SIYLI’s Change Maker Forum with special guest Ashanti Branch, Founder and Executive Director of the Ever Forward Club. Ashanti was joined in conversation with SIYLI CEO Rich Fernandez and they discussed why human-centered skills are essential for future leaders. Ashanti supports rising leaders to strengthen skills like authenticity, vulnerability and emotional awareness and will share with us his unique perspective built on projects he started like “Taking Off the Mask.” This was an inspiring and meaningful conversation between Rich and Ashanti, we hope you enjoy it!
Ever Forward Club: The Adventure
Your Speaker:
Ashanti Branch was raised by a single mother on welfare in Oakland, went on to study engineering at California Polytechnic – San Luis Obispo. A Civil Engineer in his first career, Ashanti found his passion for teaching while tutoring struggling students. In 2004, as a first-year teacher, Ashanti started The Ever Forward Club to provide a support group for African American and Latino males, who were not achieving to the level of their potential. The Ever Forward Club has helped 100% of its members graduate high school. Branch is on a mission to change the way that students interact with their education and the way schools interact with students. After being featured in The Mask You Live In documentary, and Fellowships at the Stanford d.school, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, and The Gratitude Network. Ashanti has launched the #MillionMaskMovement to connect people all over the world in a self-reflective experience that helps people visualize and realize, “I am not alone.”