A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Broward College

THANK YOU! I AM OVERWHELMED BY YOUR SUPPORT

Last Friday I shared a personal story about an incident of systemic racism I witnessed involving our president, Gregory Adam Haile. Believe me, I struggled with this message, making sure every word was exactly the right one to convey my feelings. I am deeply touched by the overwhelmingly positive response and kind remarks I’ve received. It is truly heartwarming.

I’m going to take the liberty to thank Broward College leaders who are keeping everything moving forward, cautiously and deliberately. In light of all that is going on these days and in the spirit of justice, the Board of Directors of the Broward College Foundation, and President Haile and his team, elected to establish the Black Lives Matter Scholarship at Broward College, to ensure more individuals will be able to access the transformative power of education.

The Black Lives Matter Scholarship supports Broward College students who are pushing forward initiatives to make sure that their diverse voices and stories are represented in our community. It supports our student leaders who are working with the College to develop thoughtful programming that addresses the core issues of the Black Lives Matter movement; building understanding and communication that leads to open and honest learning and discovery for our students to learn how to love each other in unity, how to face adversity, and build leadership skills to usher in a new era of systemic change.

Click here if you’d like to read more about this initiative. Click here if you’d like to join me and other members of the Broward College Alumni & Friends Network who support this scholarship. I am so grateful to those of you who have already joined us by funding this initiative.

Nancy O'Donnell-Wilson
Vice President for Advancement, Broward College
Executive Director, Broward College Foundation

HELIOS-BC2FIU SCHOLARSHIP

During a virtual town hall hosted by Broward College on June 19, Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, announced a $1.2 million philanthropic investment to establish the Helios-BC2FIU Scholarship Program. This new scholarship, available for first time in college students this fall, is a collaboration between Broward College and Florida International University to promote equitable outcomes for underserved, minority and first-generation students by establishing a seamless pathway to complete an Associate of Science degree at Broward College and transfer with guaranteed admission to Florida International University to complete their baccalaureate degree.

Click here to read more about the Helios-BC2FIU Scholarship.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS NETWORK VIRTUAL EVENTS

The Broward College Alumni & Friends Network has two new virtual events planned for July!

On Wednesday, July 8 at 5 p.m. join the third presentation of our webinar series, Rewarding Relationships: Three Keys to Success, featuring two Broward College alumni and local celebrity podcast experts Dr. Jameson Mercier, LCSW, and his wife Herdyne Mercier, LCSW, of Mercier Wellness and Consulting. Prepare your questions for this dynamic duo!

Herdyne Mercier is a transparent, transformational coach and speaker whose mission is to speak to the soul through life-changing stories, humor, insight and care. Her goal is to provide a non-judgmental space for people to express themselves as they journey through life’s challenges. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Grief Specialist, Herdyne is host of her own weekly podcast, Redefining Grief. She says, “Nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing my words help people feel seen, heard and validated.”

Dr. Jameson Mercier has worked with different populations in various settings, including public school systems, mental health agencies, churches and hospitals. Dr. Mercier is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy. Among his many projects is Manfident™, which focuses on rewriting the script about manhood, and Dadfident™, which is about helping fathers be more confident in their roles.

This event will be available via Zoom. Register in advance.

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Introducing Alumni & Friends Connect! Virtual Networking

Please join us on Wednesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. for an interactive networking experience where you’ll be able to meet fellow Broward College alumni and friends of the College! We’ll spend 60 minutes together, with a mix of introductions and small group breakout networking sessions.

A few days before the networking session, we’ll send out an email providing a general overview of what to expect along with the Zoom link to access the networking session. Space is limited. Ready to meet in the Zoom Room? Sign up here!

If you would like to suggest a topic or volunteer for a future Alumni & Friends event, email Jill Horowitz, your Alumni Engagement Officer.

THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

On Tuesday, June 16, the Broward College Alumni & Friends Network hosted the second broadcast of its webinar series. During this virtual interactive event on the “The Challenge of Change,” participants heard from three of our alumni: Shekeisha Banner of Silver Lining Counseling and Consulting, Nandranie Bhalai of Broward County Public Schools, and Argelys Pena, CEO and founder of Spirit Technologys. More than 165 people registered for the event.

If you missed the webinar, you may view a recording of the event. If you participated and have not yet completed the follow-up survey, please do so here.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS NETWORK BENEFIT

In these trying times, we want to remind you that we’ve partnered with GEICO to offer alumni, friends and our employees a special discount on car insurance. Visit GEICO online or call 1-800-368-2734 to find out how much you could save today!

Be sure to mention your Broward College affiliation to be eligible for the special discount.

Did you know you could save money, save time, and help students become Empowered by Broward all at once? When you buy your gifts, clothing, food, and other products through Amazon Smile, you can direct a percentage of your purchase to the Broward College Foundation and support the Empowerment Fund, which provides the most flexibility to do what is right for our students.

Prices on Amazon Smile are identical to those on the regular Amazon site. You’ll enjoy the same convenience and help make a student’s dream of higher education a reality.

Learn how easy it is to set up your Amazon Smile account.

PROVIDING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

When you include the Broward College Foundation in your financial and estate planning, you ensure your legacy of providing opportunity to students who are determined to change their lives through the pursuit of higher education. Help someone become Empowered by Broward!

For more information, email Scott Rivinius or call 954-201-7490.