Mardarius Thomas, M.S.Ed

[7] reasons why Black men need to participate in helping with leveling the playing field. To level the playing field for others, it's where we actively engage in mentorship, advocacy, creating opportunities, and community involvement. 1. Representation Matters: 🤴🏿 Black men's participation ensures diverse voices and perspectives are included, creating a more equitable environment for everyone. 2. Breaking Barriers: 🚧 Active involvement helps dismantle systemic barriers and challenges that hinder progress for Black men and other marginalized groups. 3. Role Modeling: 🌟 Serving as role models, Black men inspire future generations by demonstrating resilience, leadership, and determination in overcoming obstacles. 4. Empowerment: 💪🏾 Participation empowers Black men to advocate for their rights, access resources, and pursue opportunities that contribute to personal and collective advancement. 5. Community Strength: 🤝🏾 Collaborative efforts foster solidarity within the Black community, fostering unity and collective action to address common challenges. 6. Impactful Change: 🌱 By participating, Black men contribute to creating lasting change that promotes fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for all. 7. Future Generations: 🌍 Investing in leveling the playing field today ensures a brighter future for generations to come, where all individuals have the opportunity to thrive regardless of race or background. By sharing knowledge, advocating for equality, and participating in initiatives that address systemic issues, you'll be providing opportunities and support for those who may face barriers. Through empowerment and role modeling, you are encouraging individuals to recognize their potential and advocate for their rights, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society. ______________ Visit my website: https://richardacross.com Check out my books and journals + more! ______________ POSITIVELY SHAPING THE FUTURE™ #1millionblackmalestudents #motivation #inspiration #education #mentoring #HBCUsMatter #LeadingWithIntegrity #TheBlackMaleImpact #Blackexcellence #ChallengeCharacterAssasination #PersonalDevelopment #Perspective #Psychology #leadingchange #CulturalTransformation #Knowledge #MillionaireMindset #BlackBoys #changethenarrative #EmotionalIntelligence #PositiveImpact #Book2024 #DrRichardACross #PositiveInfluence #BestVersionOfYourself

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🌟 Code2040 2025 Fellows Program application is live, baby! I firmly believe that this org offers experiences and programming for Black and Latinx students pursuing tech careers in ways that no one else does. We would love you have you (students) or students you know join us in 2025! 🌟 Application and more information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e9-YtYUk This Program is designed for: - Currently enrolled students who attend a U.S. college or university - Students who identify as Black and/or Latinx - Students seeking internships in the summer of 2025 (and NOT full-time employment) - Students who plan on returning to school after their summer internship (Fall 2025) - Students with experience coding - Students who are interested in advocating for racial equity in the tech industry - Students who HAVE NOT previously participated in the Fellows Program If you know someone who might be interested- please tag them! I'm happy to share more information about the incredible experience that our current and former Fellows have had. #blackintech #latinasintech #latinxintech #highereducation #techinternships #techequity #racialequity #nonproft #tech #internship

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Attention : Math Champions for Black Girls ! I'm reaching out today to share a valuable opportunity to amplify your impact. I'm currently developing my nonprofit to gather data on math confidence in Black girls, and I believe your insights and network would be invaluable. Here's how you can get involved: Share the Survey: This short survey https://lnkd.in/gfsXAMAv seeks feedback from parents of Black girls on their math experiences and perceptions. By sharing this with your network, you'll help collect a robust data set that reflects the diverse experiences of Black girls in math. Spread the Word: Social media is a powerful tool! Consider sharing the project on your platforms using hashtags like #BlackGirlsDoMathToo #MathConfidence #Education. This will raise awareness and encourage more parents to participate. Offer Your Expertise: If you have additional thoughts or suggestions on how to best reach and support parents, I'd love to hear them! Please don't hesitate to connect with me directly. Together, we can: 🤝 Gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence math confidence in Black girls. 🤝 Develop targeted strategies and resources to empower them in STEM fields. 🤝 Advocate for educational practices that nurture a love of math among Black girls. Thank you for your dedication to making a difference! #BlackGirlsDoMathToo #MathEquity #CommunityCollaboration

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I’ve spent years immersed in research, examining the deeply embedded hatred for Black women within American institutions. My entire dissertation examined the systems designed to marginalize us, documenting the historical and ongoing struggles faced by those pushed to the furthest margins of society. Every single day, I dissect mechanisms of hatred and exclusion, trying to understand how and why such systems continue to persist and more importantly, how to disrupt them. And yet, despite all this deep knowledge, I am still shocked by this election outcome, as though all the evidence, including my own lived experience, wasn’t enough to brace me against this painful moment. There's a particular kind of agony that comes alongside academically documenting systemic injustice, making it visible through YEARS of research and scholarship, and watching helplessly as those systems seem to reassert themselves. It is a deep sorrow that comes not only from seeing a system perpetuate harm, but from the ache of knowing that those of us who stand at the margins will continue to be forced to bear the weight of this choice. We’ve known, intellectually and historically, that this hatred exists. But in moments like these, that hatred isn’t just a theory or a statistic; it’s a reality that touches our lives, our communities, and our very ability to hope. Black women, we did our very best. Onward. In solidarity. ✌🏾

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As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, I’ve been asked to reflect on the importance of year-round allyship in both our personal and professional lives as you all would agree TRUE allyship goes beyond the month that we celebrate once a year... It’s about creating lasting, meaningful impact that propels Black professionals and young talent forward. Last weekend, I had the privilege of sponsoring a couple of young men to attend the UK Black Business Week | UK Black Business Show. It was a powerful moment for them because, before this, they didn’t even know the event existed. That exposure alone may be the catalyst for their future success—just like it was for me. Attending events like this was crucial to my own journey, expanding my network and opening doors to opportunities I hadn’t considered. This experience reminds me why ongoing support, education, and investment in young Black talent are essential. Businesses and professionals can be better allies by: - Fostering inclusive environments year-round - Offering mentorship and sponsorship opportunities - Educating themselves on the challenges faced by Black professionals - Celebrating and supporting Black excellence every day The ripple effect of genuine allyship is immeasurable. I’m excited to see how these young men grow from this experience, and I’m committed to continuing to support the next generation in their journeys. #BlackHistoryMonth #Allyship #Mentorship #Leadership #Empowerment #BlackBusiness #BlackHistoryMonth #LinkedInNewsUK

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Happy July! I am excited about the new month and the second half of the year. I kicked off the month by conducting the inaugural new hire employee orientation that I designed for my department and the feedback was terrific. I have worked in various industries and held many roles, and what I have learned is the importance of building a strong network, knowledge exchange, valuing and appreciating diversity, and never stop learning. I would advise anyone joining a new organization or team to get to know your colleagues and this should expand beyond your team. Share your background and experience and take the initiative to introduce new ideas, projects, or programs. I am looking forward to kicking off a robust and exciting training program for my department and working on a major project that is one of our strategic goals. I created the calendar, the agenda, and secured the guest speakers. Celebrate all of your wins, every milestone is a win. It’s important that we clap for ourselves. Create a journal, write down your goals, and share them with people who can help you achieve them. Wishing you all an exciting, productive and successful new month. #newmonth #positivemindset #celebratewins #runyourownrace #neverstoplearning

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You need to know about this. As an educator administrator seeking to increase the number of Ag & FCS teachers, I understand how vitally important this pipeline is to achieving educational equity. Spread the word!

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YOUR FAVORITE HBCU FELLOWS LINK🔥✨ Favorite Emerging leaders of today and tomorrow See your HBCU IN REPRESENTATION Let us know who you repping below⤵️ #nbcahalloffame #halloffameweekend

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Multiple speaking engagements, RFP submissions, Black Home EDU homeschool support platform, educator database and cruitED chatbot for job recruitment, immersive learning platform for Melanated Mathematics…wait, am I a cyborg!? #PublicSpeaking #EducationLeaders #KeynoteSpeaker #BusinessDevelopment #StrategicPlanning #RFP #Homeschooling #BlackEducation #EdTech #AI #TalentAcquisition #EducationJobs #AIRecruitment #STEMEducation #MathEducation #EdInnovation

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Happy Monday! Excited to introduce the new & rebranded Minority Majority 🥁 As we approach our 30th edition, we realized it was time to find a new name and image. Throughout the past 9 months of researching, writing, putting out a newsletter every week, engaging with our community, connecting on social media, and more–our purpose is more clear than ever before. To become the destination for you to discover, support, and purchase from Latino-owned businesses. All while learning about the stories of the founders behind them and staying informed on the business, culture, and social impact of US Latinos. So, why “comprende”? Comprende, in short, means: “to understand” and our goal is to ultimately help folks understand the US Latino market, experience, and opportunity. With our rebrand, we are getting a step closer to who we are and who we want to be, across three core focus areas: APRENDE [to learn]: Through our newsletter, we want to help our community and beyond, learn about US Latinos by bringing you the latest curated stories, market insights, features on Latino-owned businesses, and more about our culture and social impact. COMPRA [to buy]: We want to make it easy for folks to buy from Latino-owned businesses and so, we are planning on building a digital marketplace for Latino-owned businesses. The comprende marketplace or ‘mercado’ will take a while to build, but we are excited to share updates and launch our first iteration of it later this year. VENDE [to sell]: With comprende, it’s not just about making it easy for consumers, we want to help Latino-owned businesses reach new customers and grow their companies through our newsletter, marketplace and creative agency services. So, with all that being said, thank you all for your support throughout the past year of Minority Majority and now, comprende. #LatinoOwnedBusiness #LatinaOwnedBusiness #USLatinos

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Have you witnessed a powerful mentor/mentee moment recently? I had the privilege of seeing this firsthand at the Black Commerce Conference, hosted by Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship. One of Tyrome Smith's mentees highlighted the invaluable support he received from Tyrome as he is navigating the complexities of building a scalable startup. Surrounding yourself with mentors and subject matter experts can significantly accelerate your growth journey and minimize the challenges of the unknown. The founders connected with Tyrome are truly fortunate to benefit from his wealth of expertise. Curious about personal branding tips for emerging leaders?Listen to Tyrome's insights in this video! Share your thoughts: What personal branding tips do you have for young leaders making their mark in the world? Bowie State University #Mentorship #PersonalBranding #LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #BowieState #HowardUniversity

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Reintroducing Myself 💁🏽‍♀️: A Personal & Professional Journey Hi LinkedIn As we grow and evolve, so do our stories—and I believe it’s time to reintroduce myself. I’m, a passionate advocate for inclusive education, a SEN (Special Educational Needs) coordinator, and a dedicated practitioner of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I am committed to transforming learning environments for students with diverse needs by using evidence-based ABA strategies that foster meaningful, long-term progress. What sets me apart? I’ve collaborated with top schools in Abuja, where my tailored ABA interventions have led to remarkable success stories. These success stories extend beyond classrooms to families of individuals with special needs, both in Nigeria and across the diaspora. My work bridges the gap between educators, parents, and learners, creating inclusive spaces where every individual can thrive. In addition to my hands-on work with learners, I’m also passionate about empowering others in the field. I’ve trained over 20 educators, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to support students with special needs. Recently, I developed an online, self-paced course designed for educators passionate about starting their journey in special education. This course provides the foundational tools and knowledge to make a real impact in inclusive education settings. My approach is built on empathy, collaboration, and a deep belief that every learner, regardless of their strengths or struggles, deserves the opportunity to succeed. Whether I’m mentoring aspiring behavior specialists, creating personalized intervention plans, or helping schools build inclusive frameworks, I bring a solution-driven mindset with a personal, human touch. On a personal note, I’m known for my friendly and approachable nature. I find joy in connecting with others—whether through shared experiences, motivational content, or simply offering a listening ear. These authentic connections inspire me and keep me motivated to push boundaries in special education. If you’re passionate about fostering inclusive, supportive environments or want to collaborate on impactful initiatives, let’s connect! I’d love to hear your story, share insights, and explore how we can make a greater difference together. Rahina Kogi-Enweliku thank you for this opportunity. If you’re ready to use ABA strategies to build inclusive environments where every learner can succeed, I’d love to connect with you. Let’s see how I can help! #iamalinkedinteacher #linkedinforteachers #mystory #thedivineSENeducator

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Growing up and working in different spaces in NYC and being of Caribbean descent has allowed me to recognize how color transcends in different ways and how it mimics culture. I wear color everyday I come into the office. I recognize most people wear black, white, navy blue and grey for work. For me this isn’t my personality and that’s why I enjoy wearing yellows, greens, blues, pinks. The colors in work culture mimic the buildings in NYC. Majority of which are black, brown or grey. The luxury buildings all look the same as well. I love color and culture because it’s expressive. In the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa for example you’ll find homes that are bright colors and I believe that speaks to our vibrant cultures. I want to leave you with this- do you feel you wear less color to fit in? Do you see how color and culture can influence social structures? P.S. this isn’t meant to make anyone feel bad for wearing less color but moreso an observation. I love me an all black outfit.

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🤗 Love seeing incredible, young, black entrepreneurs taking advantage of incredible resources like this and scaling their businesses! ⬇ Many people don't realize the drastic assistance an entrepreneurship center can provide for their businesses! These centers are directly connected to people who want to help scale black owned businesses and they give you the tools to present yourself and your company in the best way possible. Whether you are a student or not, I highly urge entrepreneurs at any stage to get in contact with an entrepreneurship center that works for you and your needs! 😉 #Entrepreneurshipcenter #blackentrepreneurship #blackownedbusiness #smallbusinessmarketing #growingyourbusiness #smallbusinessmarketing

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