One Can Make a Difference!

Never underestimate the power of one silent player!  I was recently asked to be part of the Technical Education Advisory Board at Norcross High School.  As busy as my schedule is between work, family and community after reading the purpose of this board I knew I had to fit it in somehow – the impact of what the board is tasked will last a lifetime and positively influence our future leaders. 

At the meeting, I learned that the educators work extremely hard to find ways to send the students into the workforce armed with useful marketable skills such as engineering, robotics and information technology, to name a few.  

There are several organizations that partner with schools to engage the students in real world activities and the faculty at Norcross High School work with organizations such as DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and TSA (Technical Student Association).  Not all the students are able to participate in these programs and that is where funds are needed. I left that meeting on Monday trying to figure out how I could help and the answer came that Friday!

I ran into an IT Director, who shared with me that she attended a pre-screening for a third-part series and was just moved and she wanted to get involved.  I told her about the Technology Advisory Board of Norcross High and she signed on!  I then asked her to write about her experience so that I could share it with the faculty and staff of Norcross High and the Gwinnett community. Here in her own words…

“Last week I had the opportunity to sit in on a screening for an upcoming special hosted by a very popular Cable News personality.  She told us about a foundation she started with her husband that sends young women to college.  One startling observation for her was the career aspiration for all the young ladies was to be a Social Worker.  The reason, due to their life circumstances, this was the only career choice they had ever been exposed to. 

She also talked about her experience in the airport during Hurricane Katrina.  She recalled hearing one of the victims say to another one, 'No one is coming to get us.' She told us this really stuck with her as she thought about adversity facing many African Americans.  'No one is coming to get us.' If we are ever to reverse the cycle and create more opportunities for each other, we have to do it for ourselves. 

Sitting in a room full of IT professionals (mostly, African Americans), I felt ashamed.  I thought to myself, 'What am I doing to help? Why am I not doing more?'  Working at a company where you see diversity, it’s easy to think this is the norm in 'Corporate America.'

I don’t believe it’s not because people don’t want to help.  We are so busy earning a living and taking care of our families, the opportunity is just not taken. We can all do something.  So I walked out of the room determined to contribute something.  I wasn’t sure what, but I was going to figure it out."

And she did!  This IT Director reached out to her company’s Corporate Responsibility Department, and her company does matching grants for employees who donate to such projects.  She didn’t stop there; our anonymous supporter drafted a letter that will be sent out to all the attendees of the screening and her peers to get them on board.  Her goal is to raise enough funds to pay the necessary association fees for at least 30 students.

It takes just one person to make a difference in the lives of these students. By participating in these programs they will gain the skills needed to make them productive citizens in the community.