A Better Chance TV...with Mz Mo!

Big goals need real-world plans and today I’m bringing a whole list of updates you can actually use. From a 50-50 raffle that supports our scholarship fund to college prep classes that keep students moving toward their final destination, I’m laying out what’s happening at A Better Chance and how you can plug in if you care about historically Black colleges and universities.

We also talk about ways to celebrate and strengthen the HBCU community beyond the campus gates. I share details on nominating someone for our HBCU icon and community awards, plus an early look at the HBCU Explorer, a tool designed to help students explore HBCUs and compare key factors like tuition, dorm life, and outcomes as they build an action plan. If you’re searching for HBCU resources, college readiness, and scholarship opportunities, this is the kind of practical conversation that helps families move from “we hope” to “we’re ready.”

Then I get personal and announce a new realistic fiction novel I wrote for teens and young adults, The Violets On The Yard. The story is built to spark honest conversations about finding your tribe, navigating change, and what students wish they knew before leaving home. I’m also looking for a youth group or book club (16+) to do a guided book study with journaling prompts and reflection, and I share the launch of our HBCU Author Club to spotlight more voices.

If you liked these updates, subscribe, share this with a student or parent who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find our HBCU scholarships and college prep work. What support does your future college student need most right now?

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Twenty-one years ago, this work started with a few students and one big problem: kids were being told college was out of reach. Now A Better Chance for You Futures Incorporated hits its 21st anniversary, and we’re celebrating the only way we know how by honoring Takisha’s birthday, telling the real origin story, and putting scholarships and HBCU opportunity front and center. If you care about college access, HBCU culture, and building community around Black student success, this conversation is for you. 

We bring on Dr. Mary Gaucher to talk about collaboration and the power of educators writing together in Voices of Education Volume 2. The book becomes a springboard for a bigger point: representation in education matters, and our lived experiences as mentors, teachers, and advocates can become tools students use to survive and thrive. We also share what we’re creating next, including new writing projects inspired by the anthology and a realistic fiction novel about friendship and the hard parts of transitioning through college. 

Then we get to the moment our scholars have been waiting on: the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Award stipend announcements. We talk homecoming season, finding your tribe, juggling work and campus life, and why leadership doesn’t require a title. You’ll also hear why our monthly virtual HBCU prep classes focus on the first 30 days of school, and why preserving Black history through Historically Black Colleges and Universities feels urgent right now. 

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Watching a student walk onto an HBCU campus is powerful. Watching her hit the ground running in week three is something else. We sit down with Corinne Keck, a first-year student at Howard University, and talk about the real transition from high school to college life in Washington, DC, from finding your people to learning how to manage your time when everything moves fast.

Corinne shares what it’s like to start a sports management major while already working in athletics operations. She breaks down her responsibilities supporting football sponsors on game day and helping women’s basketball with practices, travel, meals, and the behind-the-scenes details that keep a program moving. If you’re curious about campus jobs, sports management careers, or how students build experience early, her story is a practical blueprint.

Then Corinne’s mom joins us with the parent view: pride, distance, and the emotional shift of letting your oldest child step into independence. We talk college admissions strategy, staying organized, applying for scholarships even when they feel like long shots, and why the best college fit is often the place your student chooses for themselves. We also shout out HBCU pathways and tools that make applying easier, plus a few community announcements to keep you connected.

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Somebody always says they know A Different World by heart until the Hillman questions hit the screen and the timer starts ticking. We go live with a rotating crew for a fast, funny Kahoot trivia battle that pulls from A Different World, Hillman College lore, and Cosby Show crossovers, with a little HBCU culture talk woven through everything.

We kick things off with pure community energy: Grambling pride, “which Lincoln are we talking about” confusion, homecoming honesty, and watch party planning that feels like your favorite group chat went public. Then we put someone on the spot to sing the theme song, which spirals into real fan debate about the different versions, the creative shift across seasons, and why the music still hits so hard.

After that, it’s a speed round showdown. We talk strategy, lag, quick fingers, and the kind of trivia that separates casual watchers from people who can name roommates, favorite Pit moments, and deep character details on command. The leaderboard gets spicy, the jokes get louder, and we end with one clear mission: somebody has to dethrone the current champ.

Hit play, test your own A Different World trivia knowledge, then subscribe, share with a friend who swears they’d win, and leave a review telling us who you want to see compete next.

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We reconnect with HBCU family and trace how pandemic “screen friends” turned into real-world partnerships that keep serving students. We celebrate second acts, then dig into a new grassroots film project that protects Black stories, funds production the right way, and aims for real social impact. 
• HBCU advocacy as year round work and community responsibility 
• The Dayton HBCU send-off event growth, partnerships, and how it supports students 
• The Common Black College Application and the HBCU Common Scholarship app mention 
• Pursuing big goals later in life and why it is not too late 
• Moving from church drama ministry and stage plays into independent film production 
• Almost as fiction inspired by true events and the trauma conversation behind it 
• Why grassroots fundraising protects authenticity from Hollywood influence 
• Ways to support beyond money including time, locations, wardrobe, music, books, and local brands 
• Casting plans and how to stay connected through the project website 
www.almostmovie.com check us out learn more about the film our contact information is on there stay connected with us and definitely click that donate button because we need more fun to make this thing happen 

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College changes fast when you actually arrive, and it changes home even faster. We’re on day two of our parent interviews with students who are just weeks into their first semester, already juggling big goals, campus culture, and the pressure to make the right moves early. From Morgan State University to St. Philip’s College and Tuskegee University, we hear what the college transition feels like in real time: the freedom, the nerves, the new routines, and the hunger to make an impact. 

We dig into what “success” looks like beyond the classroom. One student talks civil engineering and getting involved right away, another breaks down why networking is the biggest difference from high school, and a parent shares what it really means to step back and become an advisor instead of a manager. We also get specific about scholarships and college preparation, including why families should apply widely, how to avoid leaving money on the table, and a smart system for letters of recommendation that saves time while staying compliant with what scholarships ask for. 

We also spend time on the HBCU experience and why it matters for belonging, professional connections, and confidence. You’ll hear the perspective of a Tuskegee student adjusting from Chicago to a new community, balancing academics with involvement, and choosing to stand out through action, not talk. If you’re a parent, student, mentor, or educator navigating college admissions, scholarships, and first-year college life, this conversation is packed with practical steps and honest emotions. 

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A student lands on campus and immediately starts building momentum and the rest of us have to ask: is that talent, training, or pure persistence? We’re in the “final countdown” for the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship, and the spotlight turns to a finalist who just arrived at Morgan State University and is already moving like she has a plan she refuses to abandon.

We talk through what she’s studying and why it’s so rare: coastal science and policy with a computer science minor, tied to underwater robotics, drones, and marine conservation. That mix of environmental science and tech skills opens doors in research, internships, and real world problem solving. You’ll also hear how she handled dual enrollment while still in high school and why she treats every opportunity like a step that stacks, not a one time win.

Then we bring in a family voice that changes the whole tone. Her sister shares what it feels like to watch her leave home, how their relationship grew after years of distance, and why independence is sometimes the healthiest next chapter. The advice lands in two directions: for seniors chasing scholarships, internships, and jobs, stay persistent and don’t let “no” be the final answer; for adults navigating their 20s, give yourself grace, take your time, and allow the pivot when your path changes.

If you care about HBCU journeys, college scholarships, STEM success stories, and the mindset it takes to keep going, hit play now. Subscribe, share this with a student or a sibling cheering from the sidelines, and leave a review with the best advice you’ve ever gotten.

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Change is usually loud, inconvenient, and badly timed and it still might be the best thing that ever happens to your work. We talk with Dr. Monique Robinson about embracing change with courage and learning to treat disruption as fertile ground for growth, especially for Black women entrepreneurs and educators carrying big visions and real responsibilities. Along the way, we pause for a simple group affirmation to reset your mindset and get you focused on what you can control.

We dig into why purpose is your superpower. Purpose is not a job title or a trendy slogan; it’s the steady fuel that keeps you moving when the doors close, the plans shift, or the results come slower than you hoped. Dr. Robinson shares how the middle of COVID became a turning point where she birthed new work, including launching community-centered initiatives tied to education and opportunity. If you’re building a purpose-driven business, leading a nonprofit, or trying to find your next move, you’ll hear how passion becomes a real diagnostic tool for alignment.

We also talk about identity as strength, education as empowerment, and the power of community. We challenge the idea that support has to be complicated: sharing resources, showing up for each other’s events, mentoring consistently, and building networks that make room for everyone to rise. Dr. Robinson also highlights upcoming books and community events, plus practical guidance for students considering HBCUs, including the Get Educated common Black College app pathway.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with a founder who needs a mindset reset, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What’s one change you’re ready to stop fighting and start using?

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We hit the “go live” button and immediately learned why we don’t do it often: tech issues, surprise guests, and a chat that turns into a full-on talent show. The challenge is simple and chaotic on purpose. Join us on camera to sing the “A Different World” theme, or jump into Kahoot for a rapid trivia run that mixes Hillman College facts with real HBCU history. 

Between laughs, we keep the mission front and center. We celebrate the Takisha A. Davis scholarship finalists and share how to support the work through donations. We also lay out what’s coming up in San Antonio, including Family Night at the Davis Scott Family YMCA on September 25, plus a community watch party vibe that brings different generations together. We’re honest about why this matters: HBCU culture doesn’t stay strong by accident, and students need fun, visible, welcoming reasons to imagine themselves on those campuses. 

We also bring practical resources, including a spotlight on the Common Black College App for students exploring Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Then Leon Prime jumps in with details on the State Fair Classic bus trip to Dallas for Grambling State vs Prairie View A&M, with the full experience on deck: concerts, Battle of the Bands, and that classic HBCU energy. 

If you want a mix of nostalgia, community announcements, and friendly competition, press play. Subscribe, share this with an HBCU alum who talks big, and leave a review, then tell us: are you joining next week to sing, to play Kahoot, or to do both?

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Fifty thousand people, a full day at the Texas State Fair, and two marching bands ready to take halftime personally. We sit down with Leon Fry to map out a culture-packed HBCU weekend built around the State Fair Classic in Dallas, Texas, featuring Prairie View A&M vs Grambling State University, plus a bus trip option that makes it easier to roll out from San Antonio and nearby cities. If you’ve never experienced a major HBCU classic, this is the kind of event that turns curiosity into motivation fast. 

We also talk about what it takes to keep HBCU advocacy alive year round, not just during homecoming season. Leon shares how he found Grambling through the band and why that sense of belonging still matters for students who need a real support system. We connect the dots between culture, recruitment, scholarships, and the everyday work of showing up for young people who are trying to choose a college path with confidence. 

Then we switch gears into community building with a Different World reboot watch party and family night vibes, including trivia and a theme song sing off. It’s fun on the surface, but the goal is serious: get youth serving organizations in the same room so families can find resources, students can ask questions, and more kids can picture themselves on an HBCU campus. 

If you enjoy conversations about HBCUs, college access, Black excellence, and community driven events that actually move the needle, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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