“When [you] keep asking questions and seeking answers, eventually you may realize you’re an answer — you could potentially be the answer to a problem or a challenge.” ~ Yasmine Arrington Brooks
Yasmine Arrington Brooks was a teenager when she became the potential answer to a challenge. The child of incarcerated parents, with a passion for making things happen, she founded ScholarCHIPS and hasn’t looked back since.
ScholarCHIPS provides college scholarships, mentoring, mental health supports, and a peer support network to college-bound young adults who have incarcerated parents, inspiring them to complete their college education.
I’ve been a Yazzie fan for a long time and I wondered: what would she say about how curiosity contributes to the work of social entrepreneurship?
“I rarely take things at face value.”
Listen to Choose to be Curious #210: ScholarCHIPS: Curiosity with Social Entrepreneur Yasmine Arrington Brooks
Just after I reached out to Yasmine for this conversation, she was nominated as a 2023 CNN Hero of the Year finalist. One of just ten nationwide. On Sunday, December 10, CNN aired its special announcing the overall winner. It wasn’t Yazzie, but that doesn’t diminish her accomplishments one bit. I am so, so proud of her for all that she has accomplished. As she says, “don’t despise small beginnings.”
Check out ScholarCHIPS: https://www.scholarchipsfund.org
Try the Curiosity Diagnosis. What sort of curious are you?
I enjoyed my conversations with both Stefaan van Hooydonk and Todd Kashdan. And if you want more on that entrepreneurial spirit, check out my shows with Erik Neighbour, Tara Palacios and Ximena Hartsock.
Now, take a look at all the great reading on curiosity in social entrepreneurship I found, including Teresa Chahine at Yale and this on mindsets and behaviors.
Theme music by Sean Balick; “Front Runner” by Union Hall, via Blue Dot Sessions.
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