On Friday, our Executive Fellows class spent the afternoon at Operation Breakthrough, a safe haven for 670 under-privileged kids that live in our city. Seeing the place and hearing its leader, Sister Berta, is somewhat transformative for those of us who rarely experience the challenges these kids (and their parents) face.
What I also learned from our session is how much our executive MBA students and faculty have already contributed to this Kansas City organization. First, 2001 Executive Fellow alum Gary DeRigne has been an essential liaison and adjunct professor in leading student consulting projects. We some of the fruits of these projects on our visits -- e.g., a fellows team a couple of years ago created career information graphics that are still prominently displayed in the room where teens hang out.
Second, two fellows students who graduated last month took the time to come and present the projects their teams worked on this past year. And they were significant projects:
- Audrey who operates a cafe across the street from the Capitol building in Jefferson City made the 2-hour drive to talk about the political action project her team led this past year. She reported that progress had been made on a bill that impacts poor families and child care but that the job had not been completed.
- Jeff talked about how his team's project led to the creation of 4 summer internships at KCP&L this summer. That is, 4 teens affiliated with Operation Breakthrough's services now are working this summer to gain real work experience (and these are paying jobs).
- We also learned of the other projects done this past year by our fellows students.
It is a wonderful cause -- Gary, Audrey, and Jeff came entirely because of their commitment to the cause -- and I salute all our students over the years who have contributed. Sister Berta told me on Friday we should monetize these contributions. Maybe she was exaggerating that it was probably worth $250,000 . . . but whatever the cost it was worth it.
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