Traveling the provides one with an unrivaled education. Having visited five of the seven continents, I am determined to merge my love of traveling with my ultimate goal of exchanging best practices for creating and sustaining healthy communities without causing irreversible damage to the planet (including the people who occupy those spaces).

I was recently offered the opportunity to travel abroad and learn Sustainable Community Development from grassroots community organizations. As much as I want to accept the opportunity, I will have to cover the cost of the program's expenses.

The International Service-Learning Programs provides 32 weeks of service learning abroad that will lead to Raina obtaining her Masters in International Development and Service, along with an MBA. At first glance, the program cost seems fairly high, but it covers my courses, room and board while abroad.

If I can raise the funds, I will become a member of the 2016 Spring IPSL cohort this February. The program costs around $32,000 per year and will afford me the opportunity to not merely study abroad in South Africa and Thailand, but learn through actual hands-on, grassroots development service how I can effectively create sustainable communities. 

I am looking to take the knowledge and experience I gain overseas and apply the solutions to improve the quality of life of marginalize people in the U.S. AND around the globe.

As some of you know, I was looking to attend the program this Fall but since I wasnt able to raise at least the $5700 to cover out-of-pocket expenses, I could not be able to make the commitment to enroll in the program. This is my last push to gain funding and attend the program this Spring. PLEASE help make my dream to improve our communities without harming the planet, a reality!

I am extremely excited that I was accepted into this graduate service program and even moreso elated that IPSL is EXACTLY what I need, as I look to expand my knowledge around sustainable community development. I am serious about serving under resourced communities.

This program is the perfect opportunity to do what I love (travel the globe and serve marginalized communities), earn two degrees in the process and, upon graduation, launch an organization dedicated to building sustainble communities that are aligned with nature. 

Please help fund me!!! :-)

Background

Possessing a degree in Marketing and International Business, Raina's current application of skills more accurately reflect a 20:30:50 mix of Urban Education, Small Business Development and Program Management. Raina's passion for creating healthy, sustainable global communities and both understanding and alleviating economic disparities in urban areas locally and abroad shifted her career focus from merely advertising the issues to engaging in grassroots education and solution generation.

Passion

My interest in the field of marketing and international business stemmed from her deep-seated desire to improve the conditions of members across the African diaspora by reconstructing the negative images perpetuated by the media. After working on the community level in government and corporate arenas, along with studying and travelling abroad, it became apparent that the most effective way to address these issues was through community development and reformation of the current educational system.

Raina’s passion for building strong communities through educational reform (inside and outside of the classroom) and economic development has remained the driving force behind her success.

Education

A graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Raina obtained her B.S. in Marketing and International Business. She is certified in conceptual selling, food bank nutrition, Sustainable Solutions: Biomimicry 2.8 and wholistic health and nutrition. Raina has studied abroad in Anshan and Beijing, China and self-funded her independent study/research in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Johannesburg, South Africa; Medellin, Cartagena & San Basillio Palenque, Colombia. She has returned each time sharing her experiences and dedicating many tireless hours to volunteer work and community service.  

Raina’s professional associations include the American Marketing Association, World Affairs Council - Atlanta, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity.

Specialties:

Community Development | Health & Nutrition | Project Management | Document Editing/Proofing | Social Media Marketing Strategy & Execution | Urban Education | Partnership Development | Small Business/Program Development | Sustainable Economic Development

Additional areas of interest:

Sustainable energy
Community planning/mapping
Biomimicry
Food sovereignty/Community health & nutrition
Geospatial/Geoscience information systems

Thank you in advance for your financial and emotional support!

I pray everyone can chip in toward my studies and I will continue to work to pursue scholarships, fellowships and internships to offset the cost of school as I live by the following motto:

"A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch but on her own wings.”

Without help from my community of friends and family, I wouldn't have the knowledge and support I needed to fly. Thank you for your continued support and love!