CHASE Your Dreams: Bushwick Leaders’ High School for Academic Excellence
April 14, 2010
Photography Courtesy GM

On April 14, 2010, Johnnie Williams III, youth activist, motivational speaker and founder of Change The World Movement, and Jerome Williams, former New York Knicks star and founder of the JYD Project, visited students at Bushwick Leader’s High School for Academic Excellence for their 3rd annual Chase Your Dream workshop. Fun, easy-to-understand, financial literacy exercises engaged and motivated students to chase their dreams. Chase Your Dreams is funded by a generous grant from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation.

Johnnie Williams III and Jerome Williams are clearly dedicated and passionate about their work with young people, inspiring our students to improve not only their financial literacy, but their academic standing as well. As Johnnie Williams says, “schools and their students can expect an upbeat, enlightening workshop that helps connect the dots.” Students will hear that undeveloped talent won’t pay their bills and developed talent, without a strong resume, will go undiscovered. Students will also be taught banking skills that will help them manage the money they make from employment. The program also introduces students to basic investing and credit education. All this content is packaged in a fun-filled three-hour workshop.

Bushwick Leaders is committed to preparing students to meet the technological advances and demands of our 21st century economy. Here, too, Chase Your Dreams provides valuable opportunities for young people to chase their dreams online. “The Chase Your Dream workshop,” Johnnie Williams explains, “was designed to assist students in connecting the dots between their dreams, their education and critical life skills. This unique workshop could one day be offered as an e-course
and national lecture series that provides local and regional lectures serving Chase bank clients and their children. An e-Course development in both English and Spanish would quickly and efficiently expand the program to serve
thousands of high school students.”

Catherine Reilly, founder and principal of Bushwick Leaders’ High School for Academic Excellence, envisions well-rounded graduates prepared for the real world. “Considering our tough economic times,” Ms. Reilly says, ”Chase Your Dreams empowers our young people in the areas of personal finance. The Williams brothers have excellent rapport with our kids and they keep them engaged and motivated. Our students look forward to seeing the Williams brothers every year.“