NSBE - Convention 2020 - 12

SUPPORTERS

Past National Chair Launches
NSBE Scholarship
By Kevin M. Briscoe

ormer NSBE National Chair
commitment to an annual $1,000
Damaune Journey, 42, is the
NSBE scholarship for leaders with a
product of two extraordinary
grade point average of 2.5 to 2.99.
grandmothers: ladies who
"I was motivated by three things: a
refused to let the restrictive societal
passion to contribute to a NSBE that
norms of the day deter them from
has done a lot for my life, to build
building a life of service and instilling
leaders and (to) honor my granda strict set of values in their grandson.
mothers and family at a price point I
Journey's maternal grandmother,
can afford," says Journey, who is now
Jodie Hill, who didn't attend college
based in Oakland, California.
until she was in her 70s, attended
The selection process for the
four consecutive NSBE Annual
inaugural Journey-Hill Family Fund
Conventions, from 1998 to 2001, and
scholarship recipients is now in full
favored the Alumni Extension (now
swing and is open to all U.S.-based
NSBE Professionals) Special Interest
NSBE students who meet the leaderGroup (SIG) workshops on environship and G.P.A. requirement. Awards
mental justice. Armed with those
are expected to be announced later
lessons learned, she organized her
this year.
community to fight for changes to loFor Journey, establishing this
cal regulations governing a nearby oil
fund fulfilled a long-term dream
refinery. Her message:
and led to a discussion
"Be a leader. Followers
of NSBE's approach to
never chart their own
revenue-building.
course."
"I'm super excited with
His paternal grandthe direction of NSBE,"
mother, Loretta
he says. "But we have a
Journey, who learned
lot of work to do when
to read in secrecy for
it comes to member and
- Damaune Journey, Chief Growth Officer, Private Medical; alumni giving. Twenty
fear of angering the
white family for which
years after my term,
NSBE 2000-01 National Chair
she performed domestic
not much has changed:
work, taught her grandthe vast majority of our
son a valuable lesson,
funding comes from
despite never having an opportunity to complete high school or
corporate sources. We need to do a better job of gifting to the
attend college. She demanded that he "get an education. It's the
organization we love, even in smaller increments. If you asked
one thing they can never take from you."
any former leader or former active member for a $1,000 donaJourney used this mother wit from these two ladies to gain
tion, they'd probably say yes. If you want an even higher return,
his B.S.E. in industrial engineering from the University of
ask and appeal to their ego. Many could give $5,000 or more
Michigan and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and
if approached with the right proposal. I hope this inspires other
to build a stellar career that includes his current role as the
former members (who) are just like me."
chief growth officer at Private Medical, a high-end members"Karl (W. Reid, NSBE's executive director) is a thoughtful
only medical practice providing care to some of world's most
partner in moving NSBE forward, and our new development
prominent families in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles
staff is eager to work with more individuals to expand the
and Silicon Valley. Now, he and his wife, Katrina, a foropportunities NSBE provides," Journey adds. "We never really
mer NSBE member, are honoring his family with the newly
focused on small gifts before, but we need to. Hopefully this
formed Journey-Hill Family Fund, which provides a five-year
can be a start." ■

"I was motivated by three things: a passion to
contribute to a NSBE that has done a lot for my life,
to build leaders and (to) honor my grandmothers
and family at a price point I can afford."

12 * NSBE MAGAZINE * CONVENTION 2020

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NSBE - Convention 2020

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