Chidinma Menakaya's Professional Portfolio!

ALKEBULAN
SHULE

A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY SCHOOL

My Role:

- Vice President

Dates:

- May 2020 - Present

Funding:

- Grants / Fundraisers

**Ultimate Objective:**

Establish and implement a technology-driven global education system designed to personalize classes for individuals according to their holistic health assessment scores. This initiative will be rolled out in rural African communities to cater to adult education and stimulate economic development.

**Key Contributions:**

**Community Engagement and Leadership:**

- Collaborated closely with influential community figures such as judges, pastors, teachers, and experts to orchestrate the launch of the educational institution, demonstrating exceptional leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.

**Program Strategy and Development:**

- Spearheaded the development of grant-funded initiatives strategically aligned with the school's mission, thereby fortifying its programs and expanding its impact within the community.

**Holistic Health Assessment Tool:**

- Innovatively created a robust holistic health assessment comprising 70 research-based questions. This assessment meticulously evaluates individuals across seven dimensions: spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, social, cultural, and intellectual. This tool serves a dual purpose by providing educational direction for students and acting as a metric to gauge their personal growth. LINK

**Cultural Identity and Values Education:**

- Pioneered creative educational approaches that instill African values and cultivate a unique identity, independent of historical narratives centered on slavery. This endeavor embodies a commitment to preserving cultural heritage and identity.

**Impact Evaluation and Mental Health Measurement:**

- Innovated and executed methods to evaluate the monthly program's impact on participants' mental health and sense of identity, ensuring continuous improvement and aligning with the institution's mission.

**Cross-Continental Collaboration:**

- Skillfully fostered collaborative connections between youth, families and businesses based in Africa and their counterparts in the United States, thereby bridging geographical and cultural divides and strengthening the bonds of partnership.

**Promotion and Partnerships:**

- Successfully showcased the organizations programs and mission at various events and seamlessly facilitated partnerships with educational institutions and professionals in Maryland, amplifying the school's reach and influence.

**Advised the President:**

Advised the President and maintained effective stakeholder communication by strategic thinking, clear and structured agendas, and a commitment to transparency. These efforts have not only supported the President in making informed decisions but have also strengthened relationships with stakeholders, ultimately contributing to the overall success and reputation of the organization.

**Grant Acquisition:**

- Played a pivotal role in securing grants for the school by actively participating in grant writing workshops, sourcing suitable grant opportunities, drafting compelling grant proposals, and managing the submission process. Notable achievements include the acquisition of grants such as the Youth Direct Action Fund in 2020 and the Impact Grant in 2021, which have significantly contributed to the school's financial sustainability and mission fulfillment.

**Conclusion:**

My multifaceted role in driving the establishment and growth of this technology-based global education system for rural African communities underscores my commitment to educational advancement, holistic well-being, and community development. Through innovative strategies, impactful initiatives, and skillful collaboration, I have played an instrumental part in shaping the future of education and economic progress in these underserved regions.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

I designed and implemented community programs, drawing upon thorough research and data-driven insights to address the specific needs and challenges within our community. These programs were carefully crafted to make a meaningful impact and drive positive change, particularly in aiding the mental health and well-being of our youth. Here's a recent successful program that facilitated collaboration and peer-to-peer learning between American youth and their counterparts in Africa.

EVENTS

I represented our organization by attending and participating in events aimed at engaging the community and enhancing brand recognition.

RESEARCH & ASSESSMENTS

One of my notable contributions is the development of a comprehensive holistic health assessment, tailored to address various aspects of well-being. Additionally, our programs often incorporate a unique feature where participants receive themed packages, aligned with the monthly discussion topics, enhancing the learning experience through practical resources and materials.

WEBSITES

Given our nonprofit's limited grant funding, I undertook the responsibility of constructing and overseeing our internal intranet, external student portal, and primary website infrastructure.

PRESS

I authored articles highlighting our organization's work, which were subsequently featured in various publications.

MARKETING

I efficiently managed our budget with grant funding while taking charge of the design and production of our flyers, banners, branded merchandise, and more.

AFRICAN LIAISON

In my role, I created innovative programs that facilitate connections between our American-based students and like-minded individuals in Africa who share similar interests and passions.