ASA is a Convener of People, a Convener of Ideas.
The program will have salon-style participatory roundtable discussions facilitated by subject matter experts combined with activities to foster relationship-building and fuel ideas. Topics will include policy and partnerships. Conversations will also identify current blind spots to uncover anything that might be missing.
Agenda
Raising Up Local Organizations
Student speakers join us from SparkNC and District C collaboration
https://www.sparknc.org/aboutus – https://www.districtc.co/
SparkNC and District C have partnered to bring Spark Teamship to high school students across North Carolina. Spark Teamship is an innovative work-based learning model where diverse teams of students solve real problems for high-tech businesses.
Dining with Chef Chris at ORO Raleigh
An immigrant from Kingston, Jamaica, Chris’ passion to become a chef began to grow as a child and matured during his high school culinary internship preparing meals at the Kingston International airport for pilots before their journeys. He realized he wanted to explore being a chef and knew he needed to chase this dream in America. At 17-years old, alone and determined, Chris arrived in Miami and made his way to Los Angeles with a brief stop in NY working & learning in the kitchens of some of the best and most well known chefs today. From LA, Chris came back to the east coast to Washington, DC and finally landed in Raleigh. His persistence and drive over 25 years, coupled with his passion to be a part of the culinary world, continued to drive him closer to his ultimate goals.
The Raleigh Music Collective for our listening pleasure
https://www.theraleighmusiccollective.org
Founder and Executive Director Sara Maria Blanton bought 12 violins out of pocket and began to partner with the local non-profit, Refugee Hope Partners to start a free violin class for any interested elementary students. She had worked in El Sistema inspired music programs since 2016 and hoped to find a way to combine her private lessons studio and work with Refugee Hope Partners into one El Sistema inspired nonprofit. The Raleigh Music Collective is a El Sistema inspired program that believes music education is a radical tool to change children’s lives for the better. Students can sign up for private or group lessons or participate in their weekly tuition free violin, viola, and cello classes, ensembles, and youth leadership program at two of their community strategic locations.
Bringing STEM to NC children in foster care with Foster Love
In 2008, high school junior Danny Mendoza was shocked to learn that his 9-year-old cousin Roger was living in a car. Seeing Roger’s troubling situation made Danny realize how desperately more support was needed for children in foster care. At just 16, Danny couldn’t become a foster parent himself, but he was determined to do something to help children like Roger overcome similar challenges.
What started as one small event for kids in foster care funded by recycled cans grew into something much larger. Foster Love has since become a nationwide organization committed to improving the way children experience the foster care system for the better. From helping one child to supporting over 1 million foster youth, Foster Love continues to expand and will not stop until every child in foster care has a bright future where they feel loved, safe, and happy.