Power of Children's Education: Adeola-Ashabi Lawal Shares Journey at Children's Gift Foundation

1.   Tell us your story! You are a passionate nonprofit leader, currently serving as Founder & Executive Director, The Children's Gift Foundation. What inspired your passion in giving back to the community? 

I attribute my early passion for serving the community to my parents. They taught me the importance of helping others and the power of education, which shaped the values that I have today. Their active roles in my academic career also showed me how parental and community involvement affect student outcomes. 

My personal experiences have heavily influenced my belief in social impact and my nonprofit work as the founder and executive director of The Children’s Gift Foundation (CGF). Launching The CGF deepened my understanding of the education system, but I understand the challenges that many underrepresented students face from firsthand experience. I can recall, for instance, how my parents helped me gain access to rigorous academic courses in middle school, despite the constant pushback from school administrators. Those experiences motivated me to support students from historically marginalized communities and I currently advocate for equitable practices in the education system. 

2. You are currently pursuing your Master's Degree at Harvard University School of Education. Tell us more about your program there, and what you are hoping to learn? 

I am a graduate student in the Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology program at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, where I am also an Urban Scholars Fellow. I recently completed my first semester, and it has been an exhilarating experience. I studied a wide range of topics including cognitive science, educational technologies, and evidence-based interventions. I enrolled in classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management and Harvard Business School to learn more about social entrepreneurship as well. 

Ultimately, I hope to learn how to design innovative solutions to improve learning and address disparities in the education system. I am eager to use the knowledge I gain to help underserved students. 

3. Many of our members are involved in nonprofits and/or are nonprofit leaders themselves. As we begin the New Year, what are your top 3-5 tips for women in the nonprofit world? 

1.) Surround yourself with women leaders in different industries. Sometimes the most valuable information, inspiration, and advice can come from a leader outside of the nonprofit sector. 

2.) Learn from your past mistakes, but do not harp on them. It is important to reflect on how you can improve as a nonprofit leader, but mistakes are a part of the journey. 

3.) Do not be afraid to celebrate your successes and vocalize your accomplishments. 

4. How does The Children's Gift Foundation aim to help kids coming from traditionally underserved communities? Is there a particular project you worked on that is close to your heart that you would like to share? 

The Children’s Gift Foundation has provided new educational resources, snacks, and basic necessities to underserved youth since 2017 because we believe these issues affect a student’s ability to learn. In 2019, we donated hundreds of pairs of new sneakers, boots, and sandals to students in Washington, D.C. The project is particularly close to my heart because most of our students rarely receive new and unused apparel. It was magical to watch students eagerly open new boxes of shoes. One of my favorite memories is when a nonverbal student approached our team and smiled before pointing down at the sparkly pink sneakers that she had just received. We also had the privilege of hearing how students used their new shoes to participate in extracurricular activities. Their excitement made the surprise an unforgettable experience.

5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your biggest dream for the new year? 

My biggest dream for the new year is to inspire other women to achieve their goals.