Community Transformation Through Education | 25

Felicia Harris CEO of EverythingHR and EverythingHR Financial Services has her HR Manager Joslyn Bolden interview Cyekeia Lee, Director of Community Collaboration at The Kalamazoo Promise. Cyekeia Lee shares how The Kalamazoo Promise is transforming its community through education. She discusses the efforts used to create pathways for students and how businesses can pair with the foundation.

Highlights:

• What is The Kalamazoo Promise?   
• What types of results has The Kalamazoo Promise generated?
• Why was The Kalamazoo Promise created? 
• What are the requirements to receive The Promise? 
• How long do students have to use their Promise?
• How much money has The Kalamazoo Promise paid out thus far?
• What are some of the popular colleges and universities that students from The Kalamazoo Promise have attended?
• What ways can businesses partner with The Kalamazoo Promise? 
• Are their other similar programs in the state of Michigan?   
• What are some career pathways that The Kalamazoo Promise can outline for students?     
• Where does Cyekeia Lee see the future of The Kalamazoo Promise heading? 
• How did she come into the role of championing The Kalamazoo Promise?
• Cyekeia Lee shares the ways that The Kalamazoo Promise has made changes in students’ lives.  
• What ways does The Kalamazoo Promise work with business organizations? 

 Key Points:

1.     The Kalamazoo Promise is funded by anonymous donors. 
2.     The Kalamazoo Promise has spent over $124 million in tuition and fees for  
        over 5,700 students from Kalamazoo, Michigan.