Given the current events over the last couple of weeks, I have been taking the time to listen, educate myself and start to put actions into place on how I can truly be an active part of the change that is so necessarily needed. I believe we should use our platforms to spread awareness and I had an idea to start a series here on the blog highlighting one organization/cause/charity once a month. This will be a way to not only share information on an incredible cause and give a place for these resources to live permanently, but I will also personally donate to each one every month as a small part of my intent towards change.
This month I have chosen The Greenwood Project. I was introduced to this organization by my friend Lauren from Big Blonde Hair (who also shared a wonderful post on the organization here). We attended an event for Greenwood the year before (as seen in the photo below) and I am so grateful that she introduced me to this local organization.
The Greenwood Project, founded in 2016 by Bevon and Elois Joseph, is a Chicago based nonprofit organization that introduces minority students to the financial industry. Through paid summer internships, educational field trips, and their summer financial institute for high school students, the program motivates young people to succeed in high school and a reason to attend college.
Thousands of minority students are disconnected from career pathways to the financial industry and Greenwood Project works with companies to connect talent with those opportunities. They have connected their students with firms such as Google, Bloomberg, Braintree, NASDAQ, NYSE, and many more through the incredible program offerings. With each year the number of firms that participate increases and some students from the program even continue on from interns to full-time employees!
Lending a hand is what is truly needed to ignite change. There are so many ways you can support The Greenwood Project: sponsor a student, corporate support, be a speaker, volunteer, and donate. For more information on how to get involved click here.
Due to the current status of COVID-19, traditional classroom learning has been interrupted so they are looking for Virtual Volunteers to continue providing their classes and resources via an online classroom. If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a Virtual Volunteer – you can sign up here.
What the Greenwood Project is doing for young kids is truly inspiring. Not everyone is given advantages at a young age to succeed and they taking a huge step in providing those opportunities to kids that may not have had them on their own. I am proud to support this incredible cause and hope to have inspired you to lend a hand as well.
*All photos are from The Greenwood Project website and Instagram
I look forward to continuing on this series with another post like this next month. Please email me jen@redsolesandredwine.com if you have any suggestions or recommendations on other organizations I should check out! xo
