top of page
logo 1.png

Mentoring Kings

Mentoring Kings is a research based, hybrid (in-person & online) critical mentoring and literacy intervention geared toward male high school students of color. A distinguishing feature of Mentoring Kings is that it seeks to improve student literacy using explicit note taking instruction and is guided by the fundamental principles: unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity & faith (non-religious). Mentoring Kings’ three core components are: asynchronous online modules, after-school intensives and MK University (Saturday enrichment & academic support).                          
Dr. Kelly Downing, Founder/Program Director
Email: kellydowning@soundbusiness.org
Tel: 917-362-3739

Screen Shot 2023-05-02 at 7.39.18 PM.png

RARE CUT 

MENTORING KINGS

COLLABORATION

RARE CUT was founded as a pocket square company, but what RARE CUT stands for is so much more than that. We truly pride ourselves in being a cut above the rest by creating quality products and giving back to the community that raised us in the process. For this campaign, we've teamed up with Mentoring Kings (MK), a critical mentoring and literacy program at A Philip Randolph High School in Harlem, NYC.

A portion of profits from the “RARE” line will be donated to MK which will be used to help fund the program. RARE CUT embodies being a cut above the rest not just in our brand and products, but in our mindset – and we always look to put our local communities first.


RARE CUT’s new “ RARE - Cut From A Different Cloth” T-Shirt is designed with the highest-quality cotton and a flattering unisex cut. Tri-blend material: 50% Polyester 25% Combed Ring-Spun Cotton 25% Rayon making this the most comfortable shirt you'll own and the first shirt you'll wear out of the laundry.

2021 SBI Virtual Gala | Reimagining Public Support for Public Schools
01:14:23
Sound Business, Inc.

2021 SBI Virtual Gala | Reimagining Public Support for Public Schools

Join us as Sound Business, Inc. (SBI) hosts its annual Benefit Gala virtually, for a second year. The benefit gala will include appearances by Charles Thompson, SBI Founder and Executive Director and Kelly Downing, SBI Deputy Director. Also appearing will be (1) Shanté Skyers, Associate Director of Development, Harlem Stage, (2) Stephanie Akunvabey, Ed.D., Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Roger Williams University, and (3) Christopher Calienes, Director for Institutional Research, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The Gala will feature performances by (1) AJ Foster, Comedian (2) Am Segulah Dance Company, Sarai Kearse, Traditional West African Dance Choreographer, and (3) AThomasProject, Alrick Thomas, Choreographer. Based in A. Philip Randolph Campus High School since 1991, SBI has created a replicable model for expanding and diversifying the support networks of urban public high schools. It educates, organizes, and mobilizes the school’s community thus forming a foundation upon which real grassroots change can emanate. Reimagining the general public's role as active stakeholders is key to the success of this framework.The engagement of our community (identified as an Inclusive, Grassroots Cooperative - IGC) prevented the break-up of this legendary West Harlem public school in the early 2000s. Its existence also persuaded the NYCDOE to fund a feasibility study in response to SBI's capital improvement proposal for Randolph. This proposal incorporated the complete modernization of Randolph’s interior and designating Randolph as an Urban Education Laboratory School serving northern Manhattan secondary schools. Randolph AFC Connect, an online networking platform designed to serve the 11,000 plus Randolph alumni, will be the communities’ latest initiative aimed at supporting alumni and engaging them in the business of educating Randolph students, while preserving and building upon the Randolph legacy of empowerment. Chapters: Intro - 0:00 Photo Montage: Randolph Through the Years - 1:13 Host: Welcome - Maija Garcia - 2:24 Executive Director’s Recap of 2020-2021 - 3:04 Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey - 6:13 Host: This Years Theme - 9:14 Melanie Castro: IGC Model - 9:30 Chris Calienes - 10:46 SBI Program Overview 2021-2022 - 12:30 Segment #1: Saving APRCHS - 15:30 Anthony Walker Foster - 19:32 Michael Gumbs - 21:44 SBI Executive Director & Deputy Director: Pt. 1 - 23:57 “Gravity” by AThomasProject - 29:20 Host: The Performing Arts Experience - 34:22 Evan Johnson - 35:31 Jeremy Jaico - 38:09 Alyssa Velez ; Randolph Senior - 40:13 SBI Executive Director & Deputy Director: Pt. 2 - 40:58 Segment #2: Feasibility Study - 44:22 Melanie Castro - 46:36 Host: Investing in the Arts - 48:24 Harlem Stage: Shanté Skyers - 49:05 Spotlight Award Recipient - Dr. Barry Goldenberg & Harlem Prep - 50:42 Segment #3: Alumni & Friends Committee - 56:05 Jumirna Alcober - 58:40 Maverick Award: Charles Thompson - 1:00:35 Board of Directors - 1:03:40 Sponsors - 1:03:57 Hosts: Donate - 1:04:14 “Segulah” by Am Segulah Dance Company - 1:04:19 Host: Closing - 1:08:25 Credits - 1:08:58 Folks interested in contributing can do so on our main campaign page: https://soundbusinessinc.salsalabs.org/2021virtualgala/index.html Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBICCPI Instagram: https://instagram.com/soundbusinessinc Thanks For Watching!
2020 SBI Virtual Gala | Drawing Our Path Forward
01:16:56
Sound Business, Inc.

2020 SBI Virtual Gala | Drawing Our Path Forward

Thank you for joining this year's SBI 2020 Virtual Gala Benefit! We are happy to share with you our organization's work and mission, musical and dance performances, and to introduce to you individuals in our network of artists, sponsors, community partners, and alumni. This gala benefit is focused on raising funds to restore one full-time counselor position and part-time support positions for the 2020-21 school year at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School in New York City. Contributions of any amount are helpful and much appreciated! Folks interested in contributing can do so on our main campaign page: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/sound-business-inc/the-2020-virtual-gala-benefit We hope you enjoy the event. With appreciation, Sound Business, Inc. Chapters: Intro - 0:00 Host: Intro - 1:54 President of the Board - 5:02 Hosts: Maija Garcia - 7:35 Maija Garcia - 8:08 Inside The Castle - 8:56 Mitaynes & Oliver - Afro-Caribbean - 17:16 Alumni Gallery - 20:18 Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey Interview Segment #1 - 22:50 College Prep Slide - 26:25 Student Advancement Center Slide - 26:37 CCPI Testimonials - 26:52 Individual Contributors - 28:31 Thank You to Our Partners - 28:47 Thank You to our Alumni & Friends Committee - 29:04 Be Woke (Spoken Word) Jelanie & Melanie - 29:21 Host: Appeal - 33:30 Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey Interview Segment #2 - 34:50 BLM Memorial (Wake Up) - 39:31 SBI Founder's Award Intro - 41:27 Founder's Award Recipient: Glorine Dobbins Edwards - 41:41 Founder's Award Recipient: Cameron Toth - 42:28 DJ M'Fresh (Anderson .PAAK Intro) - 42:59 Spotlight Award Recipient - Anderson .PAAK - 43:35 Charles Thompson Interview Segment #1 - 44:28 Alumni & Friends Committee - 53:54 A. Philip Randolph Quote - 54:09 Charles Thompson Interview Segment #2 - 54:28 Alumni Appeal: Geordano Abreu - 59:50 Alumni Appeal: Caralene Robinson - 1:00:51 Charles Thompson Interview Segment #3 - 1:02:28 Hosts:Outro - 1:06:49 AThomasProject - Make a Way - 1:07:54 Ending Credits - 1:12:22 Folks interested in contributing can do so on our main campaign page: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/sound-business-inc/the-2020-virtual-gala-benefit Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBICCPI Instagram: https://instagram.com/soundbusinessinc Thanks For Watching!

"As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him."
-Mahatma Ghandi

32 Years!

Educating, Organizing, & Mobilizing

Screen Shot 2023-05-03 at 9.58.51 PM.png
MK Group Shot.jpg
bottom of page