THE COMMUNITY & COLLEGE PARTNERS PROGRAM CAN PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES ON A PRO BONO BASIS
Underserved and developing communities need help to improve their quality of life. Communities often lack the technical knowledge and skills needed to go after critical resources. The C2P2 program is designed to assist these communities by providing Pro Bono technical assistance from colleges and universities, based on their self-identified issues. We do not tell communities what help we will provide; we ask what help they need.
C2P2 enlists colleges and universities to assist underserved communities with vital technical support through student internships, classroom projects, capstone and practicum projects. At the same time, C2P2 provides practical experience for participating students in their areas of academic study, and students generally receive academic credit for their efforts. Also, there is the added satisfaction of knowing the work they do matters in the lives of those they help. Colleges and universities understand the value of the experiential learning opportunities are immeasurable.
Corporate investments in C2P2 serve two worthy causes, facilitate the provision of technical support to underserved communities, and provide real life experience for students in their area of academic study. Communities become empowered and students become better prepared to enter the work force, based on that real life experience. Investments help support projects that lift up neighborhoods, make education more meaningful, and provide a real benefit to everyone involved.
C2P2 does not engage in discriminatory practices to include hiring, partnerships, or selection of communities and projects. Underserved is underserved and we try to enlist participation from the most qualified parties available.
The model C2P2 operates under, has done it all before; 150 projects in more than 20 different states. As we continue as C2P2, we look forward to helping communities in all 50 states and internationally.
C2P2 Board
Michael W Burns, Founder and Executive Director
michael.burns@c2p2works.com
Mr. Burns is an experienced senior advisor with outstanding skills in developing collaborative partnerships, strategic negotiations, government, environmental awareness, and policy analysis. Mr. Burns has vast experience with leadership within local, regional, and national level organizations addressing a diversity of issues. He is an outstanding and creative problem solver with an extroverted, intuitive personality. Mr. Burns has served as a successful program and project management professional and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. His focus is on helping those in need by providing a variety of technical support actions through voluntary collaborations.
Dr. Mira Olson
Dr. Mira Olson is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Engineering, Leadership and Society at Drexel University. She holds a B.S in Mechanical Engineering and B.A. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from Rice University, and an M.E. and Ph.D. in Civil (Environmental) Engineering from the University of Virginia. The broad focus of her research is on protecting source water quality, with current interests in transboundary water management and community-based research design. Dr. Olson is currently serving as faculty fellow in Drexel’s Office of University and Community Partnerships and is Director of the newly established Peace Engineering program at Drexel.
Rajul (Raj) Pandya
Rajul (Raj) Pandya directs AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange. The Thriving Earth Exchange helps volunteer scientists and community leaders work together to use science, especially Earth and space science, to advance community priorities related to sustainability, resilience, disaster risk reduction, and environmental justice.
Raj invites everyone to be part of guiding and doing science, especially people from historically marginalized communities, so that the sciences can contribute to a world where all people and nature can thrive, now and in the future.
Raj chaired the National Academies committee on Designing Citizen Science to Support Science Learning, serves on the boards for Public Lab and the Anthropocene Alliance and is a member of the Independent Advisory Committee on Applied Climate Assessment. He helped launch the Resilience Dialogues, a public-private partnership that uses facilitated online dialogues to advance community resilience. He was a founding board member of the Citizen Science Association and served as Education and Human Resource Commissioner for the American Meteorological Society.
Before joining AGU, Raj led education, engagement, and diversity programs connected to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, led an international research and development project that used weather data to better manage meningitis in Africa, and held a faculty position at West Chester State University. Raj got his PhD from University of Washington exploring how large thunderstorms grow and persist.
Raj lives in Colorado with his wife Amy (a physician his parents call “the real doctor”), their daughter Maya, and their dog Nala.
R. Javoyne Hicks
Javoyne Hicks is a seasoned manager, having served as Chief of Staff of the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4 under the Obama Administration where she supported the underlying concept of C2P2 and as Acting District Attorney for DeKalb County, Georgia. Javoyne is especially adept at guiding clients and organizations through the workplace investigations process and counseling management on office policies, procedures and best practices.
Presently, she is using her litigation skills as a Senior Attorney with Lawrence & Bundy, LLC. She is a former prosecutor and has four years experience as Clerk of Court for the DeKalb County State and Magistrate Courts. She has prosecuted over 100 cases and relies on her extensive knowledge of the litigation process to skillfully resolve complex problems. Known for her innovative and strategic approach, Javoyne works closely with clients to craft legal solutions that are enlightened, efficient and effective.
Javoyne is also heavily committed to promoting wellness in our community. As chair of the Attorney Wellness Committee, she creates and develops programs focuses on normalizing the conversation regarding mental well-being.
Bruce B Holmes
Bruce Holmes has had a lifelong commitment to helping others and giving back to his community. Although Bruce has deep family roots in Jones County Georgia, he was born on a military base in El Paso, TX while his father was serving in the United States Air Force. After being raised in Michigan he moved on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1987 and went on to earn his Master’s in Business Management from the University of Minnesota St. Mary’s.
His election to the Henry County Board of Commissioners is a continuation of this service to others. As District 5 Commissioner, he continues to create and grow opportunities to serve and support his community in areas of public safety, quality of life, transportation infrastructure and business development. Shortly after his election, Commissioner Holmes established the Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation (CBHYF) with mentoring components called “Project Exposure” & “Project Blossom”, helping guide youth by exposing them to environments meant to open their minds to new possibilities.
Commissioner Holmes is married to Antoinette “Toni” Holmes and has four children and two granddaughters. He currently is the Vice President of Big 10 Construction & Development, LLC. Prior to this position, Commissioner Holmes enjoyed a successful career in the Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Molecular Diagnostics Industry, with 20 years in national accounts managing large health care systems.
Commissioner Holmes is the Executive Producer / Host of The Black Vote and 99% Politics on Nubian TV.
He is a member of the Prince Hall’s St. James Lodge #4, Nabbar Temple #128 in Atlanta, GA, the Atlanta Consistory #24A, the Stockbridge-Jonesboro (GA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and The DeKalb One-Hundred Black Men.
Commissioner Holmes has been honored in several venues; by two prominent minority business organizations for his work in the community; been named the 2013 Commissioner of the Year by the Georgia Minority Business Awards (GMBA); named as a prominent black business leader in the Who’s Who in Black Atlanta; by the Henry County Branch of the NAACP at its 2013 Freedom Fund Banquet, where he was presented with the President’s Award; presented the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) Community Service Award; by the Atlanta Business League (ABL) as one of 2014’s “Men of Influence”; by the Henry county Chamber of Commerce at its 49th Annual Awards Banquet and Dinner receiving the W.L. (Billy) Carter Public Service Award; recognized by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated for his work in Community Service, with the Martin Luther King Jr. Award; designated as a honorary member of the NAB Vets of the Southern Crescent, Chapter 112 after facilitating and hosting the inaugural meeting; awarded the Carter Kennedy Award from the Henry County Democratic Party at their Inaugural Carter Kennedy Banquet; and was selected by the Free and Accepted Ancient York rite Masons to receive the Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge’s 2018 Community Service award for his significant accomplishments in “improving the lives of others and advancing the Arts, Sciences, Education, Politics and the community”.
Commissioner Holmes continually strives to best serve his constituents. In October 2014, Commissioner Holmes completed the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s (ACCG) Lifelong Learning Academy Certified County Commissioner Program. Since, he has been appointed to a series of prestigious positions to include the ACCG-Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund Board of Trustees by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Board of Managers; the County Commission representative on the AREA 7 all Hazards Council and the Georgia Homeland Security Council by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency; and as the Vice-chair of the NACo’s Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee and the Economic Development Subcommittee.
Commissioner Holmes is currently serving in his third term as District V Commissioner and is looking forward to continued collaboration with our community and helping to further improve the quality of life and making the necessary investments in the coming years. “I would like to thank our community for the support, and I look forward to fighting for you in the future”.
Millie Chu Baird
Millie is the Senior Program Officer for Climate Advocacy and Equity for the Yellow Chair Foundation. She is deeply committed fighting environmental injustice.
Prior to joining PFS, Millie worked at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) for over 20 years, most recently as the Associate Vice President in the Office of Chief Scientist. At EDF, she led a variety of project ranging from a Google partnership that mapped hyperlocal air pollution to running state-level climate legislative campaigns. She was also interim lead for environmental equity and justice at EDF.
Millie earned a BS and MS from Stanford University in Earth Systems Science. She is on the boards of The Field Semester, a start-up semester school focused on equity and sustainability and Consumer Reports. Millie enjoys running, puzzles (jigsaw and crossword), hiking and is raising two teenage girls with her husband in Oakland.
Jewell Augustin Harper
Jewell A. Harper is a retired environmental attorney who served as attorney and senior manager at USEPA for twenty-eight years. In addition, she served as liaison between USEPA and Spelman College in a collaboration designed to support Spelman College in its efforts to infuse environmental sustainability into its infrastructure and curriculum and to export this model to other academic institutions which serve communities of color. She also taught Environmental Law and related courses in the Political Science Department at Spelman College for thirteen years.
Ms. Harper received her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco. She received her Bachelor of Science from Howard University, Washington, D.C. Her professional memberships include the State Bar of California; the District of Columbia Bar; the National Bar Association; the American Bar Association and Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity.
Her community affiliations include Paideia School Board of Trustees (emeritus); Atlanta Speech School Board of Advisors; Georgia Institute for Environmental Leadership Board of Directors; Social Equity Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission; GreenLaw Board of Directors; Chattahoochee Riverkeepers Board of Directors; Eco-Action Board of Directors; Second Nature Climate Action Board of Directors; Turner Environmental Law Clinic , Emory University, Advisory Board; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Links, Inc.
Steve Brett has over 40 years of marketing experience and the ability to apply his skills to define your message, explain what you do, and make your content more compelling. Steve’s award-winning, full-service ad agency, Brett Associates, based in the New York/metropolitan area served Fortune 500 companies like the New York Stock Exchange, Hertz, and SONY, along with regional and local firms. The firm then began to help companies like The Citizen Watch Company and Sports Authority move from print to online. After moving to Atlanta, Steve founded Presentation TuneUps, LLC. Here he helps presenters say the right things to the right audience. Steve graduated cum laude from the New School with coursework in marketing, communications, psychology, and education, and graduated cum laude with a Masters at Teaching from Agnes Scott College.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
C2P2 is the only organization that provides long term, Pro Bono support to underserved communities, while also ensuring our partners provide their support on a Pro Bono basis. Experiential learning has become more and more important on college campuses across the country to improve both the relevancy and value of education. Our program not only provides that experience by serving as the bridge between the schools and the communities, we make it easy for schools to participate. Furthermore, that experience makes a difference in the lives of people in underserved communities, which is hugely important to today’s college students. Our colleges and universities are not just educators, they have a direct impact on improving the lives of people desperately needing help, while making students better prepared to enter the workforce.