Cookies help us to understand how you use our website so that we can provide you with the best experience when you are on our site. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.
Manage Cookies
A cookie is information stored on your computer by a website you visit. Cookies often store your settings for a website, such as your preferred language or location. This allows the site to present you with information customized to fit your needs. As per the GDPR law, companies need to get your explicit approval to collect your data. Some of these cookies are ‘strictly necessary’ to provide the basic functions of the website and can not be turned off, while others if present, have the option of being turned off. Learn more about our Privacy and Cookie policies. These can be managed also from our cookie policy page.
Strictly necessary cookies(always on):
Necessary for enabling core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. This cannot be turned off. e.g. Sign in, Language
Analytics cookies:
Analytical cookies help us to analyse user behaviour, mainly to see if the users are able to find and act on things that they are looking for. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. Tools used: Google Analytics
Social media cookies:
We use social media cookies from Facebook, Twitter and Google to run Widgets, Embed Videos, Posts, Comments and to fetch profile information.
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinEmail this link
Examine the importance of equitable, inclusive education and careers. Come learn the importance of uplifting Blackness in S.T.E.A.M. Recorded Join us THURSDAY, FEB 3, 12:00PM-1:30PM
Meet the Panelists:
Dr. Olester Benson is currently a Corporate Scientist in the 3M Corporate Research Process Laboratory. His career experience includes leading research efforts developing environmentally friendly manufacturing process technologies using 3M’s precision engineering infrastructure and high-energy radiation. He has applied these technologies to create products in the medical, personal safety, traffic safety, renewable energy, aerospace, home improvement, semiconductor processing, and electronic display industries.
Gary D. Hines is the Music Director and Producer of the 3-time, Grammy Award-Winning Sounds of Blackness. Jazz, Blues, Spirituals, Rock & Roll, R&B, Gospel, Hip-hop & Soul -These are The Sounds of Blackness! They've performed for Kings, Queens, Presidents, Ambassadors at Concert Halls, Colleges, Schools, Corporations & Festivals all over the World. Sounds of Blackness appearances include The Olympics, The World Cup, Ryder's Cup, The NFL, NBA, MLB, The Grammy Awards, Denver Summit of 8, The NAACP National Convention and -The Super Bowl. Sounds of Blackness has appeared with Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Sting, Prince, Elton John, Maya Angelou, Usher, Harry Belafonte, Aloe Black, Common, John Legend & many more. Sounds of Blackness has won Image, Soul Train, International Time For Peace, Stellar and 3 Grammy Awards! Their Life-Changing Top 10 Single & Video “ROYALTY" was Nominated for 2 Stellar and 2 NAACP Image Awards! We Glorify God by Inspiring All People Through Black Music! “Gary has also conducted countless Music Workshops, Seminars, Lecture-Demonstrations and Master Classes across the United States and internationally about the history, impact and evolution of African-American music and culture.”
Joyce Piert, Ph.D., (aka Dr. P), is an Educational Consultant and Passion Coach. As an Educational Consultant, she partners with organizations to support and strengthen families through African-Centered Curriculum development. She also is an experienced Passion Coach and provides her clients with life-enhancing skills through unique Meta Awareness modalities. As a community and intellectual activist, Dr. P has been instrumental in the creation of several businesses that address the academic and interpersonal needs of youth and young adults Dr. P is the author of several books: Alchemy of the Soul: An African Centered Education and Warrior Queen. She is committed to enhancing the life chances of children, youth and adults from urban communities. As well as an educator and mindfulness advocate, Dr. P is an author, painter, and poetess. However, most significantly she loves to play and believes that play is the key to learning!
Gevonee Ford is the Executive Director of Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) in Saint Paul, MN. NcCAD serves “children, families, and communities throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, offering a variety of literacy and cultural enrichment programs and services for children, youth, and adults."
Jenessa White is a Software Engineer at ConvertKit living in Minneapolis. She’s a professional athlete who loves listening to hot takes on tech, music, sports, and food. They are on the Minnestar board of directors, are active in the Twin Cities community, and believe technology can help create change.
Examine the importance of equitable, inclusive education and careers. Come learn the importance of uplifting Blackness in S.T.E.A.M. Recorded Join us THURSDAY, FEB 3, 12:00PM-1:30PM
Meet the Panelists:
Dr. Olester Benson is currently a Corporate Scientist in the 3M Corporate Research Process Laboratory. His career experience includes leading research efforts developing environmentally friendly manufacturing process technologies using 3M’s precision engineering infrastructure and high-energy radiation. He has applied these technologies to create products in the medical, personal safety, traffic safety, renewable energy, aerospace, home improvement, semiconductor processing, and electronic display industries.
Gary D. Hines is the Music Director and Producer of the 3-time, Grammy Award-Winning Sounds of Blackness. Jazz, Blues, Spirituals, Rock & Roll, R&B, Gospel, Hip-hop & Soul -These are The Sounds of Blackness! They've performed for Kings, Queens, Presidents, Ambassadors at Concert Halls, Colleges, Schools, Corporations & Festivals all over the World. Sounds of Blackness appearances include The Olympics, The World Cup, Ryder's Cup, The NFL, NBA, MLB, The Grammy Awards, Denver Summit of 8, The NAACP National Convention and -The Super Bowl. Sounds of Blackness has appeared with Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Sting, Prince, Elton John, Maya Angelou, Usher, Harry Belafonte, Aloe Black, Common, John Legend & many more. Sounds of Blackness has won Image, Soul Train, International Time For Peace, Stellar and 3 Grammy Awards! Their Life-Changing Top 10 Single & Video “ROYALTY" was Nominated for 2 Stellar and 2 NAACP Image Awards! We Glorify God by Inspiring All People Through Black Music! “Gary has also conducted countless Music Workshops, Seminars, Lecture-Demonstrations and Master Classes across the United States and internationally about the history, impact and evolution of African-American music and culture.”
Joyce Piert, Ph.D., (aka Dr. P), is an Educational Consultant and Passion Coach. As an Educational Consultant, she partners with organizations to support and strengthen families through African-Centered Curriculum development. She also is an experienced Passion Coach and provides her clients with life-enhancing skills through unique Meta Awareness modalities. As a community and intellectual activist, Dr. P has been instrumental in the creation of several businesses that address the academic and interpersonal needs of youth and young adults Dr. P is the author of several books: Alchemy of the Soul: An African Centered Education and Warrior Queen. She is committed to enhancing the life chances of children, youth and adults from urban communities. As well as an educator and mindfulness advocate, Dr. P is an author, painter, and poetess. However, most significantly she loves to play and believes that play is the key to learning!
Gevonee Ford is the Executive Director of Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) in Saint Paul, MN. NcCAD serves “children, families, and communities throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, offering a variety of literacy and cultural enrichment programs and services for children, youth, and adults."
Jenessa White is a Software Engineer at ConvertKit living in Minneapolis. She’s a professional athlete who loves listening to hot takes on tech, music, sports, and food. They are on the Minnestar board of directors, are active in the Twin Cities community, and believe technology can help create change.
We invite you to use this virtual space to continue the discuss. Please leave your feedback and insights on any of the prompts below. Leave your response below.
If you could share a critical message with community about the importance of STEAM, what message would you share?
If you could share a message with policy makers on implementing policy or processes that assist in removing racial barriers, what would it be?
How does Black History affect our Future?
How do you want to make the world a better place, as you grow?
What is your life's blueprint? -Question and Statement by Dr. Martin Luther King ( reference the video below )
Leave your responses below.
Please note the Code of Conduct for this discussion:
We ask that you please:
1. be respectful of all users at all times. This means please use etiquette and politeness. Treat people with kindness and gentleness. If you do this the rest of the Code of Conduct won't need more than a cursory mention.
2. respect the forum staff. We provide a service in our free time to keep the forums running efficiently. We will occasionally ask for your input about your posting, but in most cases we will not; please respect our decisions. Also, we may edit for content, so if you have an issue with our moderation, please contact an administrator or moderator by private message.
3. refrain from using the board to send abusive or harassing private messages or emails.
4. remember that these forums are read by people of all ages so we strive to maintain postings appropriate to everyone.
5. report to a moderator or administrator privately if you have found a post that you feel is inappropriate or that violates the forum Code of Conduct. While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message, so we appreciate your assistance. Please do not start a debate in the open forum by responding to the post.
We further ask you to:
1. understand that all posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author and not those of the administrators, moderators or webmaster (except for posts by these people).
2. agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening material or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. Any of these actions may result in your being temporarily or permanently banned from these forums, and your service provider may also be informed.
3. understand that the webmaster, administrators and moderators of this forum have the right to send a private message with a warning, and/or may censor any forum user who is in violation of forum policy.
4. acknowledge that, if you continue to violate this Code of Conduct, your account will be reviewed and you could be banned.
5. understand that the forum resolution team (currently the administrators) has the sole discretion to ban violators of this Code of Conduct.
Examples of inappropriate actions that may result in banning:
Flaming and condescending messages: Flames are messages that personally attack, call people names, or otherwise harass another forum member (or any person). These, along with any generally condescending posts, will be removed at the moderators’ discretion. This is a banning offense.
If the thread is flame-bait (appears to be intended to start an argument or is likely to cause an argument rather than enhance discussion), it will be locked or removed without notice. A post including flame-bait may be deleted or edited at the moderators' discretion. Users who continue to post in this manner or engage in other questionable practices like trolling (posting in an attempt to engage people in arguments), will be banned.
Sounds of Blackness Single - “TIME FOR REPARATIONS” Is Nominated for an Image Award! It is The Anthem of Today’s Racial Justice Movement!
Piert
Dr. Joyce Piert dreamt of a school to embrace and center the African experience. The dream in the night ignited the journey that led to this book, which was to discover answers to critical questions such as: What is an African-centered education model? How do former students perceive this experience? And can, or even should, this educational model be effectively adopted in traditional public schools? Joyce Piert offers this book as a critical resource to parents, educators, potential teachers, community leaders, and policymakers who are seriously pondering the question of how to provide all students with a holistic educational experience.
Dr. Joyce Piert invites you on a metaphysical journey embedded in a collection of poetry. It is the story of Sesuwut. a Galactic BEing, as she accepts the call to come to Earth and play a role in the planetary ascension. This story is interwoven with the language of poetry that reveals aspects of her journey here as she reflects through her ancestral realms, through love, kinship, and her own philosophical ponderings.
WE MUST KNOW OUR PAST IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AND DEFINE OUR FUTURE
The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) is a family education center based in St. Paul, Minnesota. We serve children, families, and communities throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, offering a variety of literacy and cultural enrichment programs and services for children, youth, and adults.
It Takes A Village! The history of NdCAD's Book Give-a-Way Program