Jaleesa Baulkman

Back to the First Roots

May 5, 2011 Jaleesa Baulkman 0

Since coming to the United States from the Ivory Coast in December 2007, Kadiatou Taore wanted to create an organization that connected people of African descent back to their roots and ethos. “When I came to this country, I saw that my African peers forgot their culture,” said Taore. “[Some of them weren’t taking education seriously and] they forgot that their parents sent them here.” Taore, the chairman of Sankofa Africa Organization (SAO), said she founded SAO last November with Umaru Barry, an alumnus of SUNY New Paltz. In February 2011, Taore […]

Youths Helped by City Year Program

April 14, 2011 Jaleesa Baulkman 0

Deborah Walnicki, a first-year sociology major and alumnus of City Year program, said she decided to send in an application to City Year, a non-profit organization that offers full-time service to young adults, after hearing an advertisement for the organization on National Public Radio. “Volunteering and education are two things I’m very passionate about and when I heard that I could have the opportunity to make a difference I decided to apply,” said Walnicki. City Year is a government funded, Americorp organization that offers young adults between the […]