May 3, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chimi Boyd-Keyes, chimi@chimi.biz
Or Amy Eller, amy@amyeller.com

CBK Enterprises/Legacy-NC Selected to Lead Five-Year Leadership Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

In collaboration with the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics and the College of Engineering at NC A&T State University, Chimi Boyd-Keyes, founder and CEO of CBK Enterprises and parent company, Legacy-NC, will lead a 5-year program called Exceptionalism in Education Initiative (E2I), an inclusive and culturally responsive program committed to the academic and professional development of students in both colleges.

Mrs. Boyd-Keyes, and her team comprised of Lead Evaluator Melissa Siegle Barrios, and Marketing & Technology Specialist Amy Eller, will create and deliver content for eligible students using evidence-based, culturally responsive methods to enhance academic and career success for up to 1200 eligible students over the five-year period which began in January of 2023 with a pilot semester. Priority is given to students at risk for academically underperforming, with a goal of seeing GPAs increase to 3.00 and higher throughout the duration of the program. With a rigorous evaluation and reporting process in place, E2i will benefit from real-time data and analytics to assess the development of the program in an iterative fashion, adjusting and revising as needed to meet the actual needs of the participants.

E2I students will attend regular programming presented by NC A&T Alumni and other highly qualified professionals committed to helping them gain the skills needed to graduate and enter the workforce successfully. They will also receive personalized one-on-one mentoring by professionals with significant industry-specific experience and evidence of impact. Additionally, students are encouraged to and taught how to network amongst their peers to form supportive communities within their colleges to help lift each other up.

Chimi Boyd-Keyes is uniquely qualified to lead E2I. As a successful entrepreneur and much sought-after consultant, speaker, trainer, and grant writer, she is passionate about creating programs and initiatives that develop leaders and promote an equitable, inclusive environment. Her mission is to help people realize their highest potential by connecting to their Purpose. As a seasoned Higher Education professional for 18 years, Chimi has worked extensively on women, gender, and racial equity issues, and topics relating to other marginalized populations.

“Collaborating with NC A&T State University to develop and launch E2I is a true honor. My team and I are proud of the foundation we have built in this pilot phase to ensure that the program will flourish in the years to come.” Chimi Boyd-Keyes

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