As an extension of Verizon’s Minority Male Makers program at Morgan State University, Baltimore native and Morgan alumnus, music executive Kevin Liles, visited the university to deliver an inspiring talk on STEM and entrepreneurship to the program’s minority, male middle school student participants. During “Entrepreneurship 101” event Liles shared his inspirational story as well as his advice on best practices in turning innovative ideas into entrepreneurial ventures and tips on delivering a strong “elevator pitch.” In addition to Liles, the students also heard from Baltimore mayoral candidate and Maryland State Senator Catherine Pugh, Morgan’s President David Wilson, and Baltimore native/celebrity DJ Quicksilva, who moderated the discussion.
During the event, students were broken into groups and tasked with developing creative, tech-focused business ideas and had an opportunity to present their “elevator pitch” before a panel that included Liles and DJ Quicksilva. To make sure they looked the part, the students were dressed in button down shirts and ties donated by Suit Dreams, a New York-based non-profit organization whose mission is to transform the national perception of the urban male.
Verizon’s Minority Male Makers is a two-year program that provides minority male middle school students hands-on learning experiences with advanced technology and mentorship. Launched in the summer of 2015 at Morgan State University, the program partners four Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the Verizon Foundation to facilitate summer science intensive courses giving students exposure to the latest in technology including 3D design, app development, coding and more. The program also pairs middle school student participants with college students for mentoring throughout the school year.
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified Doctoral Research Institution offering more than 70 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. More information about the university is available at www.morgan.edu.
