Born for Greatness Youth Empowerment

Youth of the Week- Teen becomes a Morehouse College student at 13 years old

tamara — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:08:16 +0000

Stephen Stafford chafes at the label “genius” – even if he is the youngest student in the history of Atlanta’s Morehouse College. “I just consider myself 15,” says the former Detroit resident. Stephen made it to Morehouse at 13, the youngest student to enroll at the 150-year-old college once attended by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

His mother, Michelle Brown-Stafford, describes him as a child prodigy. Stephen began solving math problems at age 2. Brown-Stafford said she and her husband, Stephen, realized their son was advanced beyond his years while he was in kindergarten.

Stephen was four grades ahead of his peers in all classes but English. “I was only three grades ahead in English,” he said. “Math is a straight science, with straight answers, but English is more gray.” When Stephen’s math expertise exceeded his mom’s capability to teach him at 11, she approached Morehouse.

Source: Shawn D. Lewis, The Detroit News

Do you know of a child (or group of children) doing positive things? If so, we would like to feature them as the Born For Greatness Youth of the Week. Send a short bio. & photo to: Tamara@BFG-youth.com

Youth of the Week- Motivated Beauty Teenpreneur, Cymone Arnold

tamara — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:23:07 +0000

Cymone Arnold is a seventeen year old Motivated Beauty TeenPreneur, and has been with the company since it’s inception. She is the Jr. Ambassador of the South Carolina Chapter, where she is hired as a Consultant to work with Entrepreneurs to assist them with vending events, and/or Administrative duties as a Virtual Assistant. As a senior, Cymone’s greatest passion is to become a Medical Doctor since she adores working with the Elderly, she has had an apprenticeship at the Greenville Memorial Hospital. Like a lot of teen girls, Cymone loves fashion, and makeup.

September 17, 2011 Cymone (Pronounced Simone) Arnold was one of the Motivated Beauty Teens featured on the FOX (Carolina) News talking about the benefits of the Program and why it was created along with it’s main objectives. As a published contributing Writer, Cymone is published in The Ingredients: Leveraging YOU, where she shares her recipes to get out of her own way to become who GOD intended for her to be.

When she first started with Motivated Beauty, she was selling an all natural line of make-up, but realized it is better to start your own brand than to use others brand especially if sales are down and you can’t continue to order product, so she says she’d rather create her own make-up, jewelry and fashion line by combining all her passions for wellness and beauty. The one thing Cymone loves about her involvement with Motivated Beauty is that she gets to learn and explore many options as a teen, and then decided which business model is best for her so she can be successful as a teen and later as an adult.

Through Motivated Beauty TeenPreneur movement of empowerment, Cymone has learned to make handmade tote bags that she will be putting on her website, but for now she plans to sell them at various business fairs, and take orders in school. She also is interested in making handmade jewelry of precious stones and copper for it’s healing agents, and distribute a percentage of her proceeds to homes where elderly can flourish.

Motivated Beauty TeenPreneurs is an After School Program (founded by Daphne “DwriteWELL” Williams) where Teen girls are taught sound Self-Esteem, Humanitarian, Financial Literacy, Business Writing, On-Air Interviewing, Film-Making, Publishing, Internet Marketing, Media, Communications, and Public Relations Skills along with offering tutoring in various subjects of immediate need working with Mini-Preneurs too. For more information about the Motivated Beauty Teenpreneur program, visit: www.Facebook.com/MotivatedBeautyAcademy

Do you know of a child (or group of children) doing positive things? If So, we would like to feature them as the Born For Greatness Youth of the Week. Send a short bio. & photo to: Tamara@BFG-youth.com

The Best Gift You Can Give Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season Is: YOUR TIME

tamara — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:00:11 +0000

Retail stores are beginning the Black Friday sales early this year as they open their doors on Thanksgiving evening. While many consumers will scurry through the aisles in search of sale items, it makes me wonder if our culture has lost touch with what’s truly valuable. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy shopping. However, I also realize that there’s a gift that no Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale can offer, and that is time. Lately, the gift of time seems to be rare in our “always on the go” culture.

As I begin to reflect on my goals for 2012, I realize that I need to make a shift in priorities. I’m a successful business owner, so I would typically focus on expanding my business and bringing in more revenue for 2012. While this is still a priority to me, I am making the decision not to put it at the top of my priority list. If business growth and increasing revenue were to be at the top of my priority list, by default that would lead to a decrease in quality time that I spend with loved ones. So, for 2012 I am going to place things of non- monetary value at the top of my list. Now this does not necessarily mean that I will receive less in return. I truly believe that when I give of myself to others in quality time & service, the blessings will flow back to me. It’s the natural order of the universe, what you put out comes back to you multiplied. So instead of solely thinking from the mindset of what I want to achieve or receive, I am going to make a shift to focus on what I can give. I realize that this is an unorthodox way of approaching goals, especially in regards to business. The typical belief is that growth & prosperity are the direct result of hours dedicated to work or business, and in return, the benefits are the accumulation of “things” that can be bought with money.

Perhaps, as a culture we have our priorities twisted a bit. The laws of capitalism state that growth & prosperity comes from countless hours of work. However, spiritual laws state that growth & prosperity comes from using your life to be a blessing unto others. I believe that there is a happy balance between the two. However, many of us (including myself) weigh heavier on the side of being so busy from work, and can make more of an effort to shift to the side of dedicating more quality time to others. So this holiday season, you won’t find me scurrying through the aisles of retail stores. I’m going to take a step back to breathe in the moment, focus more on spiritual growth, and offer my friends & family the rare gift that they would consider most valuable to them… my time.

~Tamara Shirer

Youth of the Week: This Teen Rocks!!!

tamara — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:49:56 +0000

Recently featured on BET’s Black Girls Rock!, Leanna Archer is the youngest person to ever ring the NASDAQ Stock Market opening Bell, Leanna has been recognized as a Teen CEO to watch. At the tender age of 9 years old, Leanna became the CEO of her own hair product line, Leanna’s Inc. With her great grandmother’s secret recipe, Leanna decided to bottle, package and sell the hair products that had been in her family for generations. Today, at 15 years old, Leanna is running a successful enterprise that yields over $100,000 in revenues per year.

Not only is Leanna a successful Teen Entrepreneur, but she is also a voice of inspiration for today’s youth. Leanna is a motivational speaker and has dedicated her time to the enrichment and progressive movement of today’s teens. She has been a speaker at the Black Enterprise’s Teenpreneur’s Conference, has been a panelist at the ” What Makes A young Champion” Forum in Singapore, and was a speaker at the 2009 NAACP Youth Workshop, where she was honored for her entrepreneurialism. Apple has even sought after Leanna and requested her attendance at the 2010 Education Leadership Summit, an invite-only forum gathering hundreds of Education executives dedicated to bringing innovation and technology to the classroom.

With all of her amazing success and accomplishments, Leanna has Recognized the importance of altruism and has support many philanthropic as well as humanitarian efforts. In 2008, Leanna founded the Leanna Archer Education Foundation, an organization devoted to providing better opportunities for underpriviledged children in Haiti. Leanna’s goal is to built schools in Haiti, while providing a Safe learning environment for over 150 students.

Leanna’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Leanna has been profiled in some of the most powerful business publications including Forbes Magazine, Success Magazine, INC Magazine (30 under 30) and Ebony Magazine. Online web portal, AOL Black Voices, was also impressed with Leanna and positioned the Teen CEO as #5 on their list of ” Top 9 Young Lions” who are making Black History. Leanna has also been interviewed by several major media outlets, including NBC, MSNBC,ABC,FOX Business and BET. Leanna was recognized by Janet Jackson and management team, she met with them at the Radio City Hall and Janet is scheduling a trip to Haiti with Leanna later on this year to her Foundation.

To learn more about Leanna and her hair care products visit her website at: www.leannashair.com

Do you know of a child (or group of children) doing positive things? If so, we would like to feature them as the Born For Greatness Youth of the Week. Send a short bio & photo to: Tamara@BFG-youth.com

Conversation with an Author- featuring Tia Marie Boykins

tamara — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:33:52 +0000

A special thanks to Author, Tia Marie Boykins who spoke to the students in the Born For Greatness Youth Writers program during their monthly “Conversation with an Author” teleconference. Tia spoke to the students about her experience as a writer & shared writing tips with them.

Tia is the author of “She’s Worth Waiting For” and “Fast Friends” For more information about Tia Marie Boykins, visit her website at: http://tiamarieboykins.com

Youth of the Week: 6 year old author, Alexanjria Nicole Washington

tamara — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:58:29 +0000

6-year-old Alexanjria Nicole Washington loves to write, color and draw. One day she decided to write her story about the day she was born and how she got her name. The end result is a story/activity book that is sure to entertain any child.

(Alexanjria at her book signing)

To learn more about Alexanjria & her book “The Naming of Alex” visit her website at: http://www.pinkkisspublishing.com/Alex.html

Do you know of a child (or group of children) doing positive things? If so, we would like to feature them as the Born For Greatness Youth of the Week. Send a short bio & photo to: Tamara@BFG-youth.com

Youth of the Week: At-Risk Kids In Philadelphia Are On The Fast Track To Success

tamara — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:45:22 +0000

At-Risk kids from Philly are on the fast track to success at the Urban Youth Racing School. The Nationally acclaimed Urban Youth Racing School is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, with a second program in Washington DC. UYRS operates a complete full service mechanic/race shop and office complex at its headquarters in Philadelphia. The program enrolls urban boys and girls ages 8 through 18 and is free for all participants. Over 2000 boys and girls have successfully completed UYRS programs with noticeable improvements in academic achievement. Currently, the school maintains a waiting list for enrollment.

The core program offering is the Build-A-Dream Program, which is a 10 week orientation and training program (5 in-class sessions, 5 track sessions) that serves 200 students each year. Additional programs include the Team Development and Engine Design Programs which are year long programs that race competitively up and down the east coast in super mini cup cars. These two programs serve an additional 50 students each year. The Urban Youth Racing School’s special events include: UYRS Grand Prix of Philadelphia, UYRS Annual Awards Ceremony, and an Annual UYRS Official Fundraiser.

To learn more about the Urban Youth Racing School, visit: www.urbanyouthracingschool.com

Do you know of a child (or group of children) doing positive things? If so, we would like to feature them as the Born For GreatnessYouth of the Week. Send a short bio. & photo to: Tamara@BFG-youth.com

Youth of the Week: Connell Wise, Founder of US Youth Chamber of Commerce

tamara — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:58:45 +0000

Connell Wise is the founder and CEO of the U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce – “The World’s 1st Chamber of Commerce For 13-25 Year Old Business Executives and Social Change Makers.” Despite living with A.D.D., 2nd degree heart block, Asthma and being a type II Diabetic, Connell has been a youth rights advocate for the past 6 years and has brought his beliefs of youth-involvement in government to both local and national levels.

In several capacities, Connell has worked for the District of Columbia government as a Government Commissioner over the Executive Office of The Mayor Office of Volunteerism, as well as his work as a President Barack Obama campaign fellow. Previous to this, Connell founded C.W.B.N. (Connell Wise Broadcasting Network) an online news website that gives teens a place to report what is happening in their community and offers a forum to discuss how they feel about it.

Currently Connell is in his 3rd year as a double major in college studying Business Management with a concentration in Non-Profit Management and a Communication concentration in Television Production/Digital Video.Currently Connell is workig as a Employment Investigator with the D.C. Government. Connell is recently received Presidential recognition for his volunteerism receiving the Bronze,Silver and Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Connell also received the President’s Call to Service Award for having over 4,000 hours of volunteer service over a lifetime.

Connell is an active member of Community Emergency Response Team in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Medical Reserve Corp. Connell currently serves in the Executive Function with three Non-profit corporations the National Youth Rights Association as the Director for Political Affairs and with The Learning Disability Association of Massachusetts as their Clerk and Finance Director.

To learn more about the US Youth Chamber of Commerce visit: www.USYouthChamber.com

Do you know of a child (or group of children) doing positive things? If so, we would like to feature them as the Born For GreatnessYouth of the Week. Send a short bio. & photo to: Tamara@BFG-youth.com

I Was SICK & TIRED Of Being Left Behind!!!

tamara — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:45:11 +0000

When I was 6 years old I had a defining moment in my life, and I have a picture perfect memory of that day… That year I spent the summer in Georgia with my aunt, uncle & 3 cousins (all girls). My cousins were between the ages of 8 – 14 yrs. old, so I was the youngest in the bunch. I had a ball with my cousins that summer playing & living a carefree life as children should. It was all good until my cousins decided to go bike riding around the neighborhood. At that point I didn’t know how to ride a bike, so I was always left behind when they decided to go joy riding around.

On this particular day, I was bursting from the seams with frustration, and I was SICK & TIRED of being left behind. So I pulled my bike out, hoped on, wobbled around & fell down! I repeated this for about an hour or two. But something in me would not give in, so I continued to wobble around & fall down, wobble around & fall down, until I finally got it! By the time my cousins came back, I was riding my bike with ease, and even showing off a bit Well, that is until it was time to stop & I went crashing into the neighbor’s yard! I didn’t quite get as far as learning how to master the brakes yet, so my cousins had to give me the quick tutorial. That night when the street lights came on, I went back into the house bruised up a bit, but I was scared with pride! The next day when my cousins decided to go joy riding around the neighborhood… guess who WAS NOT left behind this time!?

That story is a monumental moment in my life, because it’s an analogy to what we experience in life. The ONLY difference between those who achieve BIG dreams in life, and those who don’t is the determination to keep getting back up after a fall, or even complete failure!

There is a world of OPPORTUNITY and PROSPERITY out there & we see that there are people living this reality! Many of them had to wobble, fall or fail on their path to success.. However, they kept getting back up because they refused to simply be a spectator of their dreams & be left behind as life moved on!

Youth of the Week: A Delaware Teen Flies High! (Literally)

tamara — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:11:26 +0000

Napiera Symone Shareef is flying high in life, both literally & figuratively. Challenging herself academically, has always been one of Napiera’s favorite modes of competition. Since 6^th grade, Napiera has been on the “Distinguished Honor Roll,” with a 4.0 GPA each semester, all year, every year!

A member of the National Junior Honor Society, her academic awards are too numerous to mention, but one of her proudest moments was in the 7^th grade when she won an all expense paid trip to Anaheim, California. Napiera represented the State of Delaware competing and placing 3^rd nationally at the Business Professional of America (BPA) , National competition. At that same competition she was selected as the “National Recruiter of the year.”

This past summer she attended the Organization of Black Aerospace Professional’s Aviation Camp (OBAP). There she got to meet some of the “Tuskegee Airmen” and even learned how to fly a small jet plane.

Community involvement is very important to Napiera. She is active with her church and “Loves” when she can help with “Feeding the Community,” or working with children.

When asked how she stays so focused academically, Napiera commented that she sets her goals at the beginning of the school year, and then she pushes herself to work hard to accomplish them. “No one knows me better than me”. “I am achieving now… building for my future.” She hasn’t quite decided what career path she’s interested in. She just knows that it has to be something associated with Math and/or Science which she is very passionate about. She‘s Bold, Beautiful, Smart and Napiera Symone Shareef is Born For Greatness!