SCHOLARS EARNING DOLLARS is a special segment that shines a spotlight on working adult professionals and the steps they took to attain the knowledge and skills to earn livable wages.

 Today’s episode features Assistant Development Director Yesenia Maysonet, IT Professional Rozy Amponsah and Educator Damian Ramsey.

Yesenia Maysonet

Yesenia is a graduate of Clark University in Worcester MA where she studied Psychology. Yesenia has worked with Boys & Girls Clubs since 2007, joining the Lowell team in 2018. She is passionate about helping others and believes wholeheartedly in the mission of the Club. Having over 15 years of Youth Development experience, she understands the needs of the young people in our community. Her current role as Assistant Development Director consists of engaging with current and future supporters through opportunities such as special events to help provide access to kids and teens in Lowell to all the Club has to offer.

Aside from her role at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Yesenia has been involved with several volunteer opportunities including being a member of Lowell Community Health Center’s Developing Leaders Council, where she serves as a community ambassador, and is a corporator for Lowell General Hospital/Circle Health. She is also a yoga teacher that focuses on providing access to youth.

Rozy Amponsah

Rozy Amponsah is the founder of The Rozy Effect, a community for BIPOC emerging leaders and allies looking to leverage the intersection of digital transformation and equity in leadership to bridge the wealth gap. The Rozy Effect recently launched a podcast that was featured on Cornell University’s alumni website. The conversations with business leaders aim to unravel solutions for digital transformations across industries and equity in leadership. 

Rozy currently works at IBM. She leads digital transformation for pioneering public sector companies leveraging IBM’s Analytics, Watson AI & Integration solutions.

As a business strategist and public speaker, Rozy mentors minority led startups from idea to inception. She presents on topics like “Tech opportunities for diverse leaders, leveraging a disadvantage to be a weapon for success and living unapologetically.”

As a proud Ghanaian American, this informs her mission to build a global community of BIPOC emerging leaders to lead change and live in purpose.

Rozy received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Fitchburg State University, and her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Cornell University.

Damian Ramsey

Damian Ramsey is a 2003 graduate of the Bruce Wells Scholars Upward Bound Program, based at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was in the founding cohort at University Park Campus School, finishing at the top of his class. Damian earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Brown University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.

Damian is an educator, social change agent, TRiO/Upward Bound alumnus, and first-generation college graduate, with 16 years of combined experience as an Assistant Principal, Dean of Math and Science, Dean of Student Culture, public school teacher, and master level social worker. He has taught and mentored hundreds of middle school and high school students throughout the East Coast, and has worked with teachers and leaders to cultivate school climates that reinforce self-identity and strong character, embrace restorative practices, and promote teaching and learning at high levels.

Damian is a championship winning middle school boys’ basketball coach, an avid Celtics fan, and a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. He currently resides in Atlanta GA with his wife, Dr. Sandra Valenciano, whom he met at Brown, and their two-year old son Noah Miguel, who brings them joy and keeps them busy.

The LEAD RIGHT Scholarship Channel endeavors to curate and offer content that recognizes, celebrates and affirms Authentic Leadership among youths of color. It is sponsored by ACHIEVEMENT SQUARE, Development & Training Center, Inc. – Builders of Opportunity & Sustainable Success.

The LEAD RIGHT SCHOLARSHIP FUND was created in 2019 as a vehicle for celebrating and promoting authentic leadership among high school seniors from racial/ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented at US colleges/universities. ACHIEVEMENT SQUARE Development & Training Centers, Inc. will endeavor to offer one-time scholarships to two male and two female applicants in April/May of even years (i.e., 2022, 2024, etc).

To make a tax-deductible monetary contribution to the LEAD RIGHT Scholarship Fund, click the following link – https://achievementsquare.org/dmv-youth-leadership-coalition/lead-right-scholarship-fundraising-campaign/.