Hi, I’m Danielle!

 

I am the Founder and CEO of Paving the Way for the Future, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Educating Girls in Impoverished Places. I’m 16 years old and a junior (11th grade) at The Spence School in New York City, and I reside with my family in Queens.

 

From a young age, I’ve been passionate about helping those in need, and I’ve always had a heart for advocacy and service. The idea for my nonprofit started in 7th grade during a project called The WeLead Project, led by my teacher, Mrs. Patricia Russac. Through that experience, I learned about global issues, especially how many girls around the world are denied basic education simply because of their gender or where they live. That revelation deeply moved me and ignited a sense of purpose. 

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Growing up hearing stories of my parents’ journeys from rural, poverty-stricken areas in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, where education was a privilege, not a guarantee, inspired my deep commitment to empowering girls through education. My parents often traveled great distances to attend school, driven by a hunger for knowledge despite their limited resources. Their resilience instilled in me a belief that access to education can transform lives. It’s their stories that fuel my passion to create opportunities where they are most needed.

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Since then, Paving the Way for the Future has supported girls like Kamoya Monteith, an 8th grader in Jamaica who was at risk of dropping out after her mother passed away, and Keydiann Keycea Sampson, whose family could not afford to keep her in school. We stepped in with a scholarship that helped them stay in school and continue pursuing their dreams.

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Outside of nonprofit work, I’m an avid creative writer, performer, violinist, public speaker, and published poet. Poetry is my creative outlet, and so it is the medium through which I express myself, whether happy or sad. This has led me to create and publish my book, "An Eclipse of Her Mind" (June 1, 2022), a collection of poems written during my 7th and 8th grade years. Additionally, I am currently a member and 2022 honoree of the NCNW (National Council of Negro Women) and served as the 2023 Keynote Speaker at Riverton Street Charter School.

 

Overall, at Paving the Way, we believe every girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, and lead. My hope is that this organization will continue to be a beacon of hope and a lifeline for girls who need someone to believe in them.

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