Founded in 2020 thanks to Wilson Fund Scholar interest & leadership, the DDWSF Exchange is a panel series designed to foster open community dialogues and promote the sharing of ideas, experiences and knowledge in service to the community.
These events expose our scholars and larger community to a cornucopia of ideas and incredible people, while always providing our scholars with the platform to lead. We hope you’ll join the conversation.
Events
Tips for Financing Higher Education, From Access to Completion
Thursday, March 25, 2021 @ 7 pm EST via Zoom Webinar
Click Here to Watch – link coming soon
Hosted by The DDWSF Exchange, this webinar features insight provided by Kevin Currie, Financial Aid Assistant at Quinnipiac University. Join us, and bring your questions, for an empowering and thoughtful discussion about strategies in financing higher education. Members of the public, particularly prospective & enrolled college students and families, are welcome to join the dialogue as attendees.
Social Consciousness & Self Expression in the Performing Arts
August 2, 2020 @ 2:00 pm EST
A community dialogue as part of the DDWSF Exchange series on the performing arts. Free to the public, and moderated by Wilson Fund Scholar Jay-Len McLean, this event will feature speakers LaFrae Sci, founder of Groove Diplomacy, and Scot Reese, distinguished professor at the University of Maryland. They will be joined by a community of experts in the industry, and invested members of our broader DDWSF network.
Jay-Len McLean, 2020 David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Recipient
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Len McLean was highly active in sports and enjoyed singing as a child. As he progressed through middle and high school, he became very interested in the performing arts and spearheaded several clubs dedicated to spreading artistry. Jay-Len has been involved in many community and international service projects; including volunteering as a music instructor. These experiences have given Jay-Len an important lesson in the value of service and inspired him to continue to dedicate his life to serving others. A graduate of Talent Unlimited High School, Jay-Len intends to complete a dual degree in Music and Political Science from Stony Brook University. Jay-Len has been a driving force behind the launch of The DDWSF Exchange Performing Arts Series.
Our Future, Our Fight: Education & Excellence in America
August 5, 2020 @ 6:00 pm EST
An open dialogue on education as part of the DDWSF Exchange series. Featuring guest panelists Meesha Brown, President of PCI Media, and Rashid Davis, Principal of PTECH, and moderated by Wilson Fund Scholar Julian Woods.
Our 2020 Mother Dovetta Leadership Award Honoree, Rashid Ferrod Davis is the Founding Principal of Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) and has more than 20 years of experience working in the New York City Department of Education as a teacher, assistant principal, and the principal of Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy (BETA). He has mentored aspiring school leaders through Baruch College’s Scaffolded Apprenticeship Model, Fordham University’s Educational Leadership Program Enhancement Project, and the New York City Leadership Academy, New York City’s Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program, Touro College, and the Center for Integrated Teacher Education (CITE). Principal Davis is a graduate of Morehouse College with advanced degrees from Pace University, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Fordham University.
Meesha Brown
Meesha Brown serves as President of PCI Media Impact. Meesha is an expert practitioner in the fields of learning, social and behavior change communication, and facilitation. Meesha is an award-winning producer whose work includes the #ISurvivedEbola campaign – a multi-media effort to spread life-saving health messages and combat stigma during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak. Before working in the international development sector, Meesha began her professional career in public education, including over 10 years of classroom practice, a tenure as Director of Literacy for New York City Public Schools, and work with states and national organizations to develop and implement more effective pk-12 education policies. Meesha sits on the boards of Calvert Impact Capital and the David and Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund. She hails from West Texas and has 10 siblings. In all of her work, Meesha aspires to employ a pedagogy of love.
Scholar Moderator
Julian Woods, 2019 David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Recipient
Julian Woods, a native of Atlanta, GA, is a rising sophomore English major at North Carolina A&T State University. Julian’s academic accomplishments as an Honors student complement his community and leadership involvement in a meaningful way. He serves as the Political Action Committee Co-Chair for the NC A&T NAACP, Treasurer for the NC A&T National Black Law Student Association, and is involved in a variety of civic engagement initiatives on campus. After undergrad, he aspires to enter in the field of education with an emphasis on education policy, reform, and law. He is committed to expanding equitable opportunities for students, teachers, and families across America.
The DDWSF Exchange
Founded in 2020 thanks to Wilson Fund Scholar interest & leadership, the DDWSF Exchange is a panel series designed to foster open community dialogues and promote the sharing of ideas, experiences and knowledge in service to the community.
These events expose our scholars and larger community to a cornucopia of ideas and incredible people, while always providing our scholars with the platform to lead. We hope you’ll join the conversation.
Events
Tips for Financing Higher Education, From Access to Completion
Thursday, March 25, 2021 @ 7 pm EST via Zoom Webinar
Click Here to Watch – link coming soon
Hosted by The DDWSF Exchange, this webinar features insight provided by Kevin Currie, Financial Aid Assistant at Quinnipiac University. Join us, and bring your questions, for an empowering and thoughtful discussion about strategies in financing higher education. Members of the public, particularly prospective & enrolled college students and families, are welcome to join the dialogue as attendees.
Social Consciousness & Self Expression in the Performing Arts
August 2, 2020 @ 2:00 pm EST
A community dialogue as part of the DDWSF Exchange series on the performing arts. Free to the public, and moderated by Wilson Fund Scholar Jay-Len McLean, this event will feature speakers LaFrae Sci, founder of Groove Diplomacy, and Scot Reese, distinguished professor at the University of Maryland. They will be joined by a community of experts in the industry, and invested members of our broader DDWSF network.
Click here to Watch
Expert Guests
Scholar Moderator
Jay-Len McLean, 2020 David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Recipient
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Len McLean was highly active in sports and enjoyed singing as a child. As he progressed through middle and high school, he became very interested in the performing arts and spearheaded several clubs dedicated to spreading artistry. Jay-Len has been involved in many community and international service projects; including volunteering as a music instructor. These experiences have given Jay-Len an important lesson in the value of service and inspired him to continue to dedicate his life to serving others. A graduate of Talent Unlimited High School, Jay-Len intends to complete a dual degree in Music and Political Science from Stony Brook University. Jay-Len has been a driving force behind the launch of The DDWSF Exchange Performing Arts Series.
Our Future, Our Fight: Education & Excellence in America
August 5, 2020 @ 6:00 pm EST
An open dialogue on education as part of the DDWSF Exchange series. Featuring guest panelists Meesha Brown, President of PCI Media, and Rashid Davis, Principal of PTECH, and moderated by Wilson Fund Scholar Julian Woods.
Click here to Register
Click here to Watch
Panelists
Rashid F. Davis
Our 2020 Mother Dovetta Leadership Award Honoree, Rashid Ferrod Davis is the Founding Principal of Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) and has more than 20 years of experience working in the New York City Department of Education as a teacher, assistant principal, and the principal of Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy (BETA). He has mentored aspiring school leaders through Baruch College’s Scaffolded Apprenticeship Model, Fordham University’s Educational Leadership Program Enhancement Project, and the New York City Leadership Academy, New York City’s Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program, Touro College, and the Center for Integrated Teacher Education (CITE). Principal Davis is a graduate of Morehouse College with advanced degrees from Pace University, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Fordham University.
Meesha Brown
Meesha Brown serves as President of PCI Media Impact. Meesha is an expert practitioner in the fields of learning, social and behavior change communication, and facilitation. Meesha is an award-winning producer whose work includes the #ISurvivedEbola campaign – a multi-media effort to spread life-saving health messages and combat stigma during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak. Before working in the international development sector, Meesha began her professional career in public education, including over 10 years of classroom practice, a tenure as Director of Literacy for New York City Public Schools, and work with states and national organizations to develop and implement more effective pk-12 education policies. Meesha sits on the boards of Calvert Impact Capital and the David and Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund. She hails from West Texas and has 10 siblings. In all of her work, Meesha aspires to employ a pedagogy of love.
Scholar Moderator
Julian Woods, 2019 David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Recipient
Julian Woods, a native of Atlanta, GA, is a rising sophomore English major at North Carolina A&T State University. Julian’s academic accomplishments as an Honors student complement his community and leadership involvement in a meaningful way. He serves as the Political Action Committee Co-Chair for the NC A&T NAACP, Treasurer for the NC A&T National Black Law Student Association, and is involved in a variety of civic engagement initiatives on campus. After undergrad, he aspires to enter in the field of education with an emphasis on education policy, reform, and law. He is committed to expanding equitable opportunities for students, teachers, and families across America.