2022 Starting off Great! Uncategorized by Sonya Bernard-Hollins - January 22, 2022January 22, 20220 Mahalia Guidry learns the functions of the brain during an interactive medical academy organized in partnership with the WMU Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine in Kalamazoo to bring careers to life. *Header image: From left: Sonya Bernard-Hollins, founder of the Merze Tate Explorers, poses with Explorer Brittany Wright and her mother, Shelly after Brittany earned the Life EMS Social Justice Youth Award from the City of Kalamazoo. As 2022 begins, the Explorers are off to a great start! The Michigan Afterschool Partnership www.miafterschool.org has recognized the work of the Merze Tate Explorers! Students nominated program founder, Sonya Bernard-Hollins, for the MAP’s Mary Sutton Leadership Award. Hollins will receive the honor during the Michigan Afterschool Partnership virtual conference on January 26th! Explorers created a video that highlights Mrs. Hollins’ role as a mentor and youth program leader for her work in forming the Explorers and motivating hundreds of girls to Explore Possibilities! Since 2008, Explorers have met and interviewed women who have made history, such as Astronaut Mae Jemison and Oscar-Winning Costume Designer Ruth Carter (Black Panther movie.) The youth said Mrs. Hollins’ innovative education opportunities use media to give girls a voice! Mary Sutton is the founder and executive director of Michigan Afterschool Partnership. According to its website, Sutton led the organization in efforts to initiate “major initiatives to improve outcomes for schoolchildren and families involved in the Michigan out-of-school time field.” Explorer Brittany Wright was recently recognized with the LifeCare EMS Youth Social Justice Award by the City of Kalamazoo. Wright, a senior at Kalamazoo Central High School, earned the award for her work in helping lead the Explorers in fundraising thousands of dollars to provide scholarships for Explorers and girls at the Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization in Tanzania, Africa. Brittany poses with her family and LifeEMS director John Pinkster. Brittany Wright shares her desire to become a nurse before being presented with the LifeEMS Youth Social Justice Award by John Pinkster, Director of South Operations. Pinkster encouraged Wright to take EMT classes in preparation for her career as a nurse. Thank you to all who support the Explorers and the work we do to bring career and college exploration to life!
