We are incredibly proud of Thinker Annie Yukish who graduated in December from the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative program.
The Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) brings some of South Carolina’s most influential leaders from various fields and backgrounds together to create positive change in our community and state. DLI participants are nominated by program graduates and then narrowed down to 40 individuals. Each class breaks into smaller teams that work to develop and implement solutions for some of our state’s biggest issues.
Annie’s team’s capstone project launched a Leaders in Literacy initiative at Monaview Elementary School in support of their Men Who Read, Dress for Success program. The program allows male students to meet successful men in the community who help them see how a love for reading and learning leads to success. The Leaders for Literacy team designed and installed a community Lending Library on the school’s campus and hosted an event to kick off the Men Who Read, Dress for Success program. At the event, Furman athletes read books to the students and taught them how to tie their ties for the Lending Library ribbon-cutting ceremony. Annie’s team also donated books to each boy in the program, provided an opportunity for them to obtain a library card, donated tables to add outdoor learning spaces to Monaview’s campus, and installed a mural in the school library. Their efforts will leave a lasting impact on young boys at Monaview Elementary and the community for years to come.
Way to go, Annie, and congratulations to all involved!
Learn more details about the project here:
https://riley.furman.edu/diversity/group/4252
Learn more about the Diversity Leaders Initiative program at the Riley Institute at Furman University here:
https://riley.furman.edu/diversity/initiatives/diversity-leaders-initiative-dli
