Stories
“Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.”
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author
"The Colors of the Butterfly", by Ryah, July 2024.
"A Good Day", by Khadea, July 2024
Kayley Alcindor, a GEN2050 alumni, shares her experiences and lessons learned as a high school senior applying for college. In December 2023, she received her college acceptance letter from Louisiana State University (LSU). She will begin her journey as a pre-pharmacy major at LSU in Summer 2024.
Pedro Caba, a GEN2050 alumni and mentor, shares with us how one opportunity changed his life and how Fred Hubbard, Executive Director of the Environmental Awareness Academy, has impacted his life.
GEN2050 Alumni Tyler Shackleton talks with David Freeman about futuristic technologies and how his experience in GEN2050 summer camp has influenced his life today. Tyler began his college journey at Florida International University in June 2024. #geektalk
GEN2050® Alumni Gabby Scott describes how her experiences in GEN2050® have transformed her thoughts about her future.
Donald
On urban beekeeping:
“Bees are like people. If you’re not careful, the bees will get aggravated. But, if you treat them like they are family, you will be alright. Being an apprentice is an opportunity I thought I would never get.
I am very appreciative to my teachers and people who supported me.”
Gabby
"GEN2050® has helped shape my mindset to make decisions that are best for furthering the advancement of my knowledge, my local community, and the society we live in. I have come to understand my own values and come to appreciate the reasons why I have chosen music as a professional field. I am now confident in my abilities to be one of the world's future business leaders."
WHO AM I? - Zona
Who am I?
I don’t know
who I will be.
I will show
I never feel threatened or scared
But I cry for the visually impaired.
They don’t deserve it.
They don’t see
when they will be free;
free to see the people they love
And cry tears because of the above.
I’m a lady. A proud Hispanic.
My dad taught me not to panic
Because I know how to manage my rights and my wrongs.
I’m a teen and I know not to go along.
No gang violence, no baby on the way
But hey, I’m 13 and know not to go that way.
I’m grateful, thankful
and never hateful.
That’s who I am and what I’ll be and I will see
a better future.
Asia
“Beekeeping makes me feel like I am doing something to improve or help the environment. It makes me feel like I am a part of something bigger then myself. I would love the opportunity to be an apprentice because it would give me more hands-on expertise with the bees. It’ll give me closer connection to them and help me to understand how they function. Before coming into close, personal contact with the bees, I was afraid of what it would feel like to have them crawl on me. Now that I have been able to touch the bees and look at them at a level other than just seeing them in videos or pictures, I feel more connected to them and comfortable around them.”
Sebastian
I am so grateful for the mentoring, encouragement, and knowledge shared with me during my time attending Freedom Schools, as a 5th grader and leading up to my participation as a GEN2050® Alumni as a 12th grader. Thanks to the constant support, volunteer opportunities, and college prep discussions from Pastors Linda and Kathy, Chloe, Shoshana, FIU counselors, and Trinity staff, I am happy to report that I will be attending FIU’s College of Computer Science and Engineering. In addition, I received a full tuition Bright Futures scholarship that will pay for undergraduate classes and books. Thank you Trinity and Pastors Wilkerson for investing into my life!
Patrick
On serving with The Mission Continues:
“My time volunteering with the veterans was amazing. I got the time spend with vet's who really talked about good things and things they went through as they were serving in the military/navy etc.. I received the job of painting the lion cage and gardening. One of the military veterans was cool, he actually tried to to hype our team to finish quicker than the other team we were going against. I've always liked helping out. Even though I joke around a lot I'm still able to get the job done. I never knew that working with VETS can be that much fun. Especially lifting things. It was heavy but I still completed the job. I had a lot of fun Saturday. I hope that we are able to do that activity again.”
Jeremiah
“I cannot thank this program enough. You guys have given me exactly what I needed and beyond to do more than what is just listed on the page. GEN2050® has taught me NFTE curriculum from bottom to top with the assistance of real business people and mentors who love the kids as much as their right hand. My mentor Ms. Renee made me feel at home everyday, the atmosphere is so inviting and it all comes together so well. We learned a bunch with environmentalism, beekeeping, urban gardening, business, and even some cooking. With the GEN2050® program you get more than what you asked for and even a new family. I have to give full thumbs up to every adult who helped me when I was there. After the GEN2050® program I am now going to an FIU Upward Bound Summer Program and I only have them to thank. So thank you for the great opportunity, especially the beekeeping certification. Also, Mindfulness is not something to be ignored. It is actually extremely relevant and should be used more.”