A night of Leadership and Legacy: Celebrating our shared humanity and the opportunities that uplift us
“I’m here because someone saw potential in me and invested in that potential.” Dr. Yves Salomon- Fernández, President of Urban College, shared a poignant story of how her mentor-turned-friend, Tony Helies, empowered her to pursue higher education, alleviating the financial stress often faced by students who are supporting themselves through school.”
“$1,000 a semester toward my non-tuition needs doesn’t sound like a lot. But it enabled me to buy a train pass at a time when I often didn’t have the $0.85 for the fare. If it wasn’t for someone seeing a brighter future in me, I wouldn’t be here today.”
The themes of unleashing potential and shared humanity were through lines of Urban College’s second Leadership and Legacy event.
Last week, in The Boston Foundation space, supporters of Urban College gathered to celebrate the leaders who empower our mission of socioeconomic mobility through education equity. The room buzzed with hopeful enthusiasm as community leaders, members of the Board and Urban College’s Foundation, students, and staff mixed and mingled before a fireside chat with our two honorees began.
"Institutions like Urban College mean that if you’re the first in your family to go to college, you won’t be the last.” Dr. Lee Pelton, President of The Boston Foundation, shared as he reflected on the ripple effect that one person’s education can have on entire communities.
Student speaker, Alyssa Gonzales, echoed his remarks as she discussed the ways Urban College has bolstered her desire to learn and grow as an early childhood educator. Like many students, Alyssa’s path has not been linear. She paused her pursuit of a college degree after COVID altered the globe, and she felt called to work with young children to help shape future generations. After beginning a career in a daycare and preschool program, she reconsidered higher education but knew she didn’t want to halt the career she loved.
“Urban College’s online classes mean that I can work full time, fitting homework in during naptime and attending class after work. It’s awesome to be an educator and a student simultaneously, and I don’t want to stop here. I want to work towards a Master’s or a PhD.”
A pursuit of lifelong learning is something embodied by the evening’s honorees, Lincoln Mali (CEO of Lesaka Technologies and Urban College’s Commencement Speaker) and Denella J. Clark (CEO and President of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, and Robert M. Coard Distinguished Leadership Awardee).
In a fireside chat led by President Yves, both Lincoln and Denella shared poignant reflections about the people who believed in them, motivated them, and helped them navigate through life’s challenges.
Lincoln reminisced about his father’s wisdom, imparted during a time when young Lincoln was justifiably angry, growing up during South Africa’s apartheid regime. “It is not about the size of the stone you can throw against the police, or the potency of the petrol bomb you can throw against the army, but it’s the quality of the education you get and the values you embody that will make you the kind of person who can create the country you want to see.”
This profound conversation encouraged Lincoln and his friends to return to high school, although many institutions would not allow the boys to enroll due to their political beliefs. Finally, one principal gave them a chance to prove themselves, as long as they promised to stay out of trouble. Lincoln rose to the occasion, and beyond, pursuing his education all the way to Harvard University, becoming a successful CEO and philanthropist.
“How did a high school dropout, in and out of jail, become the type of man who is honored here tonight?” Mali mused, concluding that it was due to the people who saw something in him, and encouraged him to harness his desire for change in a sustainable way. He learned to focus on the humanity of others, and to relentlessly pursue change in tangible ways.
And that’s his message to the younger generations: life is hard, and so much that drives suffering is out of our individual control. But if we each focus on one or two things that we can make a difference in, and we work to better ourselves to support and uplift others around us, we are creating the future that we want and deserve.
Denella was awarded the Robert M. Coard Distinguished Leadership Award at the event, a well-deserved result of her many years serving Boston’s nonprofits with her strategic philanthropy.
She spoke of her mother, Pastor Pearline B. James, an Urban College alumni who earned her degree at age 60.
She recollected how her career in philanthropy began in her mother’s kitchen, where her mother sought to solve problems in the community through fundraising and acts of service. “Whether it was the church needing a new roof, or someone needing financial support, I saw my mom problem-solve and raise money by selling meals or rallying the community. Philanthropy means the love of humanity, and that is what drives me to this day, and will continue to do so.”
She highlighted how she wants to offer other adult women of color the same opportunity her mother had at Urban College, so her family is seeding the recently launched Pastor Pearline James Legacy Fund with $10,000. The scholarship is designated for women of color over the age of 45 who need support in pursuing their education and their dreams.
Because, when we lead with humanity and uplift one another, we all can find success.
Please consider supporting Urban College’s mission as we celebrate our 30th commencement ceremony, so we can continue to support learners like Pearline and Alyssa for many more years to come.