Meet Launchpad Supporter:

Chris Brown

Global Director of Information Technology and Cyber Security at DecisivEdge in Wilmington, DE

Chris Brown has been in senior leadership roles in technology for the last decade, but he’s also quick to point out, “I’m a proud Philadelphia graduate of Swenson Arts and Technology High School.” After graduating, he participated in the school district’s Urban Technology Project and, he adds, “that became the basis of my career.”

Brown supports Launchpad by meeting with students and also by serving as a judge at “Ignite,” the program’s Shark Tank-like event where students pitch technology-based solutions to problems in their own communities. “The pitch competition absolutely blew me away,” he says. “I remember thinking: Wow, these are projects that I could take to the other senior leaders at my company, and we could instantly run with them. It tells you about the quality of work that’s being done at Launchpad.”

Brown also spends as much time as he can talking with students, and these conversations often have a personal impact. “I see a lot of myself in these students —  knowing that I loved computers, but not really understanding what that meant as a career path. So, I understand kids who have a general sense of what they want to do with their lives but don’t know exactly which path to follow.”

That’s why Brown is so committed to Launchpad. “I understand from an educational perspective how important these programs can be, particularly for the populations they serve. I was given a chance by someone who saw something in me and allowed me to get to this space. Launchpad is that opportunity for students who otherwise might never have had one to get that knowledge and mentorship so that they can go where they want to go.”

“After my very first conversations with Launchpad students, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to continue the conversation and continue to work with these students. It’s really hard to put into words just how much these experiences mean to me.”

Susan Poppe

Principal of Waukesha East Alternative School in Waukesha, Wisconsin

When Sue Poppe became the principal of Waukesha East Alternative School three years ago, she recalls thinking, “this is supposed to be an alternative school, but it functions like a mini traditional school. And if that approach didn’t work for our kids there, what makes you think it’s going to work here?”

Looking for models to transform her school and engage her students, Poppe discovered the Building 21 Learning Innovation Network. “Their learning model was exciting,” she says, “and Sandra, Tom, and Heather provided all of our professional development and resources. Our teachers put in a tremendous amount of work to plan projects, to do the mapping, and implement a new assessment system. They went through the fire, but this year they’ve come out so strong.”

Poppe appreciated Building 21’s desire for continuous feedback. “They cared deeply about how our staff were experiencing the new models. They’d ask what’s working and what’s not. What do you need from us? And then they’d take those suggestions and improve the models. As a result, the staff felt heard; they felt valued.”

Reflecting on her work with Building 21, Poppe says, “this is a true partnership, and that relationship is key to our success. The teamwork that has developed is like nothing I’ve ever seen in 34 years of teaching. I truly have never had this type of a support network for the benefit of our kids, and I think my teachers feel the same way. And our kids are just thriving. We couldn’t do this without Building 21.” Furthermore, she adds, “Our graduation rate went from 67% up to 86% in one year.”

Poppe recalls a recent meeting with the school board in her home community. Members were aware of her work at Waukesha East and were interested in learning more. “They asked me ‘what do we need to do?’ And I said, ‘you need to call Building 21.’”

Angel Lebron

Operations Manager at FedEx Ground in Orlando, FL
Building 21 Philadelphia, Class of 2018

Angel Lebron grew up in the North Philadelphia neighborhood of Feltonville and was a member of Building 21’s inaugural Class of 2018. He went on to Kutztown University, graduating in three years, and then held professional positions including Pathways Manager for Building 21, a consultant with BNY Mellon, and his current role as Operations Manager and supervisor for FedEx Ground, in Orlando, FL.

Angel points to numerous experiences in high school that benefitted him, such as a dual enrollment program with Community College of Philadelphia, entrepreneurship camp at Penn State Abington, and the Deloitte Leadership Academy. “Our teachers at Building 21 knew what would be required for college and made sure we were ready,” he recalls. “They stressed public speaking and presentations, time management, and constantly learning outside the curriculum—always taking advantage of what the school was offering both inside and outside the classrooms.” The Deloitte program included a paid internship, and Angel is still in regular touch with his mentor from the company.

Selecting Kutztown University for his postsecondary work, Angel majored in business administration with a minor in Spanish, served in leadership roles in several campus organizations, and mentored other first-generation college students—all while working full-time with FedEx. “I maintained that level of effort for about two years,” he says, “because I knew about the importance of building those networks and those connections, so I was trying to put those in place even though I had a full course load and a full-time job.”

Angel continues to grow and thrive. “My social and interpersonal skills have definitely improved over time, just being able to communicate effectively. As a manager at FedEx, I have thirty employees working under me and I have to communicate with them every single day.”

He also spoke about the power of relationships. “I’ve learned how important it is to maintain those networks. I understood the value of establishing connections, but I didn’t necessarily understand the importance of reaching out regularly to ensure that they’re still in place and just keeping that rapport.”

Michelle Wilson

Peer Navigator at Project Silk/Valley Youth House in Allentown, PA
Building 21 Allentown, Class of 2020

Michelle is a proud member of Building 21 Allentown’s Class of 2020. Believing that the school needed more space for youth voice, Michelle co-founded the Love Club, a gay-straight alliance. While searching for resources, she learned about Project Silk (now Silk), a youth-led, adult-supported LGBTQ+ drop-in program, and was deeply impressed by it. After a year of college, Michelle applied for and was hired as a peer navigator for Silk where she continues to deliver programming focused on mental health and sex education.

Michelle credits Building 21 with helping on her journey. “There were so many opportunities for me to figure out my learning style, and to gain experience in the community. I spent time at the Lehigh Valley Health Network and at an engineering STEM camp at Lehigh University. It was amazing to explore different career paths and pathways at a young age.”

Looking back, Michelle particularly appreciates the relationships she built at Building 21. “There were so many possibilities for student-teacher connections because the classes were small. I developed close bonds with several teachers that still inspire me today. They take the time to help you understand and give you options. That’s why I think it worked so well for me.”

Looking forward, “One of my end goals in life is to open my own nonprofit that supports youth and young adults. I want to be that person that has the access and ability to house and help people most in need.”

Reflecting on her experiences at Building 21, Michelle says, “Something that I would definitely tell young students is to choose a high school that lets you find your dream and pushes you to follow it. That’s what Building 21 did for me.”