Purpose on Pause, Legacy in Motion

A New York Day That Mattered

Some days are meant for rest.
Some days are meant for reflection.
And then there are days that gently remind you that purpose doesn’t disappear just because you’re on vacation.

I’ve been in New York for the holidays since December 15 and will be here through January 3rd, give or take. This trip is my holiday vacation, and most of my time is being intentionally spent with my son, slowing down, being present, and enjoying moments that don’t require an agenda. That time matters deeply to me.

Today, however, I was able to sneak away for the day and put on my education and HBCU advocacy hat, connecting with like-minded people who are lifting the work in the Queens borough. It didn’t feel like stepping away from vacation. It felt like alignment.

Instead of navigating a nearly two-hour train ride during the morning rush, I decided to drive over from Harlem. Truth be told, Anthony didn’t trust that I could manage the New York City subway system, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t fully trust myself either. Paying for an overpriced Uber ride was out of the question when I had a perfectly good car sitting right outside. The drive gave me space to think, make a few phone calls, take in the city waking up, and prepare myself for the day ahead.

And with that mindset, the day unfolded.

Planting Seeds at Eagle Academy for Young Men of Southeast Queens
While in Queens, I had the honor of visiting Eagle Academy for Young Men of Southeast Queens, a grades 6–12 public school within the New York City Department of Education, hosted by Principal Dr. Christopher Smith and his dedicated administrative team.

Eagle Academy is built on the belief that long-term investment matters. Serving students from middle school through high school allows the school to walk alongside young men during some of their most formative years. What makes this model even more impactful is that Eagle Academies exist in nearly every borough across New York City, all within the NYC DOE system, offering a consistent, mission-driven approach centered on academic excellence, leadership development, and brotherhood.

I was also honored to be joined during the visit by Rev. Carlene Thorbs, Chairperson of Queens Community Board 12. Her presence underscored the strong connection between the school, community leadership, and the broader ecosystem supporting young men in Southeast Queens. Successful schools don’t operate in isolation. They thrive when community voices are engaged and invested.

During my visit, I toured classrooms, learned more about academic and enrichment programs, and stepped into a parent workshop already in progress. Seeing families actively engaged reinforced what we already know, sustained student success happens when schools and families move together.

I also spent meaningful time with seniors discussing Historically Black Colleges and Universities, campus culture, and postsecondary pathways. Assisting students with the Common Black College Application was more than procedural; it was an access point. For 12 eager scholars, we were able to gift and lift a critical barrier to college admission by providing a fee waiver access code, removing cost as an obstacle and turning intention into action. Eagle Academy is preparing young men not just to graduate, but to lead beyond the building.

Excellence by Design at HBCU Early College Prep High School
From there, I traveled to another powerful space, HBCU Early College Prep High School, a New York City Department of Education public high school led by the Founding Principal Dr. Asya Johnson. This visit carried added significance, as the school is currently in its inaugural year, welcoming its first cohort of high-achieving ninth-grade scholars.

As a criteria-based program, the school establishes high expectations from the very beginning. Students are admitted with intention, and the academic culture is clear, focused, and uncompromising, even in year one.

At the time of my visit, scholars were preparing for their first college-level final exams, a remarkable milestone for ninth graders. Teachers are trained and credentialed to teach at Delaware State University’s academic standards through the senior year, ensuring students are not simply earning credits, but developing true college-level mastery.

As students move through the program, they will transition into taking Delaware State University online courses, allowing them to experience the pace, accountability, and rigor of college learning while still enrolled in a NYC DOE high school. By graduation, scholars have the potential to earn nearly 60 college credits, with automatic transfer to DSU’s main campus and preparation to enroll at any HBCU of their choice.

To witness this level of clarity, structure, and rigor in a school’s very first year speaks volumes. This is what it looks like when bold vision meets disciplined execution within a public education system.

The Relationships Behind the Work
Both school visits were made possible by my good friend and community advocate, Vanessa L. Sparks, a College Access Financial Advisor whose work centers on parent and student advocacy within the postsecondary financial aid process. With more than 25 years of experience, Vanessa has supported families through college admissions and financial aid navigation, with training that includes the U.S. Department of Education, the College Access Consortium of New York, Davidson College, and the Goddard-Riverside OPTIONS College Access Program.

Later in the day, Vanessa and I met Judi Belle Raines, a retired educator, published author, and librarian whose impact across Queens is both deep and joyful. Judi is a recipient of the Queens Public Library Shining Star Award, recognized for her leadership, volunteer service, and unwavering commitment to literacy and community engagement.

Meeting Judi in person after corresponding about Inspire Me Moments was a full-circle moment. Signing her book felt humbling in the best way, sitting with someone who has devoted her life to education and access.

Brotherhood, Sobriety, and Sacred Conversation
After all of the running around with Vanessa, a cup of coffee was in order — because as the saying goes, America runs on coffee, and for those who know me well, you know I really mean Dunkin’ — and after dropping her home, I spent time with my good friend Walter Dogan of Morehouse College. If you’ve read Inspire Me Moments, you know his name.

Walter represents the kind of brotherhood that doesn’t enable, doesn’t excuse, and doesn’t look away. There was a season in my life when clarity mattered more than comfort, and Walter was one of the brothers who helped me see myself clearly. He was a catalyst in my sobriety journey, not through judgment, but through presence, honesty, and belief.

We talked about life, family, community, and UNCF. No agenda. Just real conversation. Growth often happens quietly, in spaces of trust.

Inter-Alumni Council, MLK, and Building Bridges Forward
To close out the day, I joined the Greater New York Inter-Alumni Council virtual meeting. One of the major takeaways was the continued planning for their 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Breakfast. I’ve had the pleasure of attending this event in person in years past and hosting their virtual program during the pandemic. No matter the format, the spirit has remained consistent, excellence, service, and commitment.

Thank you to Adenika Cumberland, GNYIAC President, for allowing me a few moments to speak on the agenda. I shared highlights from my school visits and let the council know that both Eagle Academy and HBCU Early College Prep High School are open to hosting Inter-Alumni Council meetings, alumni chapter gatherings, and related events. The principals expressed genuine interest in welcoming alumni organizations into their spaces as partners in exposure, mentorship, and college awareness.

When alumni meet in school spaces, students get to see legacy up close. They see pathways made visible. That matters.

Carrying It Forward
As January approaches, I’m reminded that MLK season is not just about reflection. It’s about recommitment. Recommitting to students who deserve access. To families who need clarity. To schools doing bold work within public systems. To brotherhood, mentorship, and accountability.

This New York day didn’t feel like a detour from vacation. It felt like alignment.

And as I return to my son, to rest, and to the rhythm of the holidays, I carry the quiet hope that one day he’ll understand why moments like these mattered. Not because I left, but because I showed him what it looks like when purpose and presence walk together.

For Educators, Families, and HBCU Champions
If you’re an educator, school leader, counselor, parent, or HBCU advocate committed to expanding access and honoring student potential, I invite you to stay connected. This work lives at the intersection of public education, family engagement, and HBCU opportunity, and it thrives through collaboration.

You can explore resources, reflections, and tools rooted in college access and student advocacy, including Inspire Me Moments, and learn more about partnerships, workshops, or speaking engagements at www.aharrisbrown.com.

​Together, we can continue building pathways that affirm brilliance, preserve legacy, and prepare the next generation to lead.

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