Category Archives: Leadership

Seeking Advice and Following It

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As told by Lance Charles Sun (NYMP9)

Life takes us on all sorts of unexpected paths and nobody could attest for this better than Sienna Chambers.  Sienna, a member of the Middlebury College class of 2007 and New York Middlebury Posse 5, has recently just started her first year as a New York City Teaching Fellow.

After nearly four years of working in commercial real estate, Sienna is now an English teacher at Mott Hall V, a public high school in the Bronx. “My last day of work was actually on April 1st and my co-workers made a big joke about it.” Not one to waste any time, Sienna dove right in and partook in the spring immersion program before regular corps training began in the summer. She spent 10 weeks observing in a special education English classroom before taking on the same position in the Fall when the teacher she observed left the school. Continue reading →

A Superhero Grows In [the] Bronx

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“I work at the Bronx Defenders. The Bronx Defenders is a legal non-profit public defense office. We represent our clients for criminal and family defense and some civil matters. My position is Parent Advocate and I work closely with Family Defense attorneys. I help parents accused of abuse and neglect charges involved in ACS (Administration for Children Services) proceedings and assist them with the services they need to help them reunite with their family.

Working at the Bronx Defenders is a great job. Life as a Parent Advocate can be emotionally challenging but I enjoy being an advocate for people in New York City. I’m a member of an organization that tries its best to counter the affects of the racially charged systems that have historically targeted people of color in the Bronx.

A simple arrest in New York City can lead to the removal of one’s children, eviction, unemployment loss of public assistance and many other collateral consequences that many people in the Bronx go through. Through a holistic model at the Bronx Defenders we have criminal attorneys, family attorneys, immigration attorneys, civil attorneys, social workers, parent advocates, investigators and community development coordinators who work together to fully represent our clients.

[It’s cool to be an adult in the working world but I really miss Middlebury. I hope everyone enjoys their time there!]

Love,
Meli (MP9)”

For more information regarding the Bronx Defenders and the work that Melida is doing, you can click on the logo on the right. 

James E. Stepney

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James Middlebury College GraduationName: James E. Stepney
Hometown: Bronx, New York
Academic Major/Minor: Film and Media Culture
Current Status: Assistant Editor/Digitizer at MTV Networks
Priding myself as a New York native, I found it rather tasking to discover my niche at Middlebury College. At the same time, it opened a window of possibilities and potential I never tapped into. I’ve discovered my passions and have formed networks that will last a lifetime through the hard work and dedication stemming from Middlebury’s work ethic. Today, I use those same skills and lessons in the “ real” world in order to achieve my goals within the Film industry. Aspiring as a director for feature Hollywood films is a daunting goal, but using foundations solidified through family, friends, and ever evolving scruples I have no doubt that I will gain the most from what life has to offer. The only thing I can comment on while on this journey is my undying appreciation of passion, and helping those achieve such passionate goals is a rewarding thing to witness, as well as an essential component to my purpose.

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Alumni Highlight: Morgane Veronique Richardson

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Middlebury College Reminist Blogger MorganeName: Morgane Veronique Richardson
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA
Major: Sociology/Anthropology and The History of Art and Architecture Major
Current Status: Co-founder and Executive Director at Mixtape Media
Founder, Refuse The Silence

Biography:
Morgane is a professional feminist, president of Mixtape Media and the founder of Refuse The Silence: Women of Color in Academia Speak Out. Her reflections on women, race and education have been published in numerous blogs and magazines including, Bitch, Feministing, University of Venus and More Magazine.

Aside from earning a degree with an all-too lengthy title (a joint BA in Sociology/Anthropology and The History of Art and Architecture), Morgane spent her time at Middlebury College shaking up the status quo and demanding respect for her peers’ rights.

After graduation Morgane put her experience as a campus organizer, Posse Scholar to use toward a career as a professional Feminist. In 2008 she founded Refuse The Silence, an initiative that encourages women of color who are currently enrolled in or have attended elite liberal arts colleges in the United States to share their stories.

In 2009, she co-founded a successful social media firm, Mixtape Media, which works on pro-social campaigns for clients like Russell Simmons and the United Nations. And in 2010 she took on a new role as Workshop Genius, traveling the country working with students and administrators to reconcile the existing hegemony within elite academia with the desire for diverse campuses.

Morgane is fourth wave antiracist feminist – approaching her generation’s inherited economic, environmental, and social issues with an innovative flair, a progressive mindset, and a practical implementation. MorganeRichardson.com, is a glimpse into her daily life and experiences as a feminist, and queer woman of color activist. She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her partner, Alexandra and their dog, Joplin.

Contact Information:
morgane.richardson(at)gmail(dot)com
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Online Presence:
morganerichardson.com
refusethesilence.com
mixtapemedia.org