Partner Club Event (HBSAOC): Raising Black Children to Thrive in America
Please join us along with our friends at the Harvard Business School Association of Orange Country for A Conversation with Depelsha Thomas McGruder (MBA ’98) and Carol Sutton Lewis (HBS P’22 and P’23). Co-sponsored by HBSAAA and the HBS Club of New York.
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm PT
Virtual Event via Zoom (details to be sent after registration)
If you're a parent of a Black child in America, these days you're likely feeling anxious about how to best prepare them for the world. In this conversation, we'll hear from Depelsha McGruder, (HBS '98) and Carol Sutton Lewis, (HBS P'22 and P'23), two mothers who took matters into their own hands to empower parents of Black children to successfully raise and advocate for their children. They will offer advice and insights on helping children and parents navigate the educational and criminal justice systems, prepare for challenges, and maintain mental wellness.
Click here for the latest details and to register now!
Cost: $0, Members; $20, Non-Members & Guests
Contact: Karen Hernandez, K_Hernandez@cox.net
Virtual Event Access:
Details on how to join the discussion will be sent via email to all registered guests by Tuesday, March 7 at 9:00 AM. The email will contain an additional Zoom registration step that must be completed in advance of the event start time to receive the meeting access link.
Participants must register by March 6th to receive details on joining the discussion.
About the Speakers:
Depelsha Thomas McGruder, MBA ’98
Depelsha Thomas McGruder is the founder of Moms of Black Boys United, Inc. and M.O.B.B. United for Social Change, Inc. Depelsha is currently Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer at the Ford Foundation, overseeing global finance and operations for 11 offices in the US, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Prior to her role at Ford, she was Chief Operating Officer at New York Public Radio and previously spent 17 years at Viacom (MTV and BET Networks) in various executive roles. Depelsha is also a former strategy management consultant and began her career as a local TV journalist.
However, the founding of MOBB United came from a personal space. After watching the viral videos of the killings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and numerous other Black males before them, Depelsha wanted to vent. But where? How? She invited about 30 of her close friends, whom she knew also were worried about the safety of their Black sons, to join a private Facebook group. This Facebook group would be a refuge for them to speak about the unique challenges and dangers their children faced, particularly when it came to encounters with law enforcement. Within an hour or two, there were 1,000 members. By the end of the day, more than 21,000 moms from all across the country had joined the group. Within months, it grew virally to more than 170,000 moms. What started as a Facebook group has now evolved into two non-profit organizations that are working together to change policies and perceptions impacting Black boys and men.
Depelsha is a widow and has two sons, ages 14 and 11. In 2022, Depelsha was selected for The Root 100, an annual list that honors the most influential African-Americans, and in 2021, she was selected for BBC 100 Women, a list recognizing the most influential and inspiring women globally. She was a recipient of the HBSAAA Bert King Award for Service and of the HBSCNY John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award in 2021. In 2018, Depelsha was selected as a Forward Promise Fellow by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for her work in healing trauma for boys and young men of color. Depelsha serves on the boards of Oaktree Capital, GoFundMe, Howard University, HBS Club of New York, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and The Billie Holiday Theatre. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Links, Inc. and Jack & Jill of America. She earned a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University in 1994 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1998.
Carol Sutton Lewis, HBS P’22 and P’23
Trained as an attorney, Carol Sutton Lewis has spent over 25 years focusing on parenting, child development and education, with a particular interest in how Black children learn and develop. Over the years she has been engaging parents and thought leaders in conversations on parenting issues across the country. Carol now shares best practices in her Ground Control Parenting blog and her award-winning podcast, Ground Control Parenting with Carol Sutton Lewis. The name explains the mission: helping parents become skilled members of the “ground control crew” who make sure their boys and girls have what they need for successful takeoff. Her daughter graduated last May and her son will do so this May.
Carol recently expanded her podcast work. In 2022 she produced and co-hosted Season 3 of Lost Women of Science, a podcast sponsored by PRX and Scientific American. This series tells the forgotten stories of female scientists who made groundbreaking achievements in their fields. She is currently co-hosting Season 4 of this podcast series.
Carol serves on the Common Sense Media Education Advisory Board and on the board of Stanford Law School. She has previously served on the boards of the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences and her sons’ K-12 independent school in New York City.
Carol is also passionate about the arts. She is the Vice Chair of the Studio Museum in Harlem and serves on the Collections Committee of the Addison Gallery of American Art. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Law School.