Meet 4.0’s 2021 Essentials Fellows
Tags: Education, Education Reform, Learning, Fellows, Innovation

Sophie Klimcak & Shasha Du | San Francisco, CA

About Sophie Klimcak: Sophie is a learning experience designer committed to providing students with equitable opportunities to cultivate a love of learning and meaning-making. She worked at the XQ Institute to support a cohort of innovative high schools around the country through programmatic design, building communities of practice, research, and evaluation. She has prioritized student curiosity, exploration, and connection as a Japanese-ESL leadership instructor, a college preparation resident advisor, an afterschool teacher, and an executive function + career coach for high school students. Sophie is a stargazer who holds a Master’s degree from the Harvard School of Education.

About Shasha Du: Shasha is a Product & Visual Designer who thrives in ambiguous problem spaces. In the past four years, she’s worked for three startups, two in education and one in criminal justice reform. Shasha’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to equity and human-centered design. As a visual & brand designer, Shasha believes that the key to captivating your audience lies in the balance between authentic storytelling and enchanting imagery. She is excited to build an org that brings joy to students every step of the way. Shasha is a stargazer who holds a Master’s degree from the Harvard School of Education.

About Their Idea: Wild Awake is a nonprofit organization dedicated to igniting BIPOC youth as joyful activists for both people and the planet, by curating interdisciplinary learning experiences that engage the human spirit. Wild Awake believes when students are provided with opportunities to wonder about their sense of place in the universe, feel connected and close to their community, and empowered/equipped with creative agency/tools, they can enact real, and lasting positive change in the world around them.

LinkedIn (Sophie) | LinkedIn (Shasha)

Doris Hage | Detroit, MI

About Doris Hage: Over the past 12 years, Doris Hage, Founder of Life on Purpose Detroit, LLC, has guided and worked with students, local unions, veterans, returning citizens, refugees, career transitioners, disabilities, at-risk youth, and displaced adults. As a Career Advisor, she not only placed students into work, but she helped students discover their purpose by removing self-limiting beliefs.

Doris has been an integral part of Post Secondary Education, helping to facilitate the openings of Post-Secondary schools. She has built a robust way of identifying the educational needs of others through Vocational Training. Through the years, she has developed multiple programs, workshops, and classes and teaches others on social issues inhibiting growth within a community or business. Doris has also served on numerous roundtables, spoken at various events, and was part of panel discussions regarding workforce development.

Through her experience, she has discovered three significant things that stopped people from success, fear, confidence, and circumstance. When you meet Doris, there is one undeniable thing, her passion, and purpose in her work. She has contagious energy to lift you right into the same power.

About Their Idea: Life on Purpose Detroit is an experiential and Interactive virtual training agency. We provide practical training and real-world training. Our team of dedicated professionals uses purpose-driven techniques to help youth and job seekers remove the barriers and get back to their core. We provide real-world scenarios and relatable experiences to connect with our students to understand better the processes they will face.

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Shaundranetta Wood | Washington, D.C.

About Shaundranetta Wood: Shaundranetta Wood is a mathematics educator in Washington, D.C. She has taught for 12 years and is currently working to obtain her Doctorate in Mathematics Education. Shaundranetta is the founder of Math Speaks which aims to increase STEM engagement amongst middle schoolers. She is a passionate educator with a thirst for learning about and enhancing the developmental mechanisms that foster equitable learning in mathematics for the youth of color, while simultaneously innovating and improving mathematics teaching strategies.

About Their Idea: Math Speaks is an out-of-school program that strives to increase the engagement and exposure of students of color to STEM professions through the exploration of math topics, understanding how they relate and affect our community. To help students excel in math; our strategy is to offer culturally relevant, innovative, and engaging educational experiences based on students’ interests and community issues.

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Tameca Wood | Largo, MD

About Tameca Wood: Mrs. Tameca Wood is committed to cultivating passionate learners who fulfill purpose and prosper. Using the science of learning to create meaningful educational experiences and construct conceptual understanding that lasts a lifetime, “Authors Among Us” closes the literacy gap by connecting children of color to books they love, topics they enjoy, characters that resemble them, and authors that look like them. Tameca Wood fearlessly blazes educational trails through uncharted territory to innovatively inspire learners of all ages to success.

About Their Idea: “Authors Among Us” aspires to heal the disconnect in reading by inspiring a love for literacy amongst black and brown youth in 2nd — 4th grade by facilitating an immersive and interactive virtual hour with an author of children’s literature who has the same ethnic background, gender, life disposition, or other culturally relevant connection to learners. This hour includes real-life connections, community builders, academic integration, and a read-aloud by the author. Children receive a copy of the author’s book to diversify their personal library.

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Morgan Breon | Detroit, MI

About Morgan Breon: MORGAN BREON graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with an: MSW, EdMA, BA Psychology and BA English. She is an award-winning playwright for her plays, Waking Up Alive and Portrait of A Wise Woman. She was a: 2017 Mitten Lab Fellow, 2017–2018 University Musical Society (UMS) Artist-in-Residence, 2018 Playwriting Scholarship Recipient for PlayPenn Theatre and a 2018 Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellow. She recently self-published a book and workbook, A Refugee of Me, using poetry to discuss mental health. In 2017, Breon founded Heal.Be.Live., LLC, a for-profit company that uses art to start conversations in community. #ART-ivism | www.healbelive.com

About Their Idea: THE W.I.T.C.H. uses theatre, facilitated dialogue and action planning to help educators/practitioners identity and advocate for symptoms of trauma amongst black youth. The presentation will begin with a performance of “THE W.I.T.C.H.,” followed by a facilitated discussion about the issues the performance raises. Participants will be asked to identify significant themes present in the performance.

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Tara Kees| New Orleans, LA

About Tara: Tara Kees is a customer service delegate based in New Orleans, La. She has worked in the healthcare field for over ten years at several well known healthcare facilities in the community as well as in Birmingham, Al. Tara is very passionate about helping others and concentrates on the young adults in the community. In early 2020 she founded This Way Ladies to embrace a culture of young ladies to provide them with direction to self-esteem, etiquette, financial planning, life goals, exposure to other cultures and positive living. She is anticipating what the partnership with the fellowship will create.

About Their Idea: This Way Ladies is a program to challenge young ladies in all aspects to achieve excellence, positive experiences and living that they can sustain throughout life. This Way Ladies will help young ladies develop long lasting friendships and leadership skills, be a vested and valued member of the community, fellowship through service opportunities, instill a bond by membership, and resistance to the need of being liked and belongings. The class will be a safe place for young ladies to discuss real life events, honestly share their feelings on these issues and talk about better resolutions in the community.

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Toyin Augustus | Exeter, NH

About Toyin Augustus: Toyin Augustus is an Olympian, educator and justice advocate currently teaching and coaching at Phillips Exeter Academy. While there she has innovated experiential learning trips, community programming, and affinity spaces for justice, inclusion and diversity. She also founded Across the Tracks Consulting to provide DEI training for adult learners in the educational ecosystem. Graduating with a Masters from UPenn, Toyin aims to growth her impact through the launch of a non-profit which seeks to transform high school athletes into heroes for social justice. She is excited about co-creating throughout the fellowship.

About Their Idea: Just Heroes is a 10-week after-school program partnering with high poverty schools to offer a transformational learning structure and process to student athletes. Our skilled life coaches guide athletes through social-emotional and project based learning methods which deepen self-awareness and connection to others while preparing them to make social impact. Athletes leverage the mindsets and skills of sports to emerge as heroes innovating solutions to the symptoms and systems of poverty.

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Yawntreshia Coleman | Birmingham, AL

About Yawntreshia Coleman: Yawntreshia Coleman is an education advocate based in Birmingham, AL. Passionate about making an impact through economics and advocacy, she educates youth about finance and investing. Her goal is to create a new normal where entrepreneurship and wealth building are added into national & state education standards. She graduated from ODU in Norfolk, VA in 2004 with a degree in Business Administration Accounting and has worked as a staff accountant, public policy coordinator, and resource development manager before focusing on being a mompreneur. Coleman is raising 3 beautiful, strong-willed daughters with her husband of 18 years.

About Their Idea: Camp Trep is an education collaborative and youth entrepreneurial incubator that offers in-school sessions, business summer camp, and after school programming. The organization will train youth through three proposed programs: Four Corners, Campreneurs, and P.I.T.C.H. which fulfills the following four impact areas: Entrepreneurship, Interdisciplinary S.T.E.M. Enrichment, Leadership, and Community Innovation.

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Vanessa Douyon | Baltimore, MD

About Vanessa Douyon: Vanessa Douyon is a bilingual 1.5 generation Hatian-American, a seasoned educator, and a Mom. Vanessa brings deep experience in leading education organizations as a former teacher, co-founder of a diverse-by-design early learning center, and school network executive. Currently, Vanessa is a Partner at an education consulting firm, advising schools and foundations around the country on people operations, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is passionate about ensuring kids receive positive messages about themselves and each other and believes early language learning is a critical lever for educational equity.

About Their Idea: The Polyglot Tot makes it easy for kids to learn a second language at a pivotal time — from birth to age three. Whether parents and caregivers speak a second language or not, The Polyglot Tot provides easy-to-use, culturally competent resources: video stories, read-and-play along kits, music and reading libraries, and a local playdate finder. Our activities are low-lift for caregivers, double-vetted for quality, and designed by a cultural competency expert. We aim to break down the hurdles to learning a second language — setting your child up for strong academic success and prowess in working with people of all backgrounds.

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Victoria Hall | San Diego, CA

About Victoria Hall: Victoria Hall is a public school teacher of 15 years, and is passionate about elementary education, building strong relationships with families, and valuing each child’s unique contributions to the classroom and community. Victoria received a BA from Stanford University in 2005 and an MA in Education in 2006. She went on to study Public School Building Leadership and Administration, earning an MEd from Columbia University in 2011. Victoria lives in Southern California with her husband and two small children.

About Their Idea: The Reading Hall is a San Diego-based literacy mentorship program that connects volunteer reading mentors with elementary students in historically under-resourced areas. The program provides free one-on-one support to students and aims to strengthen reading skills, grow academic confidence, and build trusted relationships.

Waleeah Brooks | East Orange, NJ

About Waleeah Brooks: Waleeah Brooks is an educator born and raised in Newark, NJ. She has worked for 13 years as a secondary educator in public and charter schools. Making her home at KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, (NCA) in Newark, NJ. At NCA, she is a member of the English team and the Race, Equity and Incusion committee. Her goal is to create programs that increases equity opportunities for the students of Newark, NJ and the surrounding areas. She looks forward to building relationships and new skills from the fellowship.

About Their Idea: Akoben Academy is an afterscool program that provides enrichment and aftercare for 3rd and 4th graders in the city of Newark, NJ. Akoben Academy’s purpose is to provide academic enrichment, culutral engagement and the skills needed to close the opportunity gap. The after school program provides a safe and engaging experience for students and families.

William Bai | New Orleans, LA

About William Bai: William Bai is a rising sophomore at Tulane University, majoring in cell & molecular biology with minors in philosophy and liberal arts management. He is from San Jose, CA and is currently based in New Orleans, LA. William founded RoboRecovery in February 2021, noticing that untapped resources in the FIRST robotics community could have applications in improving educational equity and providing students with extracurricular STEM engagement. He’s previously competed in robotics for five years, taught robotics classes, and now wants to make robotics education accessible to all students. He looks forward to meeting other fellows and hearing their ideas.

About Their Idea: RoboRecovery is a program for schools that provides low-cost access to LEGO robotics and convenient educational solutions for these resources. RoboRecovery follows a two-stage solution model. First, donations of LEGO robots and parts are garnered from the FIRST robotics community across the United States, then shipped to New Orleans. Second, these resources are loaned to local schools. RoboRecovery will host free robotics teacher professional development workshops, provide complimentary lesson plans, and recruit volunteer teaching assistants to offer mentorship and technical support. RoboRecovery seeks to eliminate barriers to robotics currently seen in NOLA schools and alleviate class-based disparities in STEM education.

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Winston Daley | Boston, MA

About Winston Daley: Winston Daley began his career in finance, spending over a dozen years working for some of the country’s biggest institutional clients, before deciding to switch paths to work with youth development and in all areas of social justice, equity, and access. Born in Jamaica, Winston received his BS in Business and Entrepreneurial Studies from Suffolk University and his master’s degree from Northeastern University. Winston has worked in the nonprofit space in teen employment, environmental justice and athletics. He is now focused on creating better digital spaces for educators of color

About Their Idea: Agogos is a digital hiring platform and community of practice for educators of color. Agogos allowd educators to creadte dynamic profiles that provide more context and space for their experience and abilites that a standard resume. Schools receive a searchable always accesible connecting tool to a sought after pool of educators. Educators of color are now also able to network with each other, share supports, trade resources and be informed about all aspects of the field. Agogos is a one stop shop for educators of color.

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Yabundu Conteh | Bronx, NY

About Yabundu Conteh: Yabundu Conteh is a proud Sierra Leonean-American from The Bronx, NY. She is a recent graduate of Bryn Mawr College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Africana Studies. Yabundu is the Founder of New World Narrative, a social venture geared towards securing mental healthcare and educational opportunities for youth in The Bronx and Beyond. She aspires to use artistic mediums to connect, empower, and educate young people about the numerous social issues affecting our world today. During her free time, Yabundu also enjoys exploring global perspectives through the worlds of film, fashion, music and creative writing.

About Their Idea: The FIRE Institute is our summer arts program that is social justice oriented for youth in New York City. The Institute combines digital storytelling and hip hop pedagogy to teach high school scholars about issues relating to gentrification, urban housing, civic engagement, immigration rights, and more! Scholars will be able to learn how to utilize artistic mediums such as filmmaking, photography, podcasting and similar forms to convey the new knowledge they have acquired as well as share the inherent power of their own personal narratives.

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Xahej Bajipura | West Palm Beach, FL

About Xahej Bajipura: Public high school teacher and Executive Director of social inclusion nonprofit Show and Heal, Xahej Bajipura has had the honor to serve thousands of youth from diverse lived experiences from all corners of the globe, including the slums in India, to streets of San Francisco, a juvenile jail in Los Angeles, to public schools and therapeutic residential facilities in South Florida. She has discovered that young people are longing for connection, love, acceptance and belonging. It is her life’s purpose to channel her authenticity and inclusiveness to empower and inspire young people to love and accept themselves and others.

About Their Idea: At Show and Heal, our mission is in our name. We strive for recognition and acceptance of unique healing experiences through community collaboration. Mental health education and healing are not just for a particular community, but for everyone. Our newest curriculum “I’M Squared: Identity, Mental Health, and Mindfulness” intersects the impact of identity on mental health and practice of mindfulness tools to pre-teen and teens of BIPOC and underrepresented communities who have been historically and currently excluded from accessing mental health resources.

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