Message from Amelia

Dear colleagues,

As we move ever closer to our ambitious campaign goals—for dollars, donors, and alumni engagement—we are also in the service of a much bigger goal: making sure Columbia can do even more for our faculty, students, patients, and the world. This fall, we are putting a special focus on our Columbia Commitment to Just Societies, ensuring a far more inclusive world for all.

I am delighted to announce Taking a Stand, a staff program about what striving for justice means to each of us.

We want to hear and share your stories/photos. Tell us how you or your colleagues are working toward a fair society, whether through a Columbia program or in other ways.

Check out the Taking a Stand program details and submit your story here by November 15th to [email protected]!

To get us started, here is a story from colleague Nicole Larkins:

At a very young age, I learned what it meant to be part of a majority of young people who lack strong role models due to home circumstances, uncontrollable environmental forces, or their families’ economic standing. In my young adult years, I recognized the need to get involved and wanted to do what I could to fill this void; thus began my journey as a mentor. The most recent tug at my heart came when I began my mentorship program with young ladies entering high school by working with a non-profit organization: The Good News Association, the New York State Mentoring Program, and Spring Valley High School in Rockland County, NY. We help see these young women through their senior year by walking the full journey with them and supporting them academically, emotionally, and socially with a common objective: to graduate with a high school degree. The need in this community of underserved students in over-populated school districts is clear to me, I have a passion to help, and my personal goal is to see my mentees through!

All Taking a Stand participants have a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card (and other prizes), so get ready to share your stories and pics! We’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Thank you for all that you do. Stand, Columbia!

Regards,

Amelia