This is the Thread of Young Black Excellence

[KyokushinKarateMan]

Whether they are exceeding in STEM or they are exceeding in Sports. From making it out of gang life to overcoming a disability. Let’s take a moment to highlight Young Black Excellence, the outstanding accomplishments and achievements of our under 18 Kings and Queens.

Up first, the Grandy twins
(You knew I’d take the fighting arts route :o)

 

[KyokushinKarateMan]

MAYA PENN: ANIMATOR, AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR, PHILANTHROPIST

From as early as the age of 8, Maya Penn, now 17, has been on a mission to use her passion for art, design, and environmental activism to invoke change and inspire others to follow their dreams. In 2008, she founded the environmentally-friendly clothing and accessory line Maya’s Ideas, as a way to aid causes close to her heart while making fun and sustainable products. In line with her vision, 10 to 20 percent of the company’s profits are donated to local and global charities and organizations whose mission she supports.

Maya’s reach doesn’t stop there, though. As a skilled animator, she recently had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of a report to Congress with a short animation and narration advocating the creation of a women’s history museum in Washington, D.C. Additionally, her book, You Got This!, published last year, provides a shining example for young people looking to start their own business. Chronicling her journey as an entrepreneur, it’s filled with important lessons she’s learned along the way that have informed her work.

Believing in sustained philanthropy, Maya created the nonprofit Maya’s Ideas 4 the Planet in 2011 to spotlight and tackle issues deeply affecting women and girls worldwide. Since its inception, she’s spearheaded a project to create eco-friendly sanitary pads for women and girls in developing countries with the assistance of local organizations. “A lot of girls can't go to school during their monthly cycle because they don't have any of those to wear. [The] more of those days out of every month [they] take not going to school leads to more girls dropping out," she explains to Teen Vogue. So far, the eco-friendly pads have been distributed across several countries, including Somalia, Haiti, Senegal, and Cameroon.

As the youngest person on Oprah’s inaugural SuperSoul 100 list, a collection of trailblazers, changemakers, and industry leaders, Maya is poised to be a globally recognized name in the coming years.

 

[KyokushinKarateMan]

MIKAILA ULMER: FOUNDER OF ME & THE BEES LEMONADE


While it's common for young kids to start a lemonade stand in their neighborhood, most children don't start an award-winning lemonade brand that flies off the shelves of Whole Foods and is available at multiple restaurants and natural-food delivery companies. But the latter is the story of 11-year-old Mikaila Ulmer, founder of Me & the Bees Lemonade.

When she was 4, Mikaila's parents signed her up for a kids' business fair, and as she pondered what she wanted to sell there, her great-grandmother Helen gave her an old recipe for flaxseed lemonade — the same week that she got stung by two bees. Though she was afraid of bees and bee stings, her parents encouraged her to overcome her anxiety by researching bees and learning more about them. What she learned left her troubled, not out of fear of the bees, but of fear for them: Bees are dying at a higher rate than ever.

That knowledge didn't depress Mikaila but instead motivated her to use her great-grandmother's lemonade recipe, sweeten it with local honey, and donate a percentage of her profits to organizations fighting to save honeybees.

As dynamic and inspiring a young entrepreneur as Mikaila is, her own inspiration and motivation are drawn from her family. "The biggest impact on my business comes from my dad, mom, and brothers. I would never have gotten to where I am if it weren't for them and their endless support," she tells Teen Vogue.

Her savory lemonade and sharp business sense have even drawn the attention of the White House. "The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a black trailblazer is Mrs. Michelle Obama," Mikaila says. "She has invited me to the White House several times, and she has made a huge impact on me and my business by spreading the word about pollination and the bees."

 

[KyokushinKarateMan]

The youngest Karate Kid ever: Keychelle wins her black belt and she's only SIX
By Daily Mail Reporter12:04 EDT 14 Dec 2010, updated 14:09 EDT 14 Dec 2010

Six-year-old Kechelle deSouza Dalton doesn’t get much trouble from bullies, and the one time she did she dumped the boy on his backside and left him crying.
It’s easy to see why. She has become the youngest person in Europe, and possibly even the world, ever to gain a karate black belt.

Kechelle, from Tottenham, noth London, watched her brother Lamar, also a black belt, practise from her pram, and by the time she was three was training four times a week.

Kechelle deSouza Dalton is believed to be the youngest karate black belt in the world. She practises until she is sent to bed
'My brother was doing it and I thought it was going to be fun, Kechelle said.'When I first started I said to my mum I liked it.'

Her mother Michelle, who owns a hairdressers in Archway with her husband Kevin, said her daughter does not hit other children because she has been taught karate should be self-defence.

Mrs deSouza Dalton said: 'I like the fact that she doesn’t hit kids. She doesn’t use it unless she has to. The teacher has always instilled that in her.'

The one time she did react, however, was when a bully who attacked her. 'A boy was hitting her and she said "If you do it one more time, you’ll be sorry",' Mrs deSouza Dalton continued. 'He didn’t stop, so she blocked and punched him. And he sat down and cried.'

From the time she learned to talk Kechelle was asking to learn karate like her brother who she had watched from her pram
Mrs deSouza Dalton added that she was 'very proud' of her daughter. 'From the time she could speak, she said "I want to do karate", so I asked the instructor what age she could start and he said he would have a go and see if she could focus.'

Kechelle, who attends the Rosary School in Haverstock Hill, received her black belt from Kyoshi Hassan Dilaimi, president of the Martial Arts Federation of Great Britain, at her class in Belsize Park last night. Lamar, 13, was awarded a black belt earlier this year when he was still 12.

Kechelle practises five days a week, and her training regime means her mother has to drive her to classes all over London, from Highbury to South Kensington.

When she gets home, she often practises into the night until her mother sends her to bed.

In a few years’ time, Kechelle hopes to take her talent to the Karate World Championships. She said she wanted to be a karate master and 'then a doctor' when she grows up.
Her instructor, Shihan Alex Constantinos Sylvan, vice-president of the martial arts federation of Great Britain, said: 'It is amazing to see such determination and discipline from someone so young. I believe we have the making of a future world champion here.'

 

[wavycam]

 

[KyokushinKarateMan]

She was only 17 by the time she’d accomplished what she had at the time of this vid

 

[KyokushinKarateMan]

MOZIAH "MO" BRIDGES: CEO OF MO'S BOWS


Growing up, Moziah "Mo" Bridges was taught the importance of dressing sharp. His grandmother, a former seamstress, introduced him to dapper clothing at a very young age. This ultimately sparked his passion for constantly looking debonair. By the time Mo was 9 years old, he felt frustrated by the lack of sartorial neckwear choices for young kids. He then decided to turn his passion into a business and created his first bow tie. Now, at just 15, Mo has turned his pursuit into a successful business venture with five employees that has grossed over $300,000.

Mo has lit up TV screens across the nation, appearing on shows such as Shark Tank, the Today show, and Good Morning America. He was also invited to the White House, where he got to meet President Obama personally. Mo has definitely felt and appreciated all the encouragement he's received.

"Life has changed a lot. A lot more people know me, and I've gotten a lot of love and support from a lot of people," Mo says to Teen Vogue.

Besides possessing such a precocious entrepreneurial spirit, Mo also has a budding philanthropic side. In 2012, he created Go Mo!, a charity committed to sending local Memphis kids to summer camp. He has made it abundantly clear that his goals for the future aren't just about spreadsheets and dollar bills, but also about impacting the youth in a substantive way.

He says, "I want to have my own clothing line by the time I'm 20, and I also want to start speaking to kids and letting them know it's OK to be themselves."

One of the not-so-secret elements of Mo's Bows's success (and a large part of how a young, successful business owner still manages to stay on track with his grades and his homework) is Mo's strong family connection. Not only does Mo's mother help direct the business, but, more importantly, she ensures that he handles his responsibilities as a student and still gets to enjoy being a kid.

Mo's advice to kids out there is simple: "Find out what you like doing and believe in yourself. Never give up, and always invest in yourself."

 

[KingsOfKings]

 

[O.T.I.S.]

I support this thread

Make sure we prop up these young black folks, boys especially, since they are being taught/influenced in this country to have no hope other than hood bullshyt and to accept less

 

[Da Jungles]

Dope thread