Marcia Futel: Turning Her Vision for Impact Into a New Program
Marcia Futel
Class 2, Create
What is your Vision for Impact statement?
Upon graduating from School Board School, my statement was: “Connecting the dots between education, government, and economics: Empowering African American high school students and parents to expand their life options and leave a prosperous legacy by exercising their civic rights and entrepreneurial leadership.”
This statement combines my desire for our young people to discover their leadership, and to exercise their rights as citizens to live in thriving neighborhoods and have high-quality schools. As a business owner, I want to highlight entrepreneurship as a viable path to their goals and dreams. I connect the dots between education, government, and business.
You started a nonprofit! How did your involvement with School Board School impact your decision to start this nonprofit?
I rediscovered the power of teamwork during my School Board School experience, and I knew I couldn’t do this work alone.
I had to create a rallying point to attract resources (people and money) to this work. As the saying goes, “build it and they will come.” As I began to build it, I was better prepared to apply for the Black Empowerment Works! grant via the United Way. Not only did the grant provide funding for my initial program, the application and onboarding processes have also helped me to move from concept to implementation.
How have you used your School Board School training/ learnings in the development of this program?
During our School Board School learning program, I enjoyed the variety in our learnings – group discussion, panels, presentations, field trips to meetings, personal reflection exercises, and the impact projects. I am incorporating these in my program. The session on “Systems Change” confirmed that for young people to change the conditions in their communities, they need to understand, work in/through, infiltrate, and change the systems.
My nonprofit, Connecting for Impact, focuses on the education, economic, and political systems. We are starting with the power of the vote in the initial program, “My Vote Does Matter.”
What impact are you (and/or your team) making in your new program?
I am just getting started with building a team and the program. I am partnering with one of our CPS high schools to pilot “My Vote Does Matter” as a student club. Our initial meeting was energizing as we listened to the students’ ideas and concerns. They seemed to appreciate being heard and valued.
What do you love about your new program?
I love having the opportunity to impact the lives of young people. I am a teacher at heart. I love to impart knowledge and see the light bulbs go on as they figure out how to apply what they learned. I do need to get used to the “fast pace” communication styles! However, despite the negative news we hear about our youth, these students give me so much hope.
How can the School Board School community support you in this work?
I appreciate the School Board School community as a rich resource of educators, advocates, and mentors.
I will need help as I continue with the high school clubs and implement the first Young Voters cohort early in 2022 – designing exercises to go along with the lessons, facilitating/participating in panels, and identifying other resources that I could use.
Do you have advice for other School Board School members as they look to start a nonprofit?
Talk to those that have successfully started one. Get advice on how to set up the business aspect (e.g., applying with the state, EIN #). Then get moving… that was the hardest part for me. If you are swamped with other things (as most of us School Board School members are), commit a block of time each day or week to work on your nonprofit as it is taking shape.
Is there anything else you want to highlight?