Tacony Academy Charter School, 6201 Keystone St., last week hosted a Black Excellence Career Fair, honoring Black History Month. Tacony’s ninth- through 12th-grade students participated in a panel discussion with nine local leaders about their career journeys and what it means to embody black excellence in the workplace.
The initiative is a part of Tacony’s perpetual goal to build partnerships, find opportunities and facilitate experiences educating students while inspiring them to be lifelong learners.
The panelists were:
• Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker, II, Culturally Responsive Associate Professor of Education, Director of District and School Relations & Director of the Center for Urban Education, Equity and Improvement for Cabrini University
• Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Garrett D. Page
• Dr. Patrick Michael Oates, Senior Vice President of Business Development & Strategic Planning for EMSCO Scientific Inc.
• Lakira Janay (former Tacony student), Cosmetologist, Lakira Janay Hair
• Dawn Caldwell, Agent, Chapel Realty Sales
• Randy Robinson, Partner, M | R Strategies LLC
• P. Michael Boone, entrepreneur, author, barber and advocate for social change and founder of Junior Barber Academy
• Jennifer Hampton, Family Nurse Practitioner, Cooper University Hospital
• Melanie Zorrilla, Aesthetic Registered Nurse at sculpMD
“At Tacony Academy Charter School, we believe it’s paramount to celebrate and discuss black excellence within both our educational environments and workplaces to recognize the monumental achievements and diverse career paths of black professionals, which serves as a beacon of inspiration for our students,” said Tacony Academy Charter School CEO Naimah Wimberly. “By learning from the journeys of those who have paved the way, our students gain invaluable insights and motivation to pursue their own paths of success. These discussions remind us that every career journey, marked by its unique challenges and triumphs, offers a blueprint for resilience, creativity and excellence. Our aim is to empower our students with the knowledge that they, too, can achieve greatness and make significant contributions to society, regardless of the field they choose to enter.” ••
