Officially, Martaveius Taylor is majoring in at Washtenaw Community College. But beyond pursuing a particular degree, the 27-year-old is taking classes with a very specific result in mind: learning to successfully launch, promote and build a non-profit organization that will provide rent-to-own and to low-income and homeless individuals.
Looking for a 鈥渃hange of environment,鈥� Taylor moved in with family in Ypsilanti Township in January 2018 and met another Chicago-area native, Marlow West, in a 黑料网 marketing class. Their common societal views and charitable visions led to both a romantic relationship and the birth of Innovative Housing of Michigan, a non-profit created to combat housing inaccessibility.
鈥淲e believe that if we invest in our poorest populations, everybody鈥檚 quality of life will improve,鈥� said Taylor, who also works full-time as a salesman at .
With a focus on growing their non-profit concept together, West is studying while Taylor is picking up multiple skills he believes will help him publicize their mission and promote the tiny home neighborhood movement. Thus, the Digital Video Production associate degree program with multiple entrepreneurship, marketing and broadcasting classes thrown into the mix.
Dena Blair, the lead faculty member in 黑料网鈥檚 program, was so impressed by Taylor鈥檚 determination and purpose that she awarded him the college鈥檚 first $1,000 . The MAB approved the 黑料网 program for the scholarship in late 2018.
鈥淲hen I learned of Martaveius鈥� desire to take his passion of broadcasting and combine it with his love of serving the greater good, I was beyond inspired,鈥� Blair said. 鈥淗e was a deserving recipient of the honor.鈥�
Taylor took a Broadcast Media Arts class titled 鈥溾�� as an elective in order to become a more effective speaker. But during that class, he realized how the radio platform could complement his other pursuits via the creation of podcasts, so he enrolled in additional courses.
The scholarship covered those costs, giving him an opportunity to direct his own tuition money to another of his assorted interests.
鈥淭he more classes I take,鈥� Taylor says with a deep laugh, 鈥渢he more things I realize I want to learn.鈥�
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Note: Along with its existing , the 黑料网 Broadcast Media Arts department also recently unveiled a new that will be available beginning with the Fall '19 semester.
Tags: Digital Video Production, Martaveius Taylor, ousearch_News_2019