Philo students (U.S. 12th grade +1) from the Louverture Cleary School Class of 2022 with their instructor, LCS Economics Department Head Djim G. (LCS’ 14), attend a virtual seminar presented by professionals from Bank of America Private Bank.
Just before Louverture Cleary School (LCS) celebrated its 27th graduation in June, the Philo (U.S. 12 grade + 1) class participated in a seminar on business ethics, personal finance, and professional growth presented by young professionals from Bank of America (BofA) Private Bank to help prepare them for their next steps toward university and careers in Haiti.
The BofA Private Bank team worked with The Haitian Project (THP) Programs Office to supplement the already robust business curriculum at LCS through developing and presenting the Business Ethics and Professional Development Seminar, sharing practices valued by BofA Private Bank and applicable to the reality of business and life in Haiti.
This first-of-its-kind virtual event, and the first of what is intended to become an annual event for each graduating class, was a valuable capstone to the business instruction the students had received throughout the year and an exciting evolution in the collaboration between THP and BofA Private Bank.
This event was especially meaningful for this class of students who were preparing to leave LCS after their seven years and had persevered through an exceedingly difficult year of instability in Haiti. The students knew that the principles learned in the seminar would be helpful whether they were going on to study economics, business, medicine, education, law, engineering, or any of the other fields they pursued.
Participants in the Business Ethics and Professional Development Seminar held in June 2022, clockwise from top left: Bank of America (BofA) Private Bank Wealth Analyst Tyrous “Will” Ingram IV, 2022 LCS Philo (U.S. 12th Grade + 1) Class, BofA Private Bank Wealth Analyst Katherine Paglione, BofA Private Bank Vice President Employee Programs & Advancement Consultant Thomas Taylor, THP Director of Charism & Missionary Program Amanda Haluga, and BofA Private Bank Division Performance Executive Soamoya Rankins.
The connection between THP and BofA Private Bank began over seven years ago when then-THP Board Member and BofA Private Bank Managing Director Jim Reulbach made the introduction. Today, BofA Private Bank Division Performance Executive Soamoya Rankins enthusiastically drives the relationship. In 2021, Soamoya’s desire to get her team more deeply involved with THP’s mission led to new avenues of involvement and impact as young professionals in BofA Private Bank’s Wealth Management Analyst program were paired with not one, but two departments at THP throughout the past year.
In addition to the team who collaborated on the seminar, another team worked with THP’s Office of Institutional Advancement to enhance THP’s online presence, including website and search engine optimization, as well as fundraising initiatives like the annual Rhode Island-based campaign 401Gives.
BofA Private Bank continued to go above and beyond even after the school year ended. In July, analysts in Charlotte, NC, held a backpack drive, gathering and preparing bags full of school supplies for new students at LCS. This initiative was led by BofA Private Bank Vice President and Private Client Manager Steve Boland, who also oversaw the connection with the two teams during the year.
Representatives from THP were also invited to speak to an audience of approximately 2,000 Bank of America summer interns from around the world to talk about THP’s mission, its partnership with BofA Private Bank, and opportunities for future involvement.
IN THEIR WORDS: The Team at BofA Private Bank Talks About Their Partnership with THP and LCS...
““These curious, bright, and hardworking students are future doctors, investors, computer scientists, and leaders. Being able to contribute on a small scale to their progress and learning was such a phenomenal opportunity. Learning about the economic structure of Haiti in comparison to the United States was also a unique experience.””
““Bank of America’s partnership with THP has been a blossoming relationship, enabling a deep dive in fostering business skillsets with the students and enhancing THP’s presence internally and externally from a media and consulting viewpoint. Personally, I have been excited to be a part of the team’s efforts and become well acquainted with THP’s leadership and seeing firsthand the impact on the LCS students.””
““Initially, I was motivated to get involved to take a position of leadership and help the students develop a more holistic understanding of ‘business ethics’ and what it means ‘to work in a corporate environment.’ My biggest takeaway from the experience is simply that curiosity is a theme that persists in societies all over the world.”
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““As the Executive Sponsor, our partnership with THP provides an opportunity for us to give back in a truly meaningful way that will have real-time impacts on the lives of the students that THP serves. It is a joy and an honor to help serve the students of LCS in any way that we can.””
Be on the look out for the full story in the upcoming fall edition of Haitian Project News. If you would like to begin receiving The Haitian Project's quarterly newsletter, send us an email at [email protected]!
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