Fresh Perspectives for a New Season & School Year

FALL INTO THIS NEW SEASON

If you want to know how to start a business, this new season of Secure Podcast with the Griffins is for you. Season 3 is here with NEW CONTENT, at a NEW LOCATION, with NEW PERSPECTIVE on the world.
During this time we typically have our CEO Panel. Though we can’t come together at our quarterly workshop, the Griffin’s are still here to help you build your business. This is a time of freedom and an unprecedented opportunity to be an entrepreneur.
Don’t get distracted from your purpose because of the pandemic. Keep your attention on the things that make you impactful. Focus on your purpose. You can do so with a plan. Listen to the Griffin’s,  and take notes on how to develop a plan.
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OUR YOUTH ARE BUILT FOR THIS

Youth around the nation are back at school! Masked, separated by six feet, and still have to move into the dorm room/meet in the classroom. They aren’t defined by their circumstance, but thriving because of their push through. When they finish this school year they will come out stronger, so long as they maintain a positive perspective. Take a look at 2020 AGB Intern Taaliyah’s move in. 
We are committed to staying connected to our scholars and interns. We know how hard it can be to transition into the classroom. We know that life happens in between, which is why we have Sunday Sitdowns. This is an opportunity for us to encourage our youth on a weekly basis.
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GIVE TO WHAT MATTERS

2020 has been one for the books! It has allowed many of us to expand even though we had to alter our initial plans. The Always Giving Back Foundation was able to adapt with the times, because of generous donors like you.  Here are some of the accomplishments we have made thus far:
Your donations allowed us to serve 450  families, award $10,000 in scholarships, and host 12 interns virtually. We hope to continue to grow our programs in the near future. Due to the pandemic, we are unable to hostour Holiday Soire’ so we need YOU! we are simply asking you to donate  what you can by November 30, 2020.
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August’s Newsletter

 

If you want to know what it means to be resilient take a look at these 11 faces. One week has gone by since our favorite young people completed the Summer Business Internship at AGB Innovative Security Solutions.  Boy, do we miss them! They have changed so much.

To say the AGB interns transformed is an understatement. As they completed this hybrid program they obliterated their view as average high school students and welcomed their new identity as young professionals. They consistently made the decision to meet every deadline, show up to every virtual meeting, and bring fresh ideas to the table. Right away, they applied pressure!

Over the last six weeks, the interns’ consciousness expanded. These fantastic young people had the opportunity to engage in career conversations with C-Suite executives from companies like Facebook. Former AGB scholar Steve Wilson exposed them to excel while they completed projects for AGB Innovative Security Solutions departments.

Due to the pandemic so many programs forced to shut down. However,  YOUR SUPPORT, allowed us to adapt during these hard times. Your gifts provided the 2020 AGB interns with professional attire & a digital portfolio. It includes their resume, professional headshot, & a well developed LinkedIn profile.

A special thank you to Sara Martinez, our Program Manager, who worked diligently with our interns to ensure the program ran smoothly.

Even though the interns learned a lot from us, we learned what it means to live out resilience from their ability to keep working while the world is at a standstill.  They did not get distracted from their end goal. Their dance moves on TikTok, presentations to clients, and phone interviews set the expectation for future interns.

As you can see, their time here was well spent, and we miss them.

 

 

 

 

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Great Gifts for Givers

This year we held nothing back! We moved to a new location. We expanded all of our programs! In celebration of community appreciation day, we stretched beyond state lines. We gifted the community with quarterly family first events. We started the  Secure Podcast where our founders voice the importance of family, love, and entrepreneurship. For Chicago youth, we took on more scholars and interns.

Our Annual Holiday Soiree was nothing short of everything we have accomplished in 2019. It was an evening filled with a silent auction, raffles, and more importantly givers.

This holiday season we decided to gift the givers

In the minority community we talk about a lot of things, but not enough about the importance of giving! The Always Giving Back Foundation values those who are culturally competent individuals that not only speak to youth but also lead by example. During our program honored our first Philanthroperneur Award to Keven Stonewall, who has dedicated his life to cancer research and advocacy for Chicago youth.

Then, we had the opportunity to surprise Shawnese Shannon, an AGB Innovative Security Solutions employee, with financial relief this holiday season.  Her commitment to the progression of others and vast heart for her family warranted her this award

and more. Last year, she suffered a stroke in the midst of work and refused to leave until her colleague made it in. In the words of  Dr. Denitra Griffin, “She is a true blend of strength and kindness, and it’s our pleasure to present this well-earned gift right before the holidays”.

We welcome you to contribute. Help us reach our goal before the new decade begins! Withhold nothing, every dollar counts to help us reach to support our scholarship, internship, and family first programming.

Join us in 2020 for our next event.

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Journee’s Journey

The Always Giving Back Foundation inspires young Chicagoans from minority backgrounds to develop and pursue their professional goals by providing them with resources to support them on their journey.  Take Journee Lockridge, for example. This AGB intern and scholar is doing big things at a young age!  

A sophomore at Howard University, Journee is already a published author. Her book  Stay Ready is a guide to successfully navigating the transition to college. Journee says her book offers “real and raw advice of what to expect and/or what to avoid during their first semester of college.” 

Journee also has been selected to participate in the Forbes Under 30 Scholars program. This honor is given to a diverse group of outstanding college students in America. She will be among 1,000 scholars attending the Forbes Under 30 Summit, a gathering of young entrepreneurs and visionaries in early October 2019. 

These accomplishments are nothing new for Journee. At Gwendolyn Brooks High School in Chicago, she served as president of the National Honor Society and also founded a mentorship organization called the Big Sister Project. 

What differentiates Journee from others her age is her dedication, drive, and adaptability. We saw those qualities in her when we chose her to participate in our Summer Business Internship, then awarded her an AGB Scholarship her senior year in high school. During her summer with us, Journee learned to be a better communicator and effectively manage her time. She also developed her leadership skills and professional poise.

When she graduates from Howard, Journee looks forward to a career in the financial industry. She’d like to work with Goldman Sachs in New York City, where she would like to become an investment banker. 

Eventually she would like to start her own nonprofit organization, teaching youth financial literacy, educating them on financial markets, and how to invest their own money to build their generational wealth.

Journee is a phenomenal young woman who has a vision to make an impact wherever she sets foot. We are so excited about her future. And we can’t wait to make a difference in the lives of more students like Journee.

Support our Mission

 

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YPP was for Me!

Hi world!  I am Kaya Thomas, a rising senior, and AGB Summer Business Intern. Last week on July 25, 2019, I attended the Young Professional Panel hosted by the AGB Foundation. After enjoying some appetizers, meeting some of the AGB scholars and hanging out with my fellow interns, I had the pleasure of hearing the YOUNGEST New York Stock Exchange Trader and trailblazer, Lauren Simmons.

The AGB Foundation did a wonderful job seeking out such an amazing young woman to speak to us. I had the pleasure of not only listening to Lauren Simmons speak, but also meeting her.  Her story really resonated with me. She spoke about growing up as an introvert who later blossomed into a dynamic young woman. She forced herself to network more and get out of her shell.  She was so real about her experiences. Though she worked on the trading floor she surprisingly had a sweet demeanor. In our short conversation about my future plans she actively listened and shared gems I am extremely grateful for.

The night overall was very well organized and enjoyable. Anyone who didn’t come out really missed out on not just free food, but getting to network with some amazing individuals. This was an experience of a lifetime!

CLICK FOR RECAP

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Nothing Feels Better Than Giving!

Summer is finally here and so are the AGB interns! Nothing feels better than giving well deserved students a chance to fulfill their dreams!

Do you recall when you  applied to your first job or prepared for your first day of college? You were a little nervous right? In the minority community there is a lack of knowledge regarding finances, life after undergrad, and how to secure your first job. The unknown causes fear. We are changing that! The Always Giving Back Foundation’s programs provide young people with their first employment opportunity and funds to advance their educational endeavors. We help them get past their fear and  prepare to excel in the workforce.

The culture of AGB Investigative Services is not only about giving but rejuvenating and restoring the minority community.  We are the philanthropic arm of AGB, so leave the door open for AGB employees to attend our Family First workshops and provide their relatives with a internship and scholarship at the end of the school year.

20% of AGB employees voluntarily donate on a biweekly bases because they believe in our mission. Their gift will progress Chicago youth past their wildest dreams. In the words of James Baldwin we want our youth to understand, their crowns have been bought and paid for. All they have to do is put it on their heads.

We are serious when we say your dollars matter! Your biweekly, monthly, or  annual devotion to our youth gives them the ability to see beyond their current circumstance. As a monthly subscriber you receive perks and special invitations. Join us in this  life changing opportunity. DONATE TODAY!

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Leaders’ Lane: AGB Foundation Developing the CEOs of Tomorrow

The AGB Foundation is working to build a legacy of young minority executives. Our former interns and scholars are not only preparing for life after college; they are doing amazing things on campus. Meet some of our developing leaders!

Jordan Lewis is an entrepreneur, DJ, 2018 Always Giving Back Foundation Summer Business Intern, and now Sophomore Class President at Trinity College. While in high school, Jordan started the company “Kids Going Out” to provide his peers with safe recreational events. He has applied that passion for service on his college campus. Jordan has facilitated class council meetings to improve student life for freshmen and has developed a course of action to help them track and accomplish goals. 

Haille Minor, photographer, artist, and a 2018 Always Giving Back Foundation Intern with a unique fashion sense, started an organization this year. Through Students With a Purpose (S.W.A.T), Haille’s fellow students can explore art styles and express themselves through a variety of artistic media.

These young adults are headed in the right direction! The AGB Foundation is dedicated to developing leaders, particularly underserved youth, and helping them find the right lane for their talents. Help us reach more young people by supporting the AGB Foundation today!