Ashley Causey

Name: Ashley Causey

Age: 26

College: Wilberforce University of Ohio

Major: Business Management/Marketing

Grad Year: 2008

Masters: Media Communications

Grad Year: 2010

About Ashley: I am a servant-leader who desires to leave a legacy of being civically engaged, culturally connected and spiritually led. Dedicated to my life's mission, I aspire to teach and instill a sense of purpose in everyone I come in contact with. I have been given many platforms throughout classrooms, communities, air-waves, programs and initiatives across the country, which has allowed me to bring a guiding light on pressing social issues.

Growing up I had one passion and that was people. No matter what activity I’ve been involved in or what job I had, one thing that motivated me the most was my compassion to help others. Through that, I’ve been able to collaborate, volunteer and work with many non-profit organizations in the Bay Area, including but not limited to, BUILD, Public Allies; Silicon Valley, the Princess Project, Asian American Festival, Gardner Community Center, Social Justice for Teachers Inc. I’ve also facilitated numerous workshops with youth including my most popular titled "Self Justice is Social Justice" and "Media Impact: The Influence on Urban Youth". Any aspect of personal development through education, and religion has been the driving force in all that I choose to embark upon.'

Despite all of my various appointments I understand “I am” because so many people who have gone before me “were.” I am a beneficiary of a family and community that has wrapped their arms around me, demanded greatness and physically, mentally and spiritually supported all my pursuits. I am currently traveling and working abroad in Europe. Completing my first book "Dreams Of Joy: A Journey to Find Power, Love, and Sound Mind" set for distribution in 2013.

My business, Ashley Joy Speaks (ashleyjoyspeaks.com), offers professional and personal development for those men, women, and youth who desire to go higher. I offer one-on-one coaching, seminars and workshops, live presentations, syndicated content (print, online, tv), etc. I believe that greatness resides in all of us and I want to be apart of the process of helping you discover that greatness.

What is your life's mission?

My mission in life has always been to be a builder of confidence not a destroyer of spirits. I love celebrating the life of each individual I come in contact with. It's vital to me to nurture others gifts, while encouraging them live up to their full potential. My heart is with the people, I don't approach any work with the mindset of doing anyone a favor. I have a life-long commitment to service, and I fight for the weak and understand the hurt. I am a woman of conviction and not conformity. Through my faith I am commanded to live differently according to a higher loyalty, I am for the people and not myself.

What does being a black woman mean to you?

Strength, endurance, resiliency, tenacity, faith are a few words that comes to mind when I think of my position as a black woman. I am a descendant of Queens who freed themselves from the oppression of slavery, who fought for my right and position to vote, who liberated themselves in accepting the complexities of their beauty, all while raising, supporting and loving their families and others. Since I was in my Mothers womb the journey that was set before me as a black woman is that of a standard of excellence. It also enables me to be a greater spiritual being whose able to enlighten the masses about the divine power of God and his artistry, who has created so many distinct differences in all human kind. In a world today were media influence has portrayed Black Women in a negative light, I still stand with my head held high, proud of who I am, my heritage and the legacy of the women who have carried this world on their back so that I can be of service to others. I will forever be proud to be a black woman!

"I have a life-long commitment to service, and I fight for the weak and understand the hurt. I am a woman of conviction and not conformity. Through my faith I am commanded to live differently according to a higher loyalty, I am for the people and not myself."

                                             

Contact Ashley:
Twitter
Blog
Website (Relaunch Feb 15th)
Email

Jasmine Crowe

Name: Jasmine Crowe 

Age: 29

College: Northern Carolina Central University

Major: Broadcast Journalism and Communication

Grad Year: 2005 

Master's Degree: Business Administration

Grad Year: 2007

About Jasmine: Compassionate, Zealous, Visionary and Inspiring are just a few of the words that describe Jasmine Crowe, the 29 year old MBA graduate who is working to make the world a better place, one day at a time. The impetus behind Jasmine’s drive is simply making the world a better place. With an uncommon goal of fostering change and creating awareness on the world’s leading socioeconomic issues and challenges including: poverty, health, education and energy to name a few. Jasmine created Black Celebrity Giving (BCG) in 2011, the site serves as a platform to inform audiences of ways to give back in black communities across the world.

"I wanted to create a paradigm shift, I wanted to create a site where people can come and get information and insight on how to make the world a better place. As we began our work, I knew that we could do more if we worked with nonprofits on a grassroots level, so we are creating an Urban Giving Center to serve as an incubator both in person and online for non-profits to truly reach their potential." 

Born in Texas and growing up as a military child, she has resided in Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and North Carolina where she attended high school in Charlotte and college at North Carolina Central University in Durham with a background in public relations, celebrity foundation management and events. Jasmine has successfully created events and fundraising initiatives for organizations: The Boys & Girls Club, All in For a Cause, Discoverlaw.org, Mack's Miracle's and The Miss Black Arizona Scholarship Foundation, which she founded in 2008. In addition to her most cherished work in the non-profit arena, she has spearheaded campaigns and executed events across the United States for some of the country's preeminent venues, brands and acts including: Studio 54 in the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Grammy award winner Common, Soulja Boy, boxing champion Wink Wright, NFL Pro-Bowler Marcus McNeill, former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, Peter Kent Luxury Leather Handbags, Belvedere Vodka, Cadillac, Vitamin Water, Hummer, Nike and Tiffany & Co. 

A public and motivational speaker, Jasmine has delivered a message to audiences around the country and has served and moderated panels in business, education, technology and entertainment realms. Jasmine lives by the saying, "if God is for me then who can be against me," and knows that in her life the sky is the limit. Her hobbies include: mentoring, traveling, reading, writing, giving back, church, spending time with family and friends and working out. Jasmine currently resides in Atlanta, GA where she plans to open the first office for BCG and launch the Urban Giving Center to serve nonprofits. She is working on her first book titled Lessons Learned in my Twenties, slated to release fall 2013. 

"I have overcome so much in my life, since being a teenager, I have had good days and bad days. I made a lot of mistakes as a young entrepreneur as it related to credit, business partners you name it; but I like to look at them as life lessons and I've learned from them."

What is your life's mission? 
I am guided by the vision of what I believe BCG can be. Originally my goal was to uplift, enlighten, spotlight, encourage and entertain through the medium of an online website. Now, my life's mission for BCG is to use this platform to transform people’s lives, to make our readers know that even the simplest form of giving can help create social change. I want to train nonprofit leaders and help them reach their individual goals. And although it may sound a bit cliche, I do hope to make the world a better place.

What does being a black woman mean to you? 
Being a black woman to me, means handwork, power and perseverance. I know the sacrifices that have been made for me to be here today. I take pride in representing all black women in a positive light. 


"I want to train nonprofit leaders and help them reach their individual goals. And although it may sound a bit cliche, I do hope to make the world a better place"

Contact Jasmine:
Website

Email
Twitter

Fred Joseph Jr.

Name: Fred Joseph Jr.

Age: 25

College: Saint Peter's College. Jersey City, New Jersey.

Major: Business Management.  

Grad year: Graduated 2007

About Fred: I'm a Hatian native born in Cap Haitien, Haiti. At the age of two, I moved to Florida with my father, and then at four years old I returned back to Haiti. I resided there until the age of seven years old, where I attended the school Kay Frère. Afterwards, my family moved to New Jersey. It wasn’t an easy shift, but with their belief in the American dream, my family managed to overcome their trials and tribulations; where today not only do they value this dream but are living it. I believe that we have the power to create our own reality and helping others empowers each of us to create a reality that fulfills the heart’s desire.  My way of helping people encourages others to challenge themselves.

In 2007, I graduated from Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, New Jersey. Although I studied Business, my desire of doing charity work only increased over the years. In August of 2008, I hosted a soccer tournament in Saint Raphael, Haiti. At this tournament, the youth began to fight. It was pretty severe where children and parents had to flee. I realized that the local children were in a dire need of a better environment; one that could not only provide for their families, but generations to come.  This was the birth of the Anasoule Wishes Foundation (AWF) named after my grandmother, Anasoule. AWF was founded to teach the children of St. Raphael to utilize their resources in order to better their lives and community.  In January 2010 alongside a college friend, Martine E. Pierre, I decided to expand on the AWF vision and create the Help Us Save Us (HUSU) organization. HUSU is a non-profit organization established to serve all areas of humanity by providing assistance in education, health, and agriculture. The organization is currently working to revitalize the educational institutions in Saint Raphael, Haiti. The town has gained many new residents displaced from the capital city, Port-Au-Prince, due to the tragic earthquake.

It wasn’t always easy for me to stay driven in wanting to help the people of Haiti. Although, I grew up in America and adapted to the American culture, I never felt accepted by my peers. They mocked my Haitian culture, which at times pained me because the image they portrayed of Haiti, was a false image of my home. In 2005 I lost my father in a car accident. This did not only toughen me to take responsibility of filling my father shoes but to start living my dream because tomorrow isn’t promised. Just as my parents took the challenge of coming to America in search of better opportunities, I want to return to Haiti to offer my fellow citizens more opportunities.

What is your life's mission?

My life mission is to be Noble for Haiti. I want to be remembered as a being great, someone who provided opportunities. I want to be in the encyclopedia and want to be statued. I know that sounds crazy but I love my country. I could have been a child in Haiti struggling. What if I was? What if I never knew what the U.S. looked like? What if I was poor begging for food? I was in Haiti, that could have been me?!? What if I struggled the same way my parents did? What if I had Cholera and died because I was too poor to cure it?  What if I went to school in Port Au prince and died in the earthquake? What if I was child in the HUSU camp and I had a guy name Fred Joseph Helping me? What if I never got a college degree? What if my father never died? He could have been alive if he lived in Haiti or maybe not? What it? 

What does being a black man mean to you?

Being black means I have one chance to make "What if" a reality. Life is not easy being African American, It's in the books. Slavery shows us what black means. Blacks are portrayed differently than whites. I want to beat the odds and show the world and Haiti! Black is equal and black is human.

"My way of helping people encourages others to challenge themselves"

 

Contact Fred:
Facebook
Twitter
Email

To learn more about Fred's Organization and to help Haiti visit Help Us Save Us' website.