CATALYSTS Scholarship

“A mammy, a buck, a sad mulatto, an Uncle Tom or a coon. These were the only things you were allowed to be in Hollywood if you were Black” -My second-year professor, Julie Dash My favorite film genre is action/adventure. Some of my favorite films are Guardians of the Galaxy II, the Shaft series, John Wick, The Next Three Days and The Gray Man (I love an adrenaline rush!) While spending my whole life watching films, sometimes the good guy looked like me, however, most of them did not. For decades in Hollywood, people who were Black were caricatures and villains. As a film major in the honors program at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join the Black women and men holding screenwriter and director positions to keep moving forward in the fight against cinematic oppression (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of negative stereotypes in film and TV has supported hate crimes and racism that have led to the deaths of many innocent Black people. Furthermore, stereotypes destroy the minds and self-images of my community which continues the negative impacts of slavery even though we are already free. I am joining the ongoing movement of putting positive depictions of people of color on screen as heroes in our own stories. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black men and women stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. As the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, I felt a calling to use my film talents and network to give back to my community. During the Spring of 2024, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short which was shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The CATALYSTS Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can help to end racism in cinema and consequently our society. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. As I pursue a career in filmmaking, I will create films that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the CATALYSTS Scholarship can make this possible.

My healthcare journey stems from a profound passion for Biology and Endocrinology. Since childhood, an inherent desire to assist others drove me, but it was a poignant family experience that fueled my career aspirations. In 2014, my grandfather's battle with medical conditions prompted our daily 6 a.m. routine to prepare for dialysis or doctor's visits. Seven years of close observation revealed both exceptional care and systemic shortcomings in the healthcare system. Reflecting on my grandfather's journey solidified my calling to the healthcare profession. As a physician, my duty transcends medical diagnoses to provide unparalleled hospitality and address emotional and social needs. Committed to preventing other families from enduring what mine did, I approach each diagnosis holistically. Witnessing the smiles on patients' faces post-assistance is the satisfaction and calling I long for. Anticipating challenges and opportunities, each step in my journey propels me closer to a lasting impact in healthcare. Descriptions of me as hardworking, humble, disciplined, and patient resonate with those who know me—teachers, family, coaches, managers, and friends. While acknowledging these traits, I see myself as wholly dedicated to my craft, prepared to make sacrifices for my ambitions. In the fiercely competitive healthcare field, where applicants showcase impressive credentials, my differentiator lies in unwavering drive and the ability to transform criticism into growth. Fueled by guts, resilience, initiative, and tenacity, these traits distinguish me from peers. The problem I'm interested in solving in health careers is the need for more access to quality education and training opportunities for individuals aspiring to enter healthcare. If these issues were resolved, the world would significantly increase in well-trained and diverse healthcare professionals in areas, leading to an national improvement in healthcare services. To attack this challenge, I want to leverage creativity by exploring innovative and accessible educational platforms, such as online courses, to gain analytical data. However, to ensure everyone is involved at the national level, it would be best to involve academic institutions, healthcare providers, and technology companies to develop comprehensive training programs based on what skills drive the market. As President and Cohort Lead for the University Innovation Fellows Program, I am currently promoting awareness of existing educational resources and supporting initiatives that aim to make healthcare training more accessible. Another step I would take is to further my networking with professionals in the field who could contribute to addressing this issue. One year after graduation, I aim to launch a pilot program that addresses accessible healthcare education and form partnerships to increase reach and positive feedback. Five years later, I envision a fruitful global expansion, building a coalition and seeking community input. I envision national or international expansion, collaborating with educators, professionals, and policymakers for sustained impact and improvement. Building a coalition and seeking community input are crucial components of this vision.

"Can ghosts go to space?" my 5th-grade reading buddy asks me, confident that I, as a "big kid" will have the answer. His eyes gleamed out of his curiosity. Five minutes before, he asked if ghosts could eat. I grin wide and chuckle a little inside, but I was afraid I had no response other than "maybe" and "I hope so!" In high school, I volunteered to read with at-risk children -- most of whom were learning English as a second or third language. The 30-minute reading sessions with my reading buddies a few times a week were the highlight of my busy high school days. My buddy and I would scan through the selection of books, making sure to read only the books with topics that interested them. Each of my buddies loved learning and was extremely curious -- traits that I am sure will lead them down a successful path. I was grateful to have the chance to teach at-risk children and steadily watch as their reading levels increased every few sessions. I was proud of my reading buddies for reading through challenging books, asking great questions, and keeping an open mind throughout all the sessions. After volunteering to read with children with the organization Ebookbuddy, I have a different outlook on life. Seeing children light up when I tell them they're doing great, watching them persevere and keep trying even when they slip up on a few words, allowed me to step outside myself. I am now grateful to have been given the ultimate opportunity to help young, underprivileged children increase their reading and comprehension skills. As an ESOL student in elementary school myself, I needed someone to believe in me and take the extra time to help me understand concepts that other students had already mastered. Being a child of two immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, I could not rely on my parents to help me with schoolwork since all my assignments were in English. My ESOL teachers played a vital role in my development as a student, and I want to enrich the lives of children the way my teachers enriched my life. At-risk children often have more struggles and personal issues than meets the eye. Children that perform poorly in school or have limited reading abilities need someone who cares about their success to help them push forward despite their sometimes unpleasant circumstances. I plan to continue cultivating the love of learning and curiosity in at-risk children, building relationships with them, and showing them that I care about their success. I want to fill the role of mentor, tutor, and friend for children struggling academically. As such, I will continue to voluntarily tutor and read to kids, always aiming to instill confidence in them and show them that their opinions matter. In the future, I would like to start a nonprofit similar to Ebookbuddy, where volunteers read to children. Instead of focusing solely on reading, I want my program to encompass various subjects like math, science, and social studies. This way, children can get a more comprehensive tutoring session, getting help in all their classes if need be. I want to give back to the community by setting children from all walks of life up for success.

I anticipate contributing to my community better one meal at a time. Besides a passion for theater and music, I love to cook. During the pandemic, cooking became more than a hobby. It was a way to relax and enjoy new delicious treats. Many of my friends are musical theatre kids, so we can crave attention and social interaction. But with a possible apocalyptic plague, we needed a new way to socialize. So I founded a monthly Zoom teen cooking club. Coincidently, I started volunteering at a drive-thru food pantry. The pantry received fresh vegetables and fruit from local farms but many clients did not have access to cooktops or ovens due to living in temporary housing or extended-stay hotels. So my cooking club started to demonstrate some cooking techniques using ingredients from the food pantry and a microwave or toaster oven. Since I served as the community service co-chair for the Student Government Association, I coordinated a monthly homeschool teen meetup to volunteer at the pantry. This school year I have served 62 verified hours fighting food insecurity and providing food dignity. I want to start a social media l movement called #fooddignity that removes the stigma of needing help. The pandemic has changed the face of poverty. Situations like underemployment, inflation, and rising rents. and illness has changed the face of poverty. The average food pantry client is employed but is unable to food for their family with their paycheck. These families may not qualify for food assistance and turn to food pantries to supplement meals. But too often those in need receive groceries from food pantries that are high in fat and sodium, lack nutritional value, or do not meet personal dietary or religious preferences. Food dignity is listening to the client and understanding their needs. I would be reaching out to food distributors with a healthy eating focus like Trader Joe, Whole Foods, and even local farmers and home/ civic group gardeners. Commercial and community support is vital to local food partners but the volunteer is the life's blood of service. I have also met many food pantry volunteers who were former clients. They are proud to be of service to others and have lived through struggle. As an actor, performer, and budding playwright, I am motivated to expand my knowledge and bring awareness to marginalized stories. For me it's simple, I like storytelling and will use it to impact the world. I plan to impact the world by captivating the audience's minds, enlarging their perspectives, and fostering empathy for the human experience. Lastly, local food pantries need financial support from donors. I committed to donating money now because large future sums are wonderful but sustained gifting is powerful. Sustaining donors could allow the food pantry to expand from a drive-thru pantry. A predictable income allows for the start of new and creative food insecurity initiatives that focus on different populations like veterans, medically fragile, seniors, or the homeless.

Hello, My name is Jahmela Smith and I am a 38 year old wife, mother of 4 and a first gengeration college student. I am striving to show my children that it's never to late to chase your dreams and leave a lasting impact on the world. I am extremely ambitions and I have been determined to help homeless families in need. I joined a local organization called Women in Need in New York city. They are dedicated to providing tranistional housing and other essential services to women and children experiencing homelessness. I've worked to create a plan of action over the past 5 years. I've reached out to community leaders and partners, I have advocated for policy change, and raised funds to help homeless families find permanent housing. I have been inspired by the progress I am making. I am determined to keep working and make a difference in the lives of those affected by homelessness. I will continue to advocate for policy change and raise awareness about the issue of homelessness. I am determined to make a positive impact on the world by doing so. I'd like to one day have my own non profit organization that trains homeless people to become independent and work in various industries or return to school. This will be giving homeless people the skills and employment they need to rebuild their lives. I recognize that creating positive social change and building together begins with a mindset and skillset that allows me to do so. This means being open to differences and embracing the ethics of reciprocity - treating others as they would like to be treated. By developing these qualities, I can build the trust and relationships needed to effectively address homelessness and poverty. Finally, it's crucial to understand the scale of the problem I am trying to solve. The world currently faces a range of challenges that impact the lives of families facing homelessness, including the COVID-19 pandemic, growing racism, displacement, and climate change. While the state of the world may seem bleak at first glance, it's important to remember that there are agents of positive change out there who are working hard to make a difference. Overall, by developing the mindset and skillset needed to build trust and relationships, and understanding the scale of the challenge, I can make a real and positive impact in the lives of families facing homelessness.

My name is Lauren Black, I am a fourth year pre-health student and the founder of Sisters in the Wilderness, a startup nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating survivors of sex trafficking. As a Human Development in Context major at Northwestern graduating in the Spring of 2023, I am applying to this scholarship in the hopes that it will allow me to fund my further education and support my goals of obtaining my MD/PhD. Having studied topics such as Bioethics, Education in the Global Economy, and Global Human Trafficking, I strive to develop modern implementations to public health that aim to advocate for disadvantaged and under-represented communities through social health, education, and virtue ethics. My skills and myriad of experiences will allow me to hit the ground running in public health research and social science education. While starting my undergraduate education through pre-medicine, I found myself gravitating towards the humanitarian side of healthcare and social sciences. This interest pushed me to venture into working at non-profit organizations, where I established a true passion for bioethics and law. For example, my time at the Salt and Light Coalition consisted of educating sex trafficking victims. My role re-inspired women that suffered from serious traumatic events; this process ended with a 100% student retention rate. Conversing with these people opened my eyes to public health support through bioethical concerns of autonomy and justice. My involvement at Salt and Light made light of the deficiency in women’s healthcare and public policy; this gap strived me to explore the role of public advocacy in healthcare, where my public speaking prowess can serve as a voice for under-represented communities. My work at a recovery center for victims of sex trafficking has made the global health issue of human trafficking one of the issues I am most passionate about. According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation. Being from Baltimore, a city with a severe human trafficking problem, this reality is something that I encounter almost every single day. While the number of women and girls trafficked annually continues to rise, the number of successful prosecutions and liberated persons is stagnant. A report from the Global Enforcement Data 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report shows that roughly 9,000 individuals were prosecuted for trafficking offenses in 2013, and 10,000 were prosecuted in 2014. However, in both years, only 4,000 were ever brought to justice. These numbers are unacceptable in the face of upwards of 50,000 women who were identified as victims. Human trafficking has had negative effects on women and girls all over the globe.