1. BLACK AND LATINO STUDENT
EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE
MONDAY, FEB. 15TH
, 2016
10:00AM – 4:30PM
ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
D’ANGELO CENTER 416 ABC
RISE2LEAD
REACH HIGHER: TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR DREAMS

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Introduce avenues of engagement and
success to Black and Latino students.
2. Prepare Black and Latino college bound
students for success in college.
3. Promote leadership development for Black and Latino
students through networking and mentorship.
PURPOSE:
The theme, “Reach Higher: Take Charge of Your Dreams”
addresses how Black and Latino student retention in higher ed-
ucation is the single most important solution to many civil rights
issues. The RISE2LEAD Conference aims to empower young
men and women of color to maximize their potential and inspire
meaningful change for justice and equality.
We will bring together a diverse group of successful Black and
Latino high school and college students, administrators, alumni
and faculty to discuss challenges that Black and Latino students
face in today’s society and educate, inspire, and encourage men
and women of color to reflect on their own goals and build on
their leadership.

3. CONFERENCE AGENDA:
10:00AM-10:30AM Check In/Continental Breakfast
10:30AM-10:35AM Welcome
10:35AM-10:55AM Energizer
11:00AM-11:15AM Opening Keynote Speaker - Karim Abouelnaga
11:20AM-11:50AM Panel Discussion:
Shawn Best - Assistant Director
of CUNY Black Male Initiatives,
David Kirkland - Director of NYU Metro Center,
Jomaira Martinez - Director of Youth
Empowerment Services at Goodwill Industries
Collin Craig - Assistant Professor of English,
St. John’s University & Coordinator, Brothers For
Excellence, Hunter College
Moderator: Vaughn Edmeade - Pastor/Author/
Entrepreneur
11:50AM-12:05PM Questions & Answers
12:15PM-1:10PM Concurrent Workshops/Sessions
1:10PM-2:10PM Lunch & Learn
2:10PM-3:05PM Concurrent Workshops/Sessions
3:15PM-4:15PM Mentorship Mixer
4:15PM-4:25PM Closing Remarks & Evaluations

4. Karim Abouelnaga, Founder & CEO,
Practice Makes Perfect Karim is the
founder & CEO of Practice Makes
Perfect, which he founded at 18
while still a college student. He is
the product of under-resourced
New York City public schools, but
benefited from mentors who helped
lift him out of his neighborhood
into Cornell University, where he
received over $300,000 in scholar-
ships and aid to make his college
education possible. He founded the
organization to “pay it forward,” to
help students with a background
similar to his who didn’t have the
opportunities he had.
For his work with Practice Makes
Perfect, Karim has been featured in
the New York Times and awarded
several distinctions, including the
Echoing Green Fellowship, Rob-
inson Appel Humanitarian Award,
Newman Civic Fellowship, Pearson
Prize National Fellowship, Cornell’s
Distinguished Leadership Award,
the Cornell Class of 1964 John
F. Kennedy Memorial Award, and
recently named to Forbes 30 under
30 in Education. He is a Global
Shaper through the World Econom-
ic Forum and is a frequent contrib-
utor to Entrepreneur and writes on
the topics of education, millennials
and entrepreneurship.
Karim is a first-generation college
graduate who finished in the top
10% of his class at Cornell Univer-
sity’s School of Hotel Administration
in 2013. As a student he served
as a student assistant to the Dean,
a Hunter Rawlings III Presidential
Research Scholar and a Presidential
Fellow through the Center for the
Study of Presidency & Congress.
Karim serves as an Entrepreneur in
Residence at Cornell University for
the 2015 – 2016 academic year.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
KARIM ABOUELNAGA

5. 1. #GOALS
Alexa Achille, Alumnus at St. John’s University
D’Angelo Center – 401
• Vision & Goal Setting – ALL
They don’t want you to be successful, but you’re going to be
successful. The true key to your success is having #Goals. This
session will teach attendees how to not only create goals but cre-
ate a road map to achieving them through discussion and creative
activity.
2. IMPOSSIBLE
Yanil Nuñez, Planning & Administration Assistant at Columbia Uni-
versity & Lambda Theta Alpha Delta Kappa Chapter at St. John’s
University
D’Angelo Center – 406
• Career Development, Confidence/ Resilience Building,
Positive Psychology – ALL
With so many statistics disabling the faith Black & Latino students
have for themselves, this program is designed to encourage each
of them to find their internal motivation and create a positive dia-
logue with it to achieve success.
3. KEYNOTE SPEAKER QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Karim Abouelnaga, CEO of Practice Makes Perfect
D’Angelo Center – 407
• Entrepreneurship – ALL
Karim Abouelnaga is an ivy-league educated, inner-city public
school graduate. He received over $300,000 in scholarships to
12:15pm-1:10pm
1st Reach Higher Session

6. make his education at Cornell University possible. He is the founder
of Practice Makes Perfect, writes for Entrepreneur, is an Echoing
Green Fellow, Global Shaper, and at 23 was named to Forbes’ 30
under 30 list in Education. If you enjoyed his keynote speech then
this session will be a great opportunity for you to ask him questions
about his path to success.
4. MEN & MANHOOD
Leonard Breton, Associate Director of Greek life at St. John’s Uni-
versity, Terence Tillman, Job Developer/Job Readiness Trainer at
NADAP
D’Angelo Center – 408
• Men & Masculinity - ALL
This presentation provides an overview of societal perceptions and
definitions of manhood in America. In particular, the presentation will
challenge stereotypes and social norms that continue to negatively
impact the proper development of young men and what it means
to be a man. Together, attendees will discuss ways to reverse poor
practices and make positive changes through personal commit-
ments to themselves, each other and the community at-large.
5. PRETTY ON FLEEK
Natalie Muñoz, Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs at St. John’s
University
Jomaira Martinez, Director of Special Projects at Goodwill Industries
D’Angelo Center – 409
• Women & Femininity – ALL
As women of color self- esteem has a huge impact on the choices
that we make, the friends that we associate with, our college experi-
ence, the jobs that we apply for, the partners that we choose to love,
and how we treat our children. This workshop aims to reframe our

7. definitions of beauty as women of color despite what the media tells
us about our skin color, body type, and hair.
6. WHO AM I?
Jorge Alguera, Program Coordinator for Project ExCEL at the Aca-
demic Advising Center at Queens College
Esteban Acosta, Vice President of Phi Iota Alpha, Fraternity Inc. at
St. John’s University
D’Angelo Center – 410
• Confidence/ Resilience Building – Cultural Identity - ALL
At a time where enrollment in an academic institution is critical for
financial stability, Black and Latino students should understand the
meaning and functionality of culture. Black and Latino students
need to gain insight as to how culture impacts value systems, atti-
tudes, goals and achievements and how that understanding can be
applied to their academic career, as well as their post-secondary life.
This session will focus on celebrating Black and Latino identity.

8. SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
BY JASMINE MANS
Jasmine Mans, is an author, performer, poet, teacher but more
importantly an artist...an artist who enjoys having various forums
to express her thoughts, moods, opinions and a voice to speak
out on behalf of others and the community around her. A recent
graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison (2014), Jas-
mine received her BA in African-American Studies (Black Theory
& Literature) and is the recipient of the Star Ledger – NJPAC;
Arts Millennia; and (New York) Knicks Poetry Slam Scholarships
and other awards.

9. 2nd Reach Higher Session
2:10pm-3:05pm
7. DESIGN THINKING AND YOU
James Vanié, Graduate Student at the School of Visual Arts (Interaction
Design), Shaton Winston Senior Copywriter at IBM
D’Angelo Center – 401
• Resilience Building – Vision & Goal Setting – College Only
A new business strategy called “design thinking” has helped thousands
of entrepreneurs, designers, consultants, and engineers solve large-scale
problems, develop new products, and start businesses. Design thinking
is normally applied to business and social innovation to meet a consumer
need. Ultimately, it helps identify the obstacles that block a person from
achieving their goals, and it can help reframe problems to make them easi-
er to solve.
8. SUCCESS IS INTENTIONAL:
LIVING ON PURPOSE WITH PURPOSE
Vaughn Edmeade, Owner & Founder of Coach Vaughn Edutainment (Aver-
age is Failure)
D’Angelo Center – 406
• Spiritual Development/ Vision & Goal Setting - ALL
When we see the breakdown of the family structure, the lack of financial
competence, continuing education challenges, and a disregard for life with-
in our urban communities, we know that there is an urgent need for Blacks
and Latinos to be intentional about identifying and then living with purpose
and a spiritual center. This workshop will include peer to peer interaction,
insightful real life experiences and Q&A in order to give attendees tools and
resources that will help to give them an educational and vocational target
while providing them spiritual tips to remain balanced. Students will be
challenged to identify their definitions of success and compare it to God’s
definition of success. The discussion will include basic steps to achieving
God success and not merely good success.

10. 9. PUBLIC SPEAKING WITH JASMINE MANS
D’Angelo Center – 407
• Public Speaking, Spoken Word, Leadership,
Entrepreneurship, Confidence Building – ALL
If you enjoyed her performance then you will definitely enjoy her Stage
Curriculum. Jasmine provides movement and speaking techniques
to enhance students’ everyday Public Speaking and Spoken Word
performance skills.
10. TURNING CRITICISM TO GREATNESS
FEATURING STEPH CURRY
Lenny Williams, Dean School of Business at New Jersey City University
D’Angelo Center – 408
• Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Branding, Social Media,
Confidence/ Resilience Building – ALL
During the 2014-2015 NBA season the Warriors ran off an amazing
season. The season concluded with a championship banner being
raised above the rafters. They weren’t his best performances, but
Steph Curry played a huge part in winning the championship. Back
in 2007 I told my barber to hit channel 2 for a Davidson game. The
barbershop laughed at me, but in all honesty they didn’t know Steph
Curry just yet. Earlier, I had watched this guy shoot lights out against
a Michigan team that had bonafied NBA prospects. Like Steph, you
never know who is watching you from the start. Let’s fast forward,
Stephen Curry is having an amazing season leading his warriors team
to a 19-0 record thus far this season. As a student, sometimes your
greatness may be lost in criticism, better yet lost through self-doubt or
lack of leadership. True greatness and leadership requires one to fight
through and overcome adversity at all costs. Stephen Curry is now an
NBA MVP and Champion. So with the help of my man Steph Curry, I
will teach you how to find the greatness within you despite any odds.

11. 11. WHY GET INVOLVED?
Malcolm McDaniel, Graduate Student at Hofstra University
D’Angelo Center – 409
• Leadership, Career Development – ALL
Did you know that students who are involved devote more time
and energy to academics, spend more time on campus, participate
actively in student organizations, and have more positive interactions
with faculty and staff? This session will explore why you should be
involved in extracurricular activities, how you can get involved during
your academic career, and how your involvement will benefit your
future.
12. HOW TO GET S.T.A.C.K.S!
(Strategies to Afford College, Knowledge, and Success)
Xavier Vazquez, Graduate Assistant at Gear Up, Jessica Ortiz,
Graduate Assistant at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, John Black,
Homeland Security Major at St. John’s University
D’Angelo Center – 410
• Scholarships/Financing College – 8th Grade-12th Grade
This workshop will help students gain a solid grasp on financial strat-
egies that they can utilize to help them eliminate any financial chal-
lenges towards successfully pursuing a college degree. Students will
learn about the different resources that are available to them, such as
scholarships, grants, and other collegiate assistance programs. Stu-
dents will ultimately learn how to take advantage of these resources
so that they are prepared and confident when applying for colleges.

12. SPECIAL THANKS:
Multicultural Affairs, RISE Network, Student Development, Gear Up,
Liberty Partnership Program, Haraya, Student Government Incorpo-
rated, African and Latino Fraternal/Sororal Alliance, Latin American
Student Organization, Diversity Peer Educators, Admissions Office,
Haitian Students Association, Alumni Association, McNair Scholars,
NAACP, Goodwill Industries,
and all our dynamic presenters, panelists and performers:
Karim Abouelnaga, Shawn Best, David Kirkland, Jomaira Martinez,
Jasmine Mans, Collin Craig, Coach Vaughn, Leonard Breton, Jorge
Alguera, Esteban Acosta, Alexa Achille, Yanil Nuñez, Lenny Williams,
Malcolm McDaniel, Xavier Vazquez, Terence Tillman, John Black,
Jessica Ortiz, and James Vanié
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET MORE
INVOLVED WITH THE RISE NETWORK CONTACT:
Natalie Muñoz
Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs
St. John’s University, DAC 124A
Munozn@stjohns.edu
718-990-6887