Help Tamia get her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Ed!

Hi! My name is Raísa, and I am organizing this fundraiser for my friend Tamia. I’ve known her for almost a decade, and we’ve grown so much together over the past years. I met Tamia through El Puente, a community-based organization located in Brooklyn. The mission of El Puente is to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice, working as a human rights and arts/cultural institution in NYC and Puerto Rico.

Tamia is the valedictorian graduate of the El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice Class of 2018, and she believes her time there contributed to her becoming the remarkable individual she is today. During her time at El Puente Academy, Tamia was not only an outstanding student but also an active participant in extracurricular activities such as SSS (young women’s leadership group) and Los Muralistas de El Puente (intergenerational community artists collective). She was also involved in the CHE CHICAS initiative, which supported young women interested in the healthcare field, to gain mentoring, hands-on experience, and professional development.

Tamia’s academic dedication and leadership continued to flourish as she moved on to pursue higher education. She has received an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the Borough of Manhattan Community College. This year, Tamia is a Junior studying Early Childhood Education with a focus on special needs at Brooklyn College. She is very passionate about empowering children, especially those with special needs, and creating opportunities and developing skills for them to succeed.

In her professional life, Tamia has demonstrated incredible leadership and commitment to servicing young people in our community. She currently works as the Membership/Outreach Coordinator at El Puente Beacon, where she facilitates and mentors middle and elementary school students through after-school programming. Tamia also spearheaded the first Juneteenth event in 2020 at El Puente, in solidarity with George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter movement. At the core of her passion, Tamia is dedicated to creating opportunities for all youth to feel empowered to lead and express themselves, as she was nurtured to do so.

Currently, Tamia has been presented with the opportunity to accelerate her graduation to a sooner date. By switching to a Women’s Studies program to receive her Bachelor’s degree, she’ll be able to expedite her graduation and receive a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education for Students with Disabilities. Tamia wants to create nurturing and uplifting environments for her future students, and by having access to this educational opportunity, it will support her in deepening her knowledge and experience in the field.

Tamia’s work and educational journey reflect her deep commitment to community and youth empowerment. However, as a full-time student and community organizer, she faces financial challenges in finishing her degree and moving on to her masters, as well as continuing her work with underserved youth.

This fundraiser is to support Tamia as she continues to follow her passion for education, leadership, and community service. In addition to tuition costs, this fundraiser will support supplies, transportation, and other necessary expenses as she continues on her educational journey. Any contribution you make will go toward helping her achieve her goals and continue making a difference in the lives of the youth she serves.

Thank you for supporting Tamia!