Michele Campbell has spent many years pursuing her passion in the education sector. The Akron native attained her education from Ohio institutions including a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Ashland University, a Master’s degree from Kent State University’s Higher Education Administration, and a Doctorate from the University of Akron as a Doctor of Education.
As the executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation, Campbell is able to implement her decades of experience in higher education into thoughtful, research-based initiatives that connect with the inner-city students and families that need it most. Through the Foundation, which aims to positively affect the lives of children and young adults through educational initiatives, Campbell brings LeBron’s vision to create positive and lasting change in his hometown to life through daily and long term interventions rooted in research and driven by passion. Under Campbell’s direction, in 2011 the LeBron James Family Foundation began working on the high school dropout crisis facing the Akron community and launched its core I PROMISE program in partnership with Akron Public Schools. This deep-rooted initiative targets the district’s lowest performing students and provides them with the programs, support and mentors they need for success in school, following them all the way through graduation. Campbell’s guidance has helped grow this thoughtful, research-based, and powerful program to more than 1,500 students that has culminated in the opening of the I PROMISE School, a groundbreaking public school that takes an innovative approach to educating the whole child and their entire family, the I PROMISE Village that serves as transitional housing for students struggling with homelessness, the upcoming I PROMISE Housing, which will be 50 units of affordable housing, and House Three Thirty, an innovative center focused on providing job training, financial health, and family programming for the entire community.
In addition to sharing with us about the students and families they serve she will also share about the LeBron James Family Foundation’s impact on the community has grown over the last ten years – from opening the I PROMISE School, to expanding into transitional housing the I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels and long term housing with I PROMISE Housing, and culminating in the innovative House Three Thirty, which will see the historic Tangier turned into a community space providing job training, financial health, and gathering space for our I PROMISE families and the entire community.
Congratulations to our newest Akron Crown recipients
(L-R) Terry Dalton and Wanda Raber Whipkey
Terry was selected as King for being an integral part of the Zoom meetings, keeping Dr. Rob's Rotary calendar straight, all his work on the scholarship program and for writing the weekly speaker re-caps.
Wanda was crowned as Queen of the Chili Open for who has shepherd it the past couple years with various co-chairs. She did an outstanding job again this year and continues to set the bar higher each year for the event.
ABOUT THE AKRON ROTARY CROWN
When our Club began meeting remotely, Katy was so impressed with Cheryl Warren's handling of our Zooms that she spontaneously sent her a Tiara and crowned her the Queen of Zoom!
Cheryl approached Katy to ask if they could "pass it forward", so they decided to keep it moving every other month or so, crowning a Queen or King or Both for their efforts to benefit our club! Katy secured a Kings crown to have in addition to the Tiara.
The member(s) who receives the crown(s) must wear them for a month to our weekly meetings – either virtually or when we go live.
We will do it every other month to allow time in between to transition the “Akron Rotary Crown”
The member(s) who last received the crown(s) then helps Cheryl and Katy identify the next worthy member(s) then he/she drops off the committee and the next recipient joins us – so it rotates.
Now, Terry and Wanda will be part of the committee to help pick the next recipient(s) and will then drop off and the new recipients come on...so it rotates.
It's important to point out that this is not a popularity contest - some month's there may be no one and other month's there may be more than one person. We are looking for members who are often doing things quietly behind the scene or big things too.
We encourage the committee chairs and all members to submit ideas to Katy and Cheryl - just email us. We want to continue recognizing members for all their good deeds!
Thank you Akron Rotarian Lorrayne Gervase (photo below) for volunteering to read a story for the APS Virtual Storytelling initiative.
If you are interested, contact Julie Brandle at jbrandle@metisconstruction.com for more information and guidelines.
Julie Brandle, DGND, Assistant Governor - S Summit and Medina Cluster Past President, Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio Cell 330.858.6672 | jbrandle@metisconstruction.com
Let's all help fellow member Lorrayne Gervase with a great fundraiser she is chairing in cooperation with Texas Roadhouse and also her Awareness Campaign for Child Abuse Prevention Month!
The speaker for our Tuesday, April 6th Club meeting was Tiffany Roper, CEO of Eat, Speak, Love LLC. Tiffany was born in Akron, and is a two-time graduate of Kent State University with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health. Her passion has always been to help others help themselves by providing guidance, resources, and inspiration for success. View the presentation (click here).
After working many years providing mental health counseling, Ms. Roper ventured out on her new business just prior to the pandemic hitting the community. Despite the pandemic, she has been very successful in growing her business.
According to Ms. Roper, “In a rapidly changing and unpredictable world, entrepreneurship and business ownership seems riskier than ever. Big business and major corporations tend to have financial security, larger platforms, and a more stable customer base than do their smaller homegrown counterparts.
When it comes to women and minorities in business, the disparities in access to capital, mentorship, lack of exposure make successful business ownership appear to be beyond our reach. Despite these disparities, the spirit of entrepreneurship remains alive!”
Eat Speak Love(ESL) serves to turn small businesses into an experience. They invite local entrepreneurs, business owners, artists, chefs, and speakers in to showcase their talents and ultimately, enhance Akron’s economic, culinary, and cultural scenes. ESL serves as a launchpad for women and minority entrepreneurs to market their unique brands, vision, and passion projects.
SMALLBIG BOX
A unique aspect of Tiffany’s business is her SMALLBIG Box. Eat Speak Love, is committed to the local economy, their partners, and their patrons. ESL strives to amplify the voices of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and local creatives who discover, innovate, and craft. The boxes contain product samples and previews of mainly women and minority business owners, whose products are sure to be your next obsession.
A SMALLBIG BOX can be purchased for $30 and a SMALLBIG BOX - 3 Box Subscription normally selling for $90 can now be purchased for $75.00
Speaking Opportunities
Ms. Roper is also available to speak to organizations. She can spark the motivation and inspiration your workers/team needs to increase productivity, team cohesion, and overall gratitude. She offers interactive presentations virtually or in person (within COVID guidelines). Several of her topics include: Gratitude, Personal Elevation, Living in Purpose, Sisterhood and Women Empowerment.
ESL Partners
Our partners are local business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, and visionaries who own, seek to open, or are starting businesses in the Greater Akron Area. ESL’s priority is to highlight and support women and minorities who are embarking on their own journey of equitable business ownership. Through their collaboration they will showcase the talent, quality, and passion that goes into the products of any small business. At ESL, our patrons are invested in the revitalization of Akron’s economy, cultural diversity, and overall small business expansion.
Individuals wishing to learn more about ESL are encouraged to visit their website at eatspeaklove.com, or visit them on Facebook at eatspeaklove.akron.
Plan to participate in Happy Dollars during the Tuesday meetings?
We want to bring even more joy to our meetings and include a photo associated with what you are happy about!!
Simply email it to Cheryl Warren (click here to email her) and put HAPPY DOLLAR PHOTO in the subject line. Photos must be received by 5pm on the Monday prior to the meeting. Those sending photos will be called on first during the meeting to share your happiness as we show the photo!
Even if you don't have a photo, plan to share your joy during our meetings - you will all have a chance to do so as usual after the photos run!!
If you also wish for the information/photo to be included in our newsletter that will go out after our meeting, please indicate this in your email and provide me with a brief description of the reason you are submitting it (such as "So happy that my son Joe has received his Master's Degree from The University of Akron in the field of ABC!). This text will only be used for the newsletter - you will share it at the meeting!!