In celebration of February being Black History Month that honors the historic leaders of the African-American community, we’ve found a few youths who will go down in history as the next generation of leaders. Here is a glimpse into what three African-American youths are doing to better the world around them.
Joshua Williams
Joshua’s Heart Foundation, was founded by a five-year-old by the name of Joshua Williams. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that empowers needy people to improve their quality of life. The main focus of this young man’s vision is to “Stomp out Hunger” in underprivileged communities, as well as from among those who are prevented by disease from earning enough to feed themselves.
Joshua’s Heart Foundation provides items if basic necessity, such as food and other grocery products, and by effectively engaging and educating communities at home and abroad about committing to fight hunger and poverty on a global basis. For more information, go to joshuasheart.org.
Tony Hansberry II
Tony Hansberry II is a 14-year-old who is already making great contributions to the world of medicine. He has developed a stitching technique that can be used to reduce surgical complications, as well as the chance of error among less experienced surgeons.
The idea for his procedure developed last summer during an internship at the University of Florida. Hansberry responded to a challenge to improve a procedure called the endo stitch, used in hysterectomies that could not be clamped down properly to close the tube where the patient’s uterus had been. The teen devised a way to apply the stitch and, using a medical dummy, completed the stitching in a third of the time of traditional surgery. Hansberry attends Darnell-Cookman, a special medical magnet school and his goal is to become a neurosurgeon.
Gabrielle Jordan Williams
At the age of 9, the young mogul started her own jewelry making business called Jewelz of Jordan, where she sells jewelry for mothers and daughters that want matching jewelry pieces.
Gabrielle also authored “The Making of a Young Entrepreneur: A Kid’s Guide to Developing the Mind-Set for Success.” The book has helped to build her platform as a sought-after international speaker with accomplishments such as being a TEDx speaker and keynoting several national and international events and conferences. Gabrielle’s advice to other kids, “Don’t be a spectator of your dreams.” Check her out at gabriellejordaninspires.com.