Tag Archives: big shoulders fund

Meet Taylor Shufford. High School Senior. Caught between education and survival.

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Sometimes, I walk in the middle of the road so that nobody will say anything to me or nobody will try to grab me or something like that.

bsf_taylorTaylor paints a vivid picture of her walk everyday to Our Lady of Tepeyac H.S. She is one of many voices in the Big Shoulders Fund short film, Invest in a Child.

The story begins from the perspective of Denise Spells, Principal of St. Ethelreda Elementary:

Everyday is a struggle…Children live lives that we never thought they would actually have to live. If you want to know where these kids come from, walk to the neighborhoods they have to go through. We need someone here to help us out, to keep these schools open. That’s the right thing to do.

Fr. Matt Eyerman, Pastor at St. Malachy Elementary School, gives an unwavering statement:

A vast majority of our families are either at risk or in poverty. People can give to lots of things in the city. And you can have your name on a plaque here. And have a chair named after you. But only with Big Shoulders can you invest in a child.

Other voices and other faces are woven into the narrative to reveal the real depth of the challenges faced by inner city Catholic schools, and to help people realize that they can work together to bring about real transformation.

Watch the 2-minute trailer[youtube=http://youtu.be/QHuZP2Sb_pA]

or the 8-minute short film [youtube=http://youtu.be/OS4k0FfjDJI]

On May 16, Juli Rossi from Big Shoulders Fund will tell us more about how they put a face and voice to their mission on our social media storytelling panel.

Thursday, May 16
5:30–8:00pm
i.c.stars
415 N Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60654

REGISTER TODAY and bring guests for free. See you Thursday!

Meet Brandies Dunagan. Social Media Wiz. Leader. Storyteller.

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dunagan_brandiesIn 2006, Brandies lost her job. With only three weeks of unemployment left and unable to find work, it was a stressful time for her. She had nowhere to turn and even considered going back to a telemarketing job she loathed. She was on her own and unable to rely on her family for support.

Then one day, Brandies happened to see a TV news story about i.c.stars. Even though she wasn’t a techy person, she was drawn to the leadership development component and knew she was smart enough to learn about technology. Within weeks she completed the i.c.stars interviewing process and began the program.

“My training through i.c.stars has changed my life in ways I never dreamed of,” declared Brandies. “With the leadership skills I acquired, I now can think past the day-to-day chore of working to make ends meet, and instead create opportunities for others and make the community a little better each day.”

Read the full story of how Brandies uses her i.c.starts training to create real impact in the lives of youth looking for the same opportunities.

Barkada Circle is very fortunate to have Brandies on our upcoming social media storytelling panel, Who is the Face (and Voice) of Your Mission? on May 16. She will be moderating the discussion that includes our friends from the Arthritis Foundation and Big Shoulders Fund.

Sign up today and join the conversation.