Education is so powerful and we as a people must seek out every outlet available to educate ourselves, especially opportunities that include scholarships. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to get an education should continually foster opportunities for other young people to follow in our footsteps. We had the privileged chance to meet with President & CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to learn more about their mission and their goals for the future. Having provided support to nearly 300,000 young men and women at HBCU’s around the country, we were absolutely honored at this unique opportunity.
BCG: Tell us more about the Thurgood Marshall College Fund? How did it get started? What drives the passion behind this organization?
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. of TMCF: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund has offices in Washington, DC, New York, NY and Houston, TX. Dr. N. Joyce Payne founded TMCF in 1967 to create a resource for ensuring that every young person in America has the opportunity to receive a college education. Today, TMCF, named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice, is fulfilling that promise everyday through the support it provides to the nearly 300,000 young men and women attending the 47-member public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) that make up TMCF’s network of schools.
TMCF’s work is critical to guaranteeing our country with a robust and diverse pipeline of talented workers and future leaders. It achieves its vision of Changing the World…One Leader at a Time by focusing on: Scholarships, capacity Building and Programmatic Support. Scholarships are provided to qualified students at TMCF-member schools. 86% of all students attending the nation’s HBCUs/PBIs are enrolled at TMCF-member schools; 55% of TMCF-member school graduates go on to enroll in professional and graduate schools; nearly one in seven bachelor’s degrees earned by African-Americans were earned at TMCF-member schools; and over two million young people have graduated from TMCF-member schools.
BCG: What annual events does TMCF host to bring awareness to the cause and fund-raise?
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. of TMCF: We hold several including: Members University Professional Institute (MUPI)
, an annual conference that gathers presidents, chancellors, administrators, faculty and staff of the 47-member TMCF school network, community leaders, and industry professionals to hear the latest best practices and business methodologies to advance the cause of public HBCUs. The annual Civic Responsibility Conference (CRC) is a national program designed to empower public Historically Black College and University students to succeed in the legislative process. This conference is an introduction to the programs, grants, and new policies TMCF will propose to the 112th Congress. Most importantly, scholars gain a deeper understanding of the Constitution’s design for democracy, and the rights of every citizen to bring concerns about the laws of our country before the three branches of our government. CRC involves exercising those rights to participate in, preserve and protect our democracy and hold our government accountable to its citizens.
Awards of Excellence (AOE) were created in 2000 to recognize those distinguished individuals in a specific geographic location who serve as role models through their significant achievement in a chosen field, through community service, or by exemplifying Justice Thurgood Marshall’s commitment to justice, civil rights and education. The events are annual reminders of Thurgood Marshall’s legacy and by celebrating like-minded leaders, partnerships are forged by the AOE honorees and sponsors to support the students at the 47-member public HBCUs and Predominately Black Institutions.
The Annual Leadership Institute & Recruitment Fair is the premier recruitment conference for public HBCU/PBI students. For the past decade, this four-day conference has given talented future leaders a unique professional development experience. A carefully selected group of students are brought together with some of the nation’s top executives for leadership training, career management, life skills, development and recruitment opportunities. One of the main components of the Leadership Institute is the Recruitment Fair, where students meet with over 60 companies and government agencies offering job and internship opportunities.
BCG: How can others get involved with your cause within their local communities?
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. of TMCF: The TMCF brand has an impact on the African-American community, people can get involved by serving as a volunteer at one of our many events, returning as a trained leaders to communities, governments corporations and the legal and medical professions.
Of course monetrarty donations will go torards our many scholarships offered to students and In-kind donations enable TMCF to direct more of its resources directly to students.
BCG: What are your major accomplishments/awards?
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. of TMCF: In 2010, TMCF awarded scholarships totaling more than $1 million. It also continued to provide value to its 47-member schools and their nearly 300,000 students through our programs and policies. These programs include our Teacher Quality and Retention Program (TQRP), which helps to prepare educators and future educators become better teachers and National Board Certified. Inclusive of TQRP are four Summer Institutes that focus on: new teachers, pre-service teachers, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors and HBCU males. Another program is our annual Leadership Institute (LI). LI features rigorously-screened students by our Talent Acquisition Team who learn life skills that will help them succeed in today’s very competitive marketplace. In addition, with the help of corporate and government partners, TMCF provides students, faculty and administrative staff with the ability to do research, have internships and improve their skills to excel. Over $4 million in federal support and $8 million in private funding helped TMCF provide scholarships, capacity building and programmatic support, and support policies and advocacy. None of this could be achieved without our corporate and government partners as well our donors. We also have a Student Ambassador program that brings TMCF directly to the students on its member-school campuses. Our value is a two-way street. We provide value to students, faculty and the schools we serve, and our corporate partners gain value by having access to the students who serve as highly skilled interns, and are a source for permanent jobs that will help make them more competitive in today’s marketplace.
BCG: What final words of wisdom would you’d like to share with our readers?
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. of TMCF: I’d like to share this quote with the BCG readers from Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the voice for public Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). We are a resource to help America’s youth attain college degrees, become leaders in their community, chosen career or chosen profession. We offer scholarships, leadership development, and serve as a source for internships, fellowships, and future jobs. TMCF was named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American, Justice Thurgood Marshall, whose legacy is Equality, Justice and Education for all. TMCF supports and represent nearly 300,000 students attending our 47-member schools and our work is critical to guaranteeing our country a robust and diverse pipeline of talented workers and future leaders. We achieve our vision of Changing the World . . . One Leader at a Time by focusing on: Scholarships, Capacity Building & Programmatic Support, and Public Policy & Advocacy.”
BCG: What does “Giving back is good for the soul” mean to you?
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.of TMCF: “Giving Back is good for the soul,” means paying it forward, nurturing legacies, enriching and uplifting communities. “Giving Back is good for the Soul” because it fulfills the meaning of Loving for Your Brothers and Sisters What You Love for Yourself. “Giving Back is good for the Soul” because we as people of diverse backgrounds share collective qualities of our being – traits that will forever bond us to Humanity. Regardless of our upbringings, we were born from Grace and Goodness and afforded the ability to think, learn, experience, and wonder; qualities that will forever connect us to one another. As we develop, we embrace communities within society and we network with other beings of our collective consciousness so that Each One of Us, will continue the journey to Reach One of Us and that voyage will bond all of Us! When we recognize the challenges as well as the triumphs we face within our diverse cultures, we realize in the end that we speak, we cry, and we endure similar pains as well as passionate joys. We all are people of excellence and great pride. We all represent the birth of our nation’s future and different ingredients needed to encourage one another.
As a collective force, we are more than members of a mass population, we are partners and believers of an interest aimed to jointly uplift one another inspirationally and professionally! We all have been affected by many great and not so great moments in our lifetime. But again, we’re always reminded of those shared elements of our existence. We are Beings before groups, which mean we share values that naturally unite us, categorize us and we all are entitled to explore and embrace all things within our Universe. If we take time to understand those communal values that connect us, remove the politics and ego from our lives, and focus on the beauty and spirit of our being, we can be unified, as we should be. And that’s why “Giving Back is Good for the Soul.” May we continue to network collectively and remember the qualities and values that connect us to our Greatness within.
For more information on Thurgood Marshall College Fund please visit the website at www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org and get involved in the social space on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThurgoodMarshallCollegeFund
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tmcf_hbcu
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/tmcfTV1
