October 20, 2010
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| Young & Successful 2010 Wednesday, October 20, 2010 6 -8 PM Best Hall (Main Lounge) Ypsilanti, MI 48197 |
| SPEAKERS: |
Rhea Cooper (’05 & '07) is the supervisor for the Youth Assistance Program at Ennis Center for
Children in Detroit, MI. She graduated from Cass Technical High School in 2000 and received
her B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation (2005) and her Master of Social Work (2007) degrees from
Eastern Michigan University. She has spent the majority of her post-college career working with
underserved populations, including individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, as
well as with the homeless and disadvantaged youth in and around the metropolitan Detroit
area.
Children in Detroit, MI. She graduated from Cass Technical High School in 2000 and received
her B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation (2005) and her Master of Social Work (2007) degrees from
Eastern Michigan University. She has spent the majority of her post-college career working with
underserved populations, including individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, as
well as with the homeless and disadvantaged youth in and around the metropolitan Detroit
area.
| The Young and Successful program series was implemented to provide a platform for students to network with EMUBA members and other EMU Alumni. EMUBA’s mission is to not only assist students financially through our annual scholarship program, but to provide mentorship and foster a sense of civic and community pride. EMU Alumni, interested in being involved with this program, are encouraged to attend. |
Monica Marie Jones ('01) is an author whose published works include The Ups and Downs
of Being Round (Fiction/Self-Help), Taste My Soul (Poetry) FLOSS (Fiction) and Swag (Urban
Fiction). She is a contributing author in Chicken Soup for the Girls Soul, New Directions for
Youth Development, and 44th (A full color coffee table book about President Barack Obama
that is a compilation of front page reprints of actual African-American published newspapers
materials for the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. She has worked as a
columnist and freelance writer for various publications and websites including the Michigan
Front Page Newspaper and is an active member of the Motown Writer's Network where she is
the host of her own show, “Marketing and Motivation Mondays with Monica Marie Jones” on the
Michigan Literary Network Radio.
Monica received her Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certificate in Elementary Education from
Eastern Michigan University. She also received her Masters of Social Work from the University
of Michigan.
Monica is a youth development expert that does training and consultation for the Center for
Youth Program Quality (a joint venture of the Forum for Youth Investment and The High/Scope
Educational Research Foundation.) She is a professionally trained dancer and dance
instructor that has danced with Gospel recording artists such as Dorinda Clark-Cole, in
several venues around the United States, and a three-city tour in Japan with Kierra 'Ki-Ki'
Sheard.
Monica uses her gifts, talents and expertise to inform her work as a motivational speaker with
a focus on topics including by not limited to self-esteem, empowering women and girls,
fitness and wellness, and youth development.
Monica’s essay, “Don’t Wait for the Weight” and her poem, “Fat Girl” will be published in The
Souls of Our Young Sisters: The Next Generation of Women Tell Their Stories, Overcome Their
Challenges, and Heal Their Spirits (Souls of My Sisters Inc./Kensington Publishing Corp.)
anthology in March 2010.
of Being Round (Fiction/Self-Help), Taste My Soul (Poetry) FLOSS (Fiction) and Swag (Urban
Fiction). She is a contributing author in Chicken Soup for the Girls Soul, New Directions for
Youth Development, and 44th (A full color coffee table book about President Barack Obama
that is a compilation of front page reprints of actual African-American published newspapers
materials for the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. She has worked as a
columnist and freelance writer for various publications and websites including the Michigan
Front Page Newspaper and is an active member of the Motown Writer's Network where she is
the host of her own show, “Marketing and Motivation Mondays with Monica Marie Jones” on the
Michigan Literary Network Radio.
Monica received her Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certificate in Elementary Education from
Eastern Michigan University. She also received her Masters of Social Work from the University
of Michigan.
Monica is a youth development expert that does training and consultation for the Center for
Youth Program Quality (a joint venture of the Forum for Youth Investment and The High/Scope
Educational Research Foundation.) She is a professionally trained dancer and dance
instructor that has danced with Gospel recording artists such as Dorinda Clark-Cole, in
several venues around the United States, and a three-city tour in Japan with Kierra 'Ki-Ki'
Sheard.
Monica uses her gifts, talents and expertise to inform her work as a motivational speaker with
a focus on topics including by not limited to self-esteem, empowering women and girls,
fitness and wellness, and youth development.
Monica’s essay, “Don’t Wait for the Weight” and her poem, “Fat Girl” will be published in The
Souls of Our Young Sisters: The Next Generation of Women Tell Their Stories, Overcome Their
Challenges, and Heal Their Spirits (Souls of My Sisters Inc./Kensington Publishing Corp.)
anthology in March 2010.
Noel Abdur-Rahim ('05) recently relocated to Southfield, Michigan with her husband
Muhammad Abdur-Rahim. Noel is a graduate of Cass Technical High School where she
developed a foundation for Accounting and Business. She then entered Michigan State
University where, in 2004 she earned a Bachelors in Accounting from the Eli Broad College of
Business. As new legislation surrounding CPA licensing requirements developed, Noel was
encouraged to obtain a Masters in Accounting. She completed Graduate School in 2005 with a
Masters in Accountancy from Eastern Michigan University.
Although school has always been essential to learning, her most relevant experience came
from several internships with ADP Incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, and
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Detroit, Michigan. Her latter internship eventually led to a full
time position with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Detroit where she is currently employed as a
Senior Associate in the Assurance practice. Noel is dedicated to serving the community in
which she was raised and educated. She is currently serving as the President of the Detroit
Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, a participant in the YMCA Minority
Achievers Program, a participant in the AICPA's inaugural 2009 Leadership Academy, a
mentor to youth in the Metro Detroit area, and serves on the E-Board of several community
based organizations. Noel believes, "You're only as great as the legacy you leave behind", and
she strives daily to leave a long lasting legacy.
Muhammad Abdur-Rahim. Noel is a graduate of Cass Technical High School where she
developed a foundation for Accounting and Business. She then entered Michigan State
University where, in 2004 she earned a Bachelors in Accounting from the Eli Broad College of
Business. As new legislation surrounding CPA licensing requirements developed, Noel was
encouraged to obtain a Masters in Accounting. She completed Graduate School in 2005 with a
Masters in Accountancy from Eastern Michigan University.
Although school has always been essential to learning, her most relevant experience came
from several internships with ADP Incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, and
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Detroit, Michigan. Her latter internship eventually led to a full
time position with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Detroit where she is currently employed as a
Senior Associate in the Assurance practice. Noel is dedicated to serving the community in
which she was raised and educated. She is currently serving as the President of the Detroit
Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, a participant in the YMCA Minority
Achievers Program, a participant in the AICPA's inaugural 2009 Leadership Academy, a
mentor to youth in the Metro Detroit area, and serves on the E-Board of several community
based organizations. Noel believes, "You're only as great as the legacy you leave behind", and
she strives daily to leave a long lasting legacy.
