三中行政人员的女儿记得她的根
蒙蒂·贝克·凯利 has connection to College through family scholarship
你会怎么做 奥普拉·温弗瑞电视网 说它对你的人生故事感兴趣?
蒙蒂·贝克·凯利 is one of the few people who has needed an answer to that question.
A high-ranking professional in the technology and customer experience industry, Becker Kelly is one of the most successful Black women in Charlotte, 北卡罗莱纳. 高级副总裁 [24]7.ai — an artificial intelligence software and service provider for businesses — is passionate about community service, 公民权利和社会正义, serving in a variety of mentorship and leadership roles throughout the Charlotte area.
但贝克·凯利的故事还有另一章, and it started more than 40 years ago at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). 她的母亲, Tri-C administrator and English instructor Stanli Becker, founded the College’s Jesse Owens Olympian 青年 Summer Development Program in the 1970s to teach children important life skills. Her efforts working to improve the lives of Cleveland youth were recognized at the White House in the early 1980s.
作为青少年, Becker Kelly assisted her mother in working with program participants — mainly Black, 市中心的学生. It’s that journey from community-minded Cleveland youth to successful Charlotte businesswoman that caught the attention of the 奥普拉·温弗瑞电视网 (OWN).
“有一部为OWN制作的新剧叫做 黛利拉贝克·凯利说. “这是一部以夏洛特为背景的法律剧, highlighting real experiences of Black women as they balance their lives and stand up for what is meaningful to them. 作为其中的一部分, they started searching for real-life ‘黛利拉s’ with personal stories that align with the plot of the series.”
Becker Kelly, who moved to Charlotte 18 years ago, belongs to the Queen City Metropolitan Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) — and it was through her NCBW relationships that OWN discovered her story. She was asked to pen an essay and give an interview outlining her history, 目标和社区外展工作. 这是 发表于奥普拉.com 在三月底.
And when you get the kind of publicity Winfrey’s media empire can provide, 它很快打开了其他的门.
“This is such an honor and a humbling experience贝克·凯利说. “通过这次机会, I’m continuing to advance the causes I’m passionate about, 其中一个在三c学院.”
母亲的遗产
Stanli Becker suffered from Type 1 diabetes, which created health challenges throughout her life. She eventually required a kidney transplant, but complications arose. 她于1993年去世,享年50岁.
贝克尔致力于帮助克利夫兰得不到充分服务的年轻人, working tirelessly to improve their access to education, 健康与健身, 以及其他通往更充实生活的道路. 她的意外去世留下了未完成的工作.
That’s why, shortly after her mother’s death, Becker Kelly established the Stanli K. 贝克尔纪念奖学基金.
数百人参加了她的葬礼, so I used the registry to begin asking for donations贝克·凯利说. “Working with the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, 我们发了手写的信,打了电话, 最终筹集到10美元,000美元来成立这个基金.”
The scholarship awards money to several students each academic year who might not otherwise have the financial support to stay in school. The focus of the scholarship is Cleveland students at Tri-C who promote academic excellence, 文化丰富和职业探索. 符合条件的学生必须保持至少2分.5 GPA and take a full course load (12 credit hours) each semester.
Becker Kelly’s essay for OWN prominently mentions her mother’s scholarship, 随着越来越多的人读到它, she has seen a significant increase in donation requests. She hopes to continue that trend — in the Cleveland area and beyond.
“I’m getting interest from friends, coworkers, those I’m connected to on social media,” she said. “These are people who didn’t even know my mom, and they’re wanting to support her scholarship fund. 人们的反应令人难以置信.”
的主角 黛利拉 — played by Cleveland native Maahra Hill — is a Black female attorney who leaves her job at an establishment law firm to fight for the underrepresented and disenfranchised. Becker Kelly knows one of the reasons OWN was interested in her story as a “real-life 黛利拉” is because her mother taught her many of the same lessons: get involved in the community and work to improve the lives of those who need help.
“My passion for helping people was solidified at an early age,” she said. “我的故事深深植根于我母亲的故事. 这是她遗产的一部分. And one of the best ways I can honor that legacy is to continue supporting her scholarship at Tri-C and encouraging others to do the same.”
访问 chriswaldegar.com/give 把钱捐给斯坦利基金会. 贝克尔纪念奖学基金.
2021年4月7日
埃里克·卡萨诺,216-987-3577或 埃里克.cassano@chriswaldegar.com