism, and a diverse health workforce. Week three of the program exemplified one of the most important parts of the program – its grounding in partnership. The program is strategically designed to engage and gather support from a  plethora of community based partners and Mount Sinai colleagues who contribute their valuable time, energy, and experience, enriching the program in beautiful ways!

     Down in Atlanta, our third cohort of BridgeUP: STEM Scholars are launching into their year-long computing program at Georgia Tech by completing their fully immersive summer coding bootcamp. Three area high school computer science teachers, led by David Stephens, facilitate this intensive with the assistance of two teaching assistants, one of whom is a returning Helen Fellow. The class topics include introductions to Python, gaming, EarSketch, and AI. Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to fireside chats with faculty mentors, allowing students to meet their research class faculty, learn about their career and academic pathways, and explore their research interests. According to the BridgeUP: STEM staff, Scholars thoroughly enjoyed these chats and eagerly engaged in one-on-one conversations with faculty members afterward. Fridays are reserved for community activities, including bowling and foosball at Tech Rec, ceramic activities at the Georgia Tech Paper and Clay studio, and a Google panel featuring women technologists who shared their personal and professional experiences. This event, sponsored by Georgia Tech’s Constellations Center for Equity in Computing, was a huge hit!

     In Memphis, Tennessee, our BridgeUP: Giddy UP riders have been busy with the EXEL shows, which had massive turnout. The program is gaining popularity in the mobile horse sphere, a key target achievement. The riding and interpersonal skills demonstrated by our student-athletes are developing into the qualities needed to drive real change. The students are also preparing for a pitch competition next week, working with Coach Kelvin on crafting effective presentations. Their topics revolve around equestrianism, equity, and the environment. A standout project to be presented is by one of our elite riders,, who has created an innovative horse feed product based on his research into what horses are traditionally fed versus what would be most beneficial nutritionally each season. His project is receiving high praise. His suggestion of a seasonal feed, mirroring what horses would eat in nature, is incredibly strategic. We are thrilled to see the mission of GiddyUP resonate with the students, who are thinking big for themselves, their community, and the environment.

     The Brown Institute is busy with continued innovation over the summer. At Columbia, they are midway through their intensive summer Entrepreneurship training program, led by Justin Hendrix and co-produced by Impact Fellow Eric Chen. Five teams are participating, including four Venture Challenge winners and one 2024 Magic Grant recipient. The program is progressing well, and Fellows recently visited Betaworks to meet with alumni engaged in various ventures, including Dan Morozoff of VidRovr, Jake Greenspan of Skolay, and Summer Delaney of CollabWORK.

     Lastly, our 2023 Genius Grant recipients at Capital B had a successful month with the second stop of the Black Political Power Tour in Atlanta. Over 200 people attended the panel discussions at their new office in Pittsburgh Yards, covering affordable housing, the wealth gap, school choice, voter engagement, and disenfranchisement. This event was a massive success and marks just the beginning of what is to come.

Tune in next month for more Foundation updates!