Joe is a recent graduate of Oberlin College, where he earned High Honors for his African Studies thesis on systemic racism in the United States. As a first year teacher, there are many classroom supplies that he needs, but does not yet have. This is where PledgeCents comes in. With your help, Joe can buy the necessary materials to help his students reach their goals and grow as learners and leaders.

Reason for Teaching:
When I was a young kid I lacked an appreciation for reading, writing, and my education as a whole. This passion did not develop until college, when I could choose to learn about the topics that I was interested in. Only then did I truly engage in the material at hand.

My Africana Studies professors developed my appreciation for history – allowing me to add context to the current events I saw everyday. Seeing the information I was learning apply to the real world gave me a newfound appreciation for history and, more generally, education. This is why I went to Mississippi; I want to give my students the same appreciation that I gained later in my education through history.

Everyday, I reflect upon how lucky I was to have a community that pushed me to work in school, despite my disinterest. Moreover, I was privileged enough to have the resources in elementary, middle, and high schools to learn the material that was being taught. Some of my students will have that community, some may not. Either way, they deserve the same resources that I had, with a teacher who will be there for them as a teacher, mentor, and engaged community member every step of the way. This is why I am asking for your donations: you can help me build my classroom and, by doing so, allow me to strengthen the relationships I have with my students to grow their minds.