From Nativity Prep Alumnus to NMC National Conference Keynote Speaker

We are excited to announce Paul Willis as our Keynote Speaker for the 2024 NMC National Conference! Paul is native to the Boston area and attended Nativity Preparatory School in Boston.

Paul Willis is a creative professional with ties to youth-focused, arts, education and social justice nonprofits include starting up City Year Sacramento, leading programming for MLK365, providing leadership and executive coaching for the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, and serving as an executive board member at Sol Collective, a nonprofit focused on art, culture and activism. A talented Hip Hop teaching artist with experience as a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, Paul brings a brand of community and corporate leadership back to his hometown. Most recently, Paul was the Managing Director of the Boston Art & Music Soul Fest, and he is looking forward to the next step of his nearly 20-year professional career in the arts, education, leadership development and social justice driven organizations, which has provided him a unique lens to see the world and shape it.

Paul has always had a heart for empowering youth and serving the communities in which he lives. While in college, Paul coached basketball and tutored at the Worcester Intramural Sports Program. He also taught at a summer camp at Boston Nativity. No matter how far away his work takes him he shared that “I always come back to Boston Nativity.”

Come join us at the 2024 NMC National Conference as we celebrate 10 years of building A Legacy of Equity Through Education. Be inspired by Paul Willis’s story and be energized as he shares his craft with us. Click this link to get started.

NeuroMaker Robotic Hand Project at San Miguel Academy of Newburgh

Images courtesy of San Miguel Academy

Through a collaboration with PepsiCo and BrainCo, San Miguel Academy 8th graders recently completed a robotics project using NeuroMaker HAND kits to build and program prosthetic hands. PepsiCo and BrainCo also provided curriculum materials, instructor training, and support throughout the project.  

BrainCo’s NeuroMaker HAND project is inspired by real-world prosthetic products. The project is designed to develop industry-specific skills and awareness by offering students exciting and immersive experiences in biomedical innovations, mechanical and electrical engineering, programming, and artificial intelligence.

The NeuroMaker HAND project aligns with San Miguel Academy’s STEAM-focused curriculum. Students worked in pairs to assemble over 130 pieces, creating a functional robotic hand. They then tested their hand models and engaged in friendly competitions for the accuracy and strength of their hand’s grip.  Students also researched the growing field of prosthetics, exploring biomedical uses, engineering designs, and AI technology in prosthetics.

Images courtesy of San Miguel Academy

San Miguel Academy science teacher Effiong Eyo: 

NeuroMaker HAND significantly enhances students’ learning experiences, providing an exciting hands-on project for students to see the practical applications of science concepts in solving real-world problems. Additionally, it promotes teamwork, patience, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as students work through the various materials and steps required to complete the complex task of building a functional prosthetic hand prototype.

Images courtesy of San Miguel Academy

San Miguel Academy is grateful to Pepsico and BrainCo for supporting their interactive STEAM-focused approach that actively promotes career-ready skill development. The development of career-ready skills for the 21st-century marketplace is at the core of the San Miguel Academy curriculum and central to their mission to break the cycle of poverty through education.  

St. James School in Philadelphia Partners with Financial Expert Vanessa Lowe to Empower the Community

The Welcome Table at St. James School is dedicated to providing its students and families with the resources they need to thrive. Their latest offering is a partnership with Vanessa Lowe, an accomplished financial expert with an MBA from the Wharton School and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designation. With 21 years of federal service dedicated to enhancing access to capital for underserved communities, Vanessa will support the school’s students and families along their financial journey.

Saturday, March 2nd, during a session on "Personal Budgeting and Net Worth", Vanessa will share valuable tips to help families untangle their finances and work towards their financial goals. Vanessa will be conducting specific workshops on various topics like retirement planning, credit score maintenance, IRA accounts, savings accounts, and more in the coming weeks.

For personalized assistance, Vanessa is providing 1:1 financial counseling sessions every third Saturday of the month from 11 AM - 1 PM.

It is through community partnerships like this that our students and families will be able to achieve their goals.