Drop Us A Line….

We explore the journey of P. Smith as she prepares to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) with her mother, Nashika Thomas, by her side, highlighting their experience in the scholarship competition and the college preparation process.

• P. Smith's has climbed from position #44 to #6 in the Takisha A Davis Scholarship Program
• Nashika describes managing scholarship applications, essays, and deadlines while Promys balanced cheerleading commitments
• Promys chose FAMU after participating in college tours during her freshman year, drawn to the cultural connection and community
• Summer program attendance helped Promys adjust to campus life before official move-in
• Promys moves to campus this Tuesday, with mom adjusting to the four-and-a-half-hour distance and different time zones
• Voting for the scholarship competition continues until September 5th, with Promys actively campaigning for support
• Applications for the 2025-26 programs will open soon, including the Scholars on the Move program for 7th-12th graders & South Texas HBCU Alliance

To vote for Promise or other scholarship finalists, visit the website shown at the bottom of the screen. Voting ends Sept. 5th.

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

Four families prepare to send their HBCU-bound scholars to college in just six days, sharing their emotional journeys and hopes for the future as part of the Takesha A. Davis Scholarship competition.

• Aniya Williams heads to FAMU to pursue orthodontics after being accepted to 50 schools and earning over a million dollars in scholarships
• Paris Holiday, described as ambitious and a natural leader, chose Hampton University to prepare for a career in anesthesiology
• Ja'Sean Boyd selected Prairie View A&M University to study childhood psychology with music therapy, focusing on mental health for younger generations
• Alesha Kadiri, also Hampton-bound on a pre-med track, participated in a summer pre-college program to confirm her college choice
• Parents share the emotional preparation for sending their children to HBCUs and the importance of representation in fields like healthcare
• The families discuss how attending HBCUs provides unique support, community connections, and preparation for careers where Black professionals are underrepresented

Voting for your favorite scholar in the Takesha A. Davis Scholarship competition is now open. Visit the website or use the information scrolling at the bottom of the screen to support these exceptional students.

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

"Every student deserves an opportunity, an opportunity for hope and a future," declares Dr. Monique Robinson as we dive into Round 3 of the Takisha A Davis Scholarship competition. Now in its fifth year, this scholarship program has transformed from a modest tribute to a late sister with a heart for young people into a significant platform celebrating exceptional student achievement.

The competition has narrowed dramatically from 70 initial applicants to the top 20 contenders, with only the top 10 vote-getters by September 5th remaining eligible for one of five scholarships. What makes this round particularly special is the participation of parents who offer deeper insights into their scholars' journeys and dreams.

We meet Morgan Miller's mother, who shares the family's multi-generational HBCU legacy that inspired Morgan's decision to attend Spelman College. Already a published author of two books at a young age, Morgan plans to major in English while continuing to develop her writing talents. Her mother eloquently describes how the close-knit HBCU community provides invaluable connections and experiences that last a lifetime.

In contrast, Dontrell Martin couldn't join the interview as he was already immersed in Southern University's prestigious band camp. His mother, Monica O'Brien, beams with pride as she describes how her independent son navigated the college application process largely on his own and has already "made cuts" in what's known as "The Best Band in the Land." She was particularly impressed by Southern's emphasis that "band is secondary, school comes first."

Both parents candidly discuss the financial challenges of college education and how the Takisha A Davis Scholarship would significantly impact their children's academic journeys. Their testimonies reveal not just accomplished students, but young people with character, determination, and purpose.

Ready to support these exceptional scholars? Visit our website or check our newsletter for voting information before the September 5th deadline. Your vote could help shape the future of a deserving student who represents the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

Change might feel uncomfortable, but it's where our greatest growth happens. Dr. Monique Robinson knows this firsthand, having launched a non-profit organization, television show, and written multiple books during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What seemed like an impossible time became the fertile ground for her most meaningful work.

As founder and CEO of A Better Chance For You Futures Incorporated, Dr. Robinson's mission burns bright: helping minority scholars access historically Black colleges and universities with minimal debt. Her passion is palpable when she speaks about education as a liberation tool—not just for acquiring knowledge, but for instilling confidence and expanding horizons. When scholars reach out to share their acceptances, graduations, and achievements, it confirms that purpose isn't merely a career goal but the heartbeat of a life's mission.

For Black women entrepreneurs, Dr. Robinson offers a powerful reframing: the challenges you've faced aren't just obstacles—they're the very experiences that have forged your unique strengths. Your identity isn't something to downplay; it's your superpower. But perhaps her most urgent message centers on community-building among women in business. "We must learn to work together," she emphasizes, challenging listeners to change the narrative through simple acts of support—sharing information, promoting events, and lifting each other up. Through her affirmation books, educational anthologies, and community events including the African American History Fair and annual gala, Dr. Robinson demonstrates how purpose-driven entrepreneurship creates ripples of positive change. Ready to discover your purpose and embrace transformation as a blessing? Connect with Dr. Robinson's work and join a community focused on rising together.

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

What happens when family traditions shape your college choice? Zemyria Jones, a top 20 finalist in the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Competition, stands at this pivotal crossroads as she prepares to attend Tuskegee University while continuing her family's rich HBCU legacy.

This heartwarming conversation between host Monique Robinson and Zamyria's mother, Joletta Ellington, reveals the beautiful complexity of HBCU family traditions. As a first-generation college graduate herself, Joletta started the family's HBCU journey, which now continues through Zamyria's choice of Tuskegee over Alabama A&M (where other family members attended). Their story of "house divided" shirts during rivalry games and shared tailgating traditions showcases how these institutions foster both healthy competition and deep family bonds.

Beyond the campus experience, Zemyria's nursing aspirations reflect the service-minded values often cultivated at HBCUs. Her mother proudly shares how Zamyria will use her education to support their community, including helping her aging grandparents who live near campus. This powerful reminder of education's purpose - not just personal advancement but community upliftment - resonates throughout their conversation. Meanwhile, Joletta offers touching advice to other parents preparing for the empty nest: "Spend as much time as you can with your child while they're here with you."

As the scholarship competition enters its final voting phase (closing September 5th), this episode celebrates not just academic achievement, but the incredible support systems that help students thrive. Watch how the rigorous multi-stage process prepares students for real-world challenges while building essential skills in public speaking, interviewing, and self-advocacy. Cast your vote for Zemyria and other deserving finalists today and join us in supporting the next generation of HBCU excellence!

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

The profound impact of HBCUs stretches far beyond education, creating generational bonds and cultural legacies that shape families for decades. This heartwarming conversation between Howard alumna Marlena Powell and her daughter Sinclair, who's heading to North Carolina Central University, beautifully illustrates how the HBCU experience ripples through time.

Sinclair's journey to NCCU wasn't just influenced by her mother's Howard connection but by witnessing the deep, decades-long friendships her parents maintained with fellow HBCU graduates. These relationships created an extended family of "play cousins" that showed Sinclair firsthand what makes the HBCU community special. Though Howard was naturally considered, Sinclair ultimately chose NCCU because it "felt like home" – a reminder that each student must find their own perfect fit.

As a jazz drummer who's studied since age eight, Sinclair's decision was particularly meaningful. Jazz, as her mother eloquently explained, is "a Black American art form that we created," making an HBCU the ideal environment for Sinclair to develop her craft under the guidance of Black professors who understand not just the music, but its cultural significance. For a young Black woman in jazz, having mentors who can help her understand her place within this rich artistic legacy offers something no other educational setting could match.

The conversation takes a heartwarming turn when Marlena shares profound advice for parents sending children to college: "We are not the pilot of the plane anymore... we're now the co-captain or the first mate." Her wisdom about allowing young adults space to make mistakes, solve problems, and discover their strength resonates deeply for any parent navigating this transition. As Marlena puts it, "If you're never making mistakes and we're always here to catch them, they'll never learn their strength."

Ready to support the next generation of HBCU students? Vote for our scholars before September 5th by texting or scanning the QR code shown during the program. Your vote helps these talented young people continue the powerful legacy of excellence at HBCUs across the country.

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

The transformative power of educational opportunity takes center stage in this heartfelt exploration of parental pride, cultural connection, and academic excellence. As the Takesha A. Davis Scholarship Program enters its third round, we shift our focus to the remarkable parents supporting their HBCU-bound scholars.

From suburban Washington DC to rural communities across America, these families share the emotional complexity of sending their children to college. "She's my only one," confesses one mother with a blend of pride and hesitation, while another fulfills her late husband's wish that their daughter attend an HBCU. These parents aren't just sending their children to any institutions – they're entrusting them to historically Black colleges that will nurture both their academic growth and cultural identity.

The stories capture powerful themes of generational advancement, with first-generation college students breaking new ground while legacy families continue traditions. A Howard University alumna beams with pride as her daughter forges her own path at North Carolina Central University. Parents of scholars who grew up in predominantly white communities express excitement about their children finally experiencing educational environments "with others just like them," highlighting the unique cultural importance of HBCUs beyond academics.

Throughout these conversations runs an undercurrent of hope – hope for expanded horizons, deepened cultural connections, and futures bright with possibility. From future educators to aspiring business leaders, these scholars represent the promise of a generation poised to make profound contributions to their communities and the world.

Cast your vote for these exceptional scholars before September 5th and join us in celebrating not just their academic achievements, but the parents whose love, sacrifice, and wisdom have guided them to this pivotal moment in their journeys.

Support the show

Drop Us A Line….

Finding your people. Forging your own path. Making history in the hallways of your high school. These are the powerful stories emerging from this year's scholarship competition featuring exceptional students headed to HBCUs across the nation.

Meet Liliana from San Antonio, whose decision to attend Howard University represents a profound search for cultural connection after years in predominantly white and Hispanic schools. Her mother reveals the moment that changed everything: "My daughter was the first one to hang an HBCU flag" in her school's hallways. This simple act of representation speaks volumes about the courage these students embody, often standing alone in their college choices among peers.

Then there's William, consistently ranking in the top three throughout the competition, who comes from what his father proudly calls an "HBCU family." With parents who attended Howard and Alcorn State, William's decision to attend Prairie View A&M shows how this generation honors tradition while charting their own course. His father's perspective is refreshingly supportive: "We've already had our college experience. We wanted him to have his own."

Perhaps most moving is Amari's story, a talented tuba player heading to Bowie State to study education. His mother shares a sobering statistic—less than 2% of teachers are Black males—highlighting how his career choice represents not just personal aspiration but community uplift. As his father notes, "We don't do this for money. We do this to help the community."

What emerges from these conversations is the beautiful intersection of legacy, identity, and purpose driving students toward HBCUs today. Their decisions aren't simply about where to spend four years, but about finding spaces where they can fully embrace all aspects of themselves while preparing to give back to their communities.

Which of these inspiring students will receive the scholarship? Your vote matters! Visit our website to support these exceptional young people as they begin their HBCU journeys and become the next generation of leaders our communities need.

Support the show