2021 Determined To Educate, Inc.
Virtual Awards Fundraising Gala
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Determined To Educate, Inc. 13th Annual Awards
Fundraising Gala – Thursday, November 11, 2021
WHAT A YEAR 2020 WAS.
So many ups and downs last year but Determined To Educate, Inc. has been dedicating time to continue educating and mentoring our young people. We will continue to do the same in 2021. This year’s event will be benefiting getting tablets/iPads for students who are having trouble getting access to computers for virtual learning. We are grateful to be in our 13th year, we have worked with over 8000 students so far exposing them to our amazing programs.
In 2020, we partnered up with Nickelodeon under their Noggin umbrella for their at home learning program for children. We also partnered up with so many prominent figures and professionals to get encouraging messages for students’ Virtual Graduations due to the pandemic. Determined To Educate, Inc. serves about 1000 students a year. We look forward to enhancing the lives of many more students in 2021 in hopes to bring more programs to the students virtually!
Click on the DONATE BUTTON to donate to our 13th Annual Determined To Educate, Inc. Awards and Fundraising Gala/Our Programs.
James ‘Talent’ Harris
Comedian
Host
Reverend Dr. Alfonso Wyatt
Founder of Strategic Destiny
Invocation
And this year’s honorees…
Danny Glover
Actor, Producer, Humanitarian
Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 30years. As an actor, his film credits range from the blockbuster Lethal Weapon franchise to smaller independent features, some of which Glover also produced. In recent years he has starred in an array of motion pictures including the critically-acclaimed Dreamgirls directed by Bill Condon and in the futuristic 2012 for director Roland Emmerich. In addition to his film work, Glover is highly sought after as a public speaker, delivering inspirational addresses and moving performances in such diverse venues as college campuses, union rallies and business conventions.
Glover has gained respect for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts, with a particular emphasis on advocacy for economic justice and access to health care and education programs in the United States and Africa. For these efforts Glover received a 2006 DGA Honor and was honored with a 2011 “Pioneer Award” from the National Civil Rights Museum. Internationally Glover has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program from 1998-2004, focusing on issues of poverty, disease and economic development in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Glover was presented in 2011 with the prestigious Medaille des Arts et des Letters from the French Ministry of Culture and was honored with a Tribute at the Deauville International Film Festival. In 2014 Glover received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of San Francisco. Currently Glover serves as UNICEF Ambassador.
In 2005, Glover co-founded NY-based Louverture Films with writer/producer Joslyn Barnes and more recent partners Susan Rockefeller and the Bertha Foundation. The company is dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value and artistic integrity. Among the films Glover has executive- or co-produced at Louverture are the César-nominated Bamako, Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Academy Award® and Emmy nominated film Trouble The Water ; the award-winning The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 and Concerning Violence; Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner The House I Live In; Cannes Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, the Academy Award® nominated and Emmy winning Strong Island, ZAMA by Lucrecia Martel, and the Oscar® nominated documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening by RaMell Ross and Oscar® nominated Best Foreign Language Film Capernaum by Nadine Labaki. Forthcoming films in 2021 include President by Camilla Nielsson, Noche de Fuego by Tatiana Huezo, and Memoria by Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
A native of San Francisco, Glover trained at the Black Actors’ Workshop of the American Conservatory Theatre. It was his Broadway debut in Fugard’s Master Harold…and the Boys that brought him to national recognition and led director Robert Benton to cast him in his first leading role in 1984’s Academy Award-nominated Best Picture, Places in the Heart. The following year Glover starred in two more Best Picture nominated films: Peter Weir’s Witness and Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple. In 1987 Glover partnered with Mel Gibson in the first Lethal Weapon film and went on the star in three hugely successful Lethal Weapon sequels. Glover starred in The Royal Tenenbaums and To Sleep With Anger which he executive produced and for which he won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor.
On the small screen, Glover won an Image Award, a Cable ACE Award and earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the title role of the HBO Movie Mandela. He has also received Emmy nominations for his work in the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove, the telefilm Freedom Song, and as a director he earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Showtime’s Just a Dream. Glover also appeared in the HBO Original Movie Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight. Glover starred in Mr. Pig which had its debut at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and which now appears on Netflix. Co-starring Maya Rudolph, Mr. Pig was filming entirely on location in Mexico and is a tour de force for him.
Glover starred in Almost Christmas for Universal Studios. He was also seen in Rage co-starring Nicolas Cage, Beyond the Lights and the independent Complete Unknown. He co-starred in the feature film The Old Man & The Gun opposite Robert Redford and in the films Proud Mary opposite Taraji P. Henson and Come Sunday with Chewitel Ejiofor and appeared in Sorry to Bother You. Glover also had a pivotal role in the critically-acclaimed film Last Black Man In San Francisco.
Glover appeared in the Sony Pictures box office hit Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black and filmed the independent feature Press Play on location in Hawaii. He recently completed a Guest-Star appearance for ABC’s Black-ish and was featured in What The Funk for Netflix. In addition, Glover appeared opposite Susan Sarandon in the touching Dance video for artist Julia Stone.
Chris Broussard
Sports analyst, commentator and broadcaster
Chris is an internationally-known sports analyst, commentator and broadcaster for the FOX Sports 1 television network and FOX Sports Radio. He has shared the screen with some of the NBA’s legendary figures, including Magic Johnson, with whom he co-starred on the “KIA NBA Countdown Show” on ESPN. He can be seen regularly on FS1’s “Undisputed,’’ “First Things First,” “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,’’ and “Speak For Yourself.’’ Chris also co-hosts the nationally-syndicated FOX Sports Radio show “The Odd Couple’’ with Rob Parker on weekdays.
Before joining FOX Sports in the Fall of 2016, Chris worked for 12 years as an NBA analyst and reporter at ESPN, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN.com. Chris’ achievements led to his being named one of the 100 Black History Makers of 2012 by Thegrio.com, the African-American news arm of NBC. He wrote for The New York Times from 1998-2004, The Akron Beacon-Journal from 1994-1998, and The Cleveland Plain Dealer from 1990-1994. Chris graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1990.
Chris has been a spokesperson for former NBA star Allan Houston’s “Father Knows Best” program and a National Chair for the “Ties Never Broken’’ campaign sponsored by Fathers Incorporated. A Board member for Athletes in Action, Chris is a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, charitable fundraisers, youth-related events, and churches, having addressed congregations as varied as Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Catholic and Congregational. He has also taught seminars on the Biblical heritage of African people. Chris is the Founder and President of a National Christian Men’s Movement called K.I.N.G., which stands for Knowledge, Inspiration and Nurture through God.
Chris has twin daughters and lives with his wife of more than 25 years in New Jersey.
Deborah and Curtis Wilson
Global Head of Talent Development,
Shutterstock /
Vice President & General Manager of Travel, Entertainment and Other Related Services Industries, American Express
Deborah Wilson
Through successful human resources leadership roles with large brands like AT&T, Cushman & Wakefield, WPP, and Shutterstock, where she is currently Global Head of Talent Development, Deborah McBrayer Wilson has spent her entire career helping people. Deb’s work, developing talent and development global programs, has improved the careers of tens of thousands of her current and former colleagues. Traveling around the world leading training programs in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Peru, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Paris, and across the U.S., Deb’s work in talent development has spanned the globe.
Within the community, Deb has many passions.
Public Education – Deb served three terms (9 years) on the Montclair Board of Education where she was Vice-President, President, and Chairman of the Superintendent Search Committee. Deb also served on the Board of Directors of the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence, the local non-profit education fund supporting innovation in the Montclair Public Schools.
Healthcare Equity – Deb is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Sickle Cell Association of NJ (SCANJ), established in 2009 to assist the sickle cell community, especially adults, with non – medical needs.
Special Needs Advocacy – Deb currently is a Board Member of New Beginnings for Tomorrow, a non-profit day (learning) program for autistic adults. NB4T is committed to creating the bridge between the end of educational services and the beginning of adult life.
Community Service – A Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Deb is immediate past President of Omicron Xi Omega Chapter in Montclair, New Jersey. During her tenure she is most proud of the work of her chapter in awarding a $10K HBCU scholarship, their largest single scholarship ever awarded. Deb also is a past recipient of the Chapter Community Service Award for Excellence. She currently serves on the Alpha Kappa Alpha International and North Atlantic Region Finance Committees and is Chairman of the North Atlantic Transition Team.
Curtis Wilson
A two-time American Express President’s Award Winner, a member of the company’s hall of fame, Curtis L. Wilson is Vice President & General Manager of Travel, Entertainment and Other Related Services Industries. Curtis leads a $75 Billion+ business unit responsible for various business activities pertaining to marketing, co-branding, driving discount business volume, delivering top line revenue growth, and delivering value-content using data and analytics to American Express merchants and cardmembers.
Avidly involved in his professional industry, Curtis is a Board of Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).
His community service work spans involvement in several organizations including coaching youth sports, mentoring young people while being an advocate in helping access additional educational opportunities and college funding for underserved high school children in the Montclair, NJ and his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
Curtis is a past board member and treasurer of the Montclair YMCA.
He currently is an advisory board member of the Montclair African American Heritage Foundation (MAAHF) and Determined to Educate. He is also an active member of Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Deborah and Curtis are alumni of The Ohio State University, and both hold MBAs from Morgan State University – Earl G. Graves School of Business. They are the proud parents of Curtis M. and Taylor K., and reside in Montclair, NJ.
Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant
International speaker, master facilitator, best-selling author, influencer, producer and celebrity emcee
Privately, Dr. Stacie NC Grant often quotes this message from Ghandi “The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This is how she has built a global platform of service. Dr. Grant has spent countless hours quietly volunteering her time and service in the community through her civic engagement and youth mentorship. From working closely with local elected officials to support community outreach, to volunteering her time speaking with students in her local schools, to serving on PTA Boards, Dr. Grant gets the greatest joy from serving others. She has received numerous awards from the NYS Senate, NYS Assembly, NYC City Council, Office of the Governor of NY, national and local organizations including her most recent recognition as a Woman of Distinction by the Continental Societies, Inc. Her body of work is punctuated by receiving the 2016 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service from our 44 th President Barack Obama, an appointment in 2017 as a Fellow of the Most Excellent Order of International Experts (FOIE) and a recipient of the 2019 I CHANGE NATIONS (ICN) World Civility Ambassador Award. In 2021 Dr. Grant was named as one of The Power 50 MWBE Businesses in New York State & New York City, VIP Global Magazine Top 50 Women in Business and The Network Journal’s 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business.
Publicly, as an award-winning international speaker, master facilitator, best-selling author, influencer, producer and celebrity emcee, Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant is living her divine calling to LEAD, TEACH and INSPIRE! Described as “God’s Designer Original”, she ignites her audiences with her captivating smile, intoxicating humor and boundless energy.
In 2014, Dr. Grant founded Destiny Designers University®, “A CLASSROOM WITHOUT BORDERS; WHERE WE GRADUATE TO THE NEXT BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES BY TURNING INSPIRATION INTO RESULTS!” Destiny Designers University® the only training & development platform for
Faithpreneurs® (faith-based entrepreneurs and faith-based professionals) who grow their wealth-generating practices around an affinity to God and FAITH by learn how to leverage their Relationships, Resources and Revenue to create sustainable legacies by being cash flow positive and unapologetically profitable! Training is delivered through live and self-directed courses and supported through books, products, and other merchandise at www.DestinyDesignersUniversity.com. Faithpreneurs® gather annually in August for the Faithpreneur Weekend 3 Day Experience. To enroll or find out more information you can visit: www.FaithpreneurWeekend.com.
Dr. Grant is the Chief Brilliance Officer of C&G Enterprises Unlimited, LLC an MWBE that specializes in meeting facilitation and professional development training. During COVID-19, C&G began offering decontamination services to other small business and meeting spaces to ensure the safe gathering in these public spaces. Dr. Grant is currently the Facilitator for the JFK International Airport Redevelopment Community Advisory Council, a 13 billion dollar redevelopment project. Learn more at www.CGEUnlimited.com.
Prior to 2016, C&G Enterprises provided purpose driven event strategies for community based and not–for–profit organizations. C&G has been featured on Access Hollywood, Fox 5, Metro TV, and WE Television. The event strategies utilized focused on producing successful outreach events that brought value to the participants and community at large. Clients included Mentoring in Medicine, Inc., Sister to Sister International, Inc., St. Paul Community Baptist Church, Inc., Own Your Power Communications, Inc., Achieving Leadership’s Purpose, Inc. and Inspired Girls, Inc. Under Ms. Grant’s leadership, C&G has received numerous awards, honors and citations from various organizations and government officials for outstanding commitment to excellence in service.
As a media personality, influencer and producer, Dr. Grant hosts the following shows weekly on the DestinyDesignersTV Network: Dream*Do*Done Accountability Podcast, From The Ground Up; Real Time Issues with Real Time Solutions for MWBEs; Speaking Legally; Where The Legal Meets The Cultural, SEQ Moves (Southeast Queens NY Health Initiative) and the IG Live show #FaithBites. Replays of her weekly Saturday Faithprenuer VIP Prayer Call are available on I-Heart, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. Dr. Grant is also one of the co-hosts for The Vera Moore TV Show.
Additionally, Dr. Grant has been a featured speaker for the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Summit, FraserNet Annual Networking Conference, NYC Department of Corrections, Bronx Community College, St. John’s University, Project Enterprise, Mary J. Blige FFAWN Foundation, Women’s Academy of Excellence, Medgar Evers College, The 1209 Affair SuccessNet Series, Peak Performance Institute, Women Doing It Big Foundation, MACY*S, WBLS, L’Oreal, Brooklyn College, Women in The Black, AARP, The New York Urban League, The Eagle Academy Foundation, Celebrity Guest Host for The Network Journal and many more. Dr. Stacie NC Grant also has the distinction of being one of world renowned Les Brown’s notable Platinum Speakers, one of his Expert Trainers and past host of Les Brown Motivational Monday Night Calls.
As a Philanthropist, Dr. Grant is the Co-Chair of the Queens NYC Affiliate of the National Cares Mentoring Movement (founded by Susan L. Taylor) whose mission is to recruit, connect and direct mentors to vulnerable young people. Additionally, she is the secretary of her Church Choir, past President of the St. John’s University Black Alumni Association, a Life Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., founding President of the Graduate Chapter Phi Zeta Zeta Chapter in Queens, NY and Associate Member of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Queens Chapter.
Dr. Grant currently resides in Queens, New York with her husband, Andrew, and 2 sons, Josiah and Jeremy. With God as her guide, our global community will be better for her service to humanity.
Dr. Darryl Rascoe
Dr. Darryl Rascoe is the son of Johnnie and Earnestine Rascoe and a native New Yorker, who grew up in both the South Bronx and Harlem. After graduating from Our Saviour Lutheran High School, he attended Temple University for his freshman year and then completed his bachelor’s degree in history at Herbert H. Lehman College. Soon after, Dr. Rascoe attended Manhattanville College where he earned his first master’s degree in secondary social studies. While attending Manhattanville, he started his career at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem in September 1999 as a high school social studies teacher. Dr. Rascoe spent seven successful years at FDA where he also served as the junior high basketball coach, dean and advisor of the afterschool club called Building with Books. As the advisor of BWB, he was part of a Trek for Knowledge to Mali, West Africa where he and a group of students assisted in building a school for the children of Bougala village.
In 2005, Dr. Rascoe earned his second master’s degree in school administration and supervision from Baruch College and a year later he began his work as an assistant principal at Brandeis High School. His journey as an educator would take him to the Bronx High School for Performance and Stagecraft for two years and then to the New York Leadership Academy Aspiring Principals Program. Upon graduating from the Leadership Academy, Dr. Rascoe became principal of Bedford-Stuyvesant Preparatory High School in 2009. He served the students of Bed-Stuy Prep passionately, indefatigably and equitably for nine years. Dr. Rascoe received citations from both Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for his work as a principal in 2015. In 2018, Dr. Rascoe transitioned into his new role as a principal coach and in 2019, Dr. Rascoe earned his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Sage College. His dissertation is entitled, “Examining Principals’ Perceptions of their Support and Facilitation of Teacher Implementation of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to Help Black Male Students in English Language Arts.”
Lauren Daniels
Executive Director / Founder, Happily Ever After League
The Happily Ever After League (HEAL) was founded in 2004 by Lauren Daniels after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. Lauren had a bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction surgery and a hysterectomy.
At the time of her surgery her children ranged in age from 1 to 11. She felt very lucky to have a wonderful support system of family and friends to help her through her recovery. Lauren realized that cancer is never welcome at any age, being a mom with cancer and children to care for comes with a whole different set of obstacles.
Lauren realized that her breast cancer diagnosis actually brought her to her life’s work. She truly believes that everything happens for a reason and all of her life experiences prepared her for the work she would do with HEAL. She is known for her willingness and desire to always help others so it was no surprise to her family and friends when she decided to start the Happily Ever After League just six months after her cancer diagnosis.
She is inspired by the mother’s HEAL serves and knows first hand that the entire family unit is directly affected by cancer. Lauren is grateful for the communities financial support that is directly passed on to HEAL moms. A bright spot for her is the Healing House. She is never too sure who gets more from being there, the volunteers or the families HEAL serves.