Psi Alpha – Omega Man Recognized for His Commitment to Black Excellence
Brother Jeremy L. Neal, Psi Alpha Chapter, Director of Public Relations has been recognized by AT&T, his employer for the last 14 years, as a 2022 AT&T Dream in Black: Black Future Maker. This program fosters diversity in the community. During the month of February, AT&T sponsors the AT&T Dream in Black experience which celebrates those in the community who are pushing Black culture farther than ever imagined before. AT&T also celebrates their own employees who are shaping the future. These employees support and uplift their colleagues and local communities, by standing for equality and they are actively making a difference. Brother Neal was one of twenty-eight (28) employees recognized with this honor to go along with the Dream In Black celebrity class which includes: John Legend, Ne-Yo, Kirk Franklin, Ari Lennox, Erika Alexander, Eric Thomas, and more! On March 18th, the honorees were celebrated which included guest appearances by Celebrity Black Future Makers Meagan Good, J Bolin, and Tichina Arnold.
Brother Neal participated as a mentor and coach for the Howard University team participating in the AT&T HBCU Innovation Challenge which is a part of the Dream in Black experience. Team Howard developed a ‘smart trash can’ that automatically separates garbage from what can be recycled or composted. This innovative solution was among some developed by thirteen (13) teams of students from 8 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) during AT&T’s HBCU Innovation Challenge. This year, the students’ goal was to produce an innovative smart city solution that addresses a problem their communities face. Brother Neal’s goal was to demonstrate how AT&T’s connectivity can power these solutions and how his company can empower their future.
Brother Neal volunteered for this program to assist HBCU students and to assist them in their futures. Brother Neal graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a Master of Science (Technology Management) in 2020. He chose to receive his second master’s from a HBCU because it was always his dream to attend an HBCU and although he is proud of his previous academic accomplishments, he wanted the HBCU experience. Now as a HBCU graduate he had the chance to coach a team from Howard in hopes they could win the contest. He felt this program granted him the opportunity to connect with the minds of the future and that their ideas and solutions were unique, which we need for many of today’s problems. Brother Neal and a dozen other employees coached and mentored their teams’ concepts and presentations, but it was the students’ drive to innovate that stood out to the team of judges.
The winner, announced in March, was the smart trash can entry developed by the “Levels” team from Howard University coached by Brother Neal. That 4-person team consisting of Howard University students; Ikechi Anyanwu, Niles Stubbs, Lauren Guthrie, Murad Abdi will split $75,000.00. The proud coaches were Dr. Allison Bryant (Howard University), Thelma Pointer (AT&T), and Brother Neal (AT&T).
Many of us do not get the opportunity to assist the next generation and put money in their pockets and Brother Neal took the opportunity and used his personal time to assist the team of students at Howard University who will always remember the assistance of Brother Neal.
Article By: Scott L. Earle, Sr.
