Episode 50 of the Be More Today Show features KIPP Foundation Chief Schools Officer and Inman Page Black Alumni Council (IPC) President for Brown University Eldridge Gilbert.  Eldridge Gilbert graduated from Brown University in 2005 with bachelor's degrees in Africana Studies and Psychology. Following Brown, El joined Teach For America and worked in Houston for 11 years. During that time he earned his MBA from the Jones School of Business at Rice University.  While in Houston, El worked for YES Prep Public Schools and was the founding School Director (principal) of YES Prep North Forest, a 6th -12th grade campus of 850 students, for 6 years.  After leaving Houston, El worked as the Managing Director of Schools for KIPP Bay Area Public Schools. For two years, he coached, developed, and managed 8 principals.  Eldridge currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and serves as the Chief Schools Officer for Coney Island Prep Schools while coaching principals for the KIPP Foundation. #striving #bruno #youknow #brownuniversity #blackatbrown #icp #kipp #bemoretoday #ordinarypeople #extraordinarythings #trackstarsrus #education #MBA

Episode 49 of The BMT is the second installment of BMT Kids with Jada Pierre!

Jada was born December 3, 2002 in Houston, Texas.  Jada's mother, Melonie Barrow, began coaching another athlete when Jada was just 6 years old.  Jada would attend practice with her mother and would just run around having fun.  One day, she asked her mother if she could run at a track with her older god sister Lexy.  Jada ran her first race at the age of 7 and has been going ever since.  

Jada was always the smallest running in her age group and would always miss making the finals in her events the 100m and 200m.  At the age of 11, Jada was introduced to the hurdles as well as the multi events. She liked the hurdles but not the multi events.  The first few years of hurdling were interesting and she was determined to learn. It wasn't until she was 13yrs old she began to be more competitive in the hurdles and sprints. 

Jada started high school at C.D. Hylton in Manassas, Virginia and had a phenomenal freshman year. Not only was she a stellar athlete she was also an honor roll student at Hylton.  She suffered a knee injury at the very end of her freshman year and it would impact her sophomore and a portion of her junior year.  She transferred to Bullis School in Potomac, MD to complete her junior and senior year.  Jada trained hard in the pool and limited track work to ensure she would be able to compete. Just as Jada began to show form, COVID hit and the indoor and outdoor season was cancelled.  Jada maintained a 3.5 GPA at Bullis school. Jada continued to train throughout the summer and fall in anticipation of track meets.  

December 4th and 5th was her debut and boy did she show out.  At that meet Jada put times down, that placed her number 1 in the 60mh among high school girls and number 3 in the 60m dash among high school girls.   She has continued to make great strides on and off the track.

Musical selection: "Day Without A Black Person" performed by Showrocka

#bmtkids #bemoretoday #morethananathlete #ordinarypeople #extraordinarythings #mondaymotivation #choatealumni #trackstarsrus

Albert Cook is a history teacher for the New Paltz Central School District and covered a range of topics from the mythology of the Biology of Race, The Etymology and Historical function of the N-Word, and the Ancient to late Medieval African Kingdoms/Empires over the course of ten Tuesdays in November, December and January.  All topics were related in some way to the present problems that American society faces around issues of race and racism, (specifically anti-Black racism).

Mr. Cook has been a member of the Social Studies Department at New Paltz High School for 23 years, where he currently teaches World History, AP American History, and Black History. Mr. Cook is also an instructor in the Urban Education Initiative at Vassar College, where he's co-taught classes on the Legacy of Dr. King, the History of Black Voter Disenfranchisement, and the History and Legacy of Mass Incarceration. He has lectured throughout the region on issues surrounding the history of African Cultures and the development of Race and Racism in North America.

To hear Albert Cooks episodes on the Jimmy Buffet Show click the link below: 

https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/jimmy-buff-loves-you/episodes/black-history-and-the-history-of-racism-with-albert-cook-episode-10-the-power-and-danger-of-racial-stereotypes

Resist. Redeem. Reclaim. Renew.

These are the four words, Dr. Kowlessar lives by, and he uses his knowledge, experience and passion to lead workshops and training sessions at various churches, schools and businesses, on how to develop and implement a sustainable ministry that speaks to the spiritual and social conditions in our world.

Dr. Kowlessar has relentlessly pursued community activism and involvement, challenging the church to heed the call of Christ to be relevant and present in the lives of those in need. As a native New Yorker and a transplant to the south, Jaime Kowlessar has seen and experienced a range of injustices, and believes it is the call of God’s Church to be His hands and feet in the earth to make the crooked paths, straight.

Being a voice for the communities he serves has compelled him to become a stu- dent of people and the scriptures. He has an undergraduate degree in theology from Atlantic Union College, a Masters of Divinity from Andrews University, a Doctorate of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary, and is currently working on his PhD in Public Policy and Social Change.

Dr. Kowlessar serves as the Senior Pastor of Dallas City Temple, a congregation that gathers at the doorstep of injustice in the heart of Southern Dallas. As pastor, he leads in the effort to fight inequality by joining with community and local church leaders to implement strategies that improve the economic, educational and spiritual conditions in the Cedar Crest community.

He works with the Clergy Table for Faith in Texas which leads and appoints a diverse band of clergy — Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and Christians — to fight against injustice. His thoughts can be read as an op-ed writer for the Dallas Morning News, and a frequent contributor to books and publications on race, equality and social justice. He is also the author of "Justice or Just Us: Sermons and Reflections on the Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness," and "How to Put the Neighbor Back in the Hood. " For more information, follow his journey at https://www.raiseyourvoice.academy/home. Music: “This Far” by Levite Music featuring Davone Ministry courtesy of BMT Records

Day 40 of the Be More Today 40 Day Challenge conclues with the Termination Phase and a reminder that the End Game is about consistency and remembering your why. For more health tips, visit www.bemoretoday.com to purchase our book and to continue your Steps 2 Greatness to be the best version of you.

Shantell Richardson is the co-founder of Trim Knowtions, LLC, a premiere agency providing consultation for designers seeking the best resources in exceptional fashion trim. Shantell’s fashion industry experiences are vast from having once overseen many factories in India to consulting designer brands on luxury European textiles. These experiences have inspired her to once again see NYC as the center of fashion innovation. Shantell studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and holds a B.A. in English and Spanish from Tufts University. She began her fashion career as a stylist and assistant designer at Nika NY where she later became their production manager which found her at their production facility in India for six months. In 2009 Shantell launched her own line, Shauntele (Shaun-tele). She was featured in NY Fashion week 4 years straight styling celebrities such as Raven Simone while simultaneously working full time at a NYC based trim company. This lead to the launch of her own trim company as the co-founder of Trim Knowtions in 2015. She’s helped generate over 2 million dollars in revenue since its inception and has some of the best fashion brands as her clients. 

http://www.trimknowtions.com/

https://shauntele.com/

Musical selection:

"I Hope" by The Resistance Revival Chorus from their new album This Joy.

#trimknowtions #choate #fashion #advocacy #46 #outofthebox #resistancerevivalchorus #dataanalytics #blackexcellence #blackownedbusiness #blackhistorymonth #bmt4blm

Day 39 of the Be More Today 40 Day Challenge concludes the Maintenance phase with a reminder that you have all the tools you need to be great. For more health tips, visit www.bemoretoday.com to purchase our book and to continue your Steps 2 Greatness to be the best version of you.

Day 38 of the Be More Today 40 Day Challenge continues in the Maintenance phase with a steps 2 greatness check in and a reminder that you won’t always be motivated so continue to be dedicated. For more health tips, visit www.bemoretoday.com to purchase our book and to continue your Steps 2 Greatness to be the best version of you.

Day 37 of the Be More Today 40 Day Challenge begins the Maintenance phase with a 5 am charge to sustain long-term consistency. For more health tips, visit www.bemoretoday.com to purchase our book and to continue your Steps 2 Greatness to be the best version of you.

Day 36 of the Be More Today 40 Day Challenge concludes the Action phase with a charge to Just Poop Already! For more health tips, visit www.bemoretoday.com to purchase our book and to continue your Steps 2 Greatness to be the best version of you.