Danielle R. Moss: How we can help the "forgotten middle" reach their full potential
Danielle R. Moss is chief executive officer of Oliver Scholars, helping it prepare high-potential Black and Latinx students from underserved New York City communities for success. Full bio
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about the forgotten middle.
coworkers and plain old regular folks
as neither exceptional nor problematic.
don't seem particularly urgent.
of our organizations running,
who drive excellence.
the folks in the middle
up awake at night
they're going to come up with next.
to rely on their complacency
about the forgotten middle.
I hung out in the middle.
I had been a good student.
reviewing each day's events.
a typical 12-year-old girl,
led to pretty average grades.
something important,
was not my destination.
and an educator,
of accomplishing a lot more.
black woman in America,
out of the middle
about creating them.
activities in my neighborhood.
I could aspire to.
out of the middle was pretty simple.
how to set me up for success.
she convinced me that I had the power
get out of my seventh grade slump --
who had a lot of potential,
to go to and complete college.
to additional resources,
and into the world
on college applications.
those kinds of opportunities for everyone.
that some kids miss out.
about the folks in the middle.
winning lottery tickets in the middle.
and the path to world peace
is suddenly going to become an A student.
that most folks in the middle
because that's where we relegated them to
where they're kind of chilling
accelerations, losses and wins.
and socioeconomic identity
access out of the middle.
with my young people.
"Hey, do you want to go to college?"
a lot of vague possibilities open.
my young people were capable of.
graduate from high school successfully.
the kinds of academic records
and university admissions.
that the high expectations worked.
in six years or less,
get kids into college
that high expectations are great,
to bake a cake without an oven.
the folks in the middle to make the leap
strategies and support they deserve
mentoring for a long time, Nicole,
looked at her pretty strong transcript
in going to college.
was that through her community,
to college prep work,
travel programs.
went on to earn two master's degrees
to hold our young people accountable,
of accountability in those young people
to their families and their communities.
on asset-based youth development.
and low ropes courses
questions together.
really bought into the notion
for achieving these college degrees.
calling each other and texting each other
for SAT prep?"
for the college tour tomorrow?"
college the thing to do.
on college campuses
to really visualize themselves
rocked our own college gear
about whose school was better than whose.
was possible for their lives.
at that college-going community
from the same backgrounds
beautiful way one day
waiting to go through customs
for a service learning trip.
kind of huddled in a circle.
that means something's going on.
talking about.
about all the other countries
from New York City
in study abroad programs
teachers, social workers,
in New York City,
of what would have happened
that their communities and the world
doesn't just work with young people.
our organizations as well.
that inspires everyone.
invite our colleagues to the table
to meet the mission.
to folks along the way,
for everyone's contributions.
aimed high for themselves
to do for young people
and see all of my former colleagues
in other organizations.
and uplift the folks in the middle.
to the people in the middle.
about who deserves a hand-up, and how.
communities and institutions
and that uphold principles of equity.
what is often mistaken for a period
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Danielle R. Moss - Social activistDanielle R. Moss is chief executive officer of Oliver Scholars, helping it prepare high-potential Black and Latinx students from underserved New York City communities for success.
Why you should listen
Dr. Danielle R. Moss is Chief Executive Officer of Oliver Scholars, an organization committed to preparing high-potential Black and Latinx students from underserved New York City communities for success at top independent schools, prestigious colleges and careers. She is also a member of The New York Women's Foundation board of directors and serves as an NYC Commissioner of Gender Equity. She began her career as a middle school teacher in the Bronx and Brooklyn, building a distinguished career as an academic and a leader in the education and the social sector. Dr. Moss's contributions to education and the social sector have been recognized by the New York State Education Department, The New York Women's Foundation, The New York Coalition for 100 Black Women, The College Board, The Network Journal's 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business and The Council of Urban Professionals.
Moss has been featured in the New York Times "Corner Office" and in Crain's New York for her leadership in the movement toward intersectional gender equity. Her writing has been featured by The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post, Edutopia, The Amsterdam News, City Limits Magazine, Ms. Magazine online and the Feminist Wire. She's appeared on WABC-TV's Here and Now and New York Viewpoint, on WNBC's Positively Black, Fox 5's Street Talk, Bronx Net's Perspectives and NY1's Inside City Hall. Stanley Crouch, formerly of the New York Daily News, once dubbed her one of the most important players in public education for her ability to respectfully meet young people and families where they are and to give them the tools and agency to transform their own lives.
Danielle R. Moss | Speaker | TED.com