Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Brilliant Lecture Series

The expression, "it takes a village to raise a child,"
is never truer than when talking about young adults from Houston's
traditionally underrepresented neighborhoods. Creative programs to educate and
encourage their individual strengths, interests, fears, and dreams are
certainly needed now more than ever.

Your $25 tax deductible gift will underwrite one grateful student
for our 2012 programs.

Click Here To Sponsor a Student Gift

Dr. Maya Angelou Event

Dr. Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman.

HOUSTON, TX (April 11, 2011) The Brilliant Lecture Series announced today that Dr. Maya Angelou will be the next speaker to be held Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:00pm at historic St. Paul's United Methodist Church [5501 Main Street]. A mesmerizing vision of grace, swaying and stirring when she moves; Dr. Angelou captivates her audiences lyrically with vigor, fire and perception.

In the eyes of young people a celebrity is someone who lives a glamorous life of fun and fortune, not someone who's had to struggle for their success. Through the lecture series, speakers share their story of how they achieved their level of extraordinary achievement and in turn inspire and motivate our audiences - anything is possible.

Our Youth Leadership programs include BRiLL KiDS Talks that are smaller events, specifically designed to encourage young people to view their own lives with fresh eyes, and to offer opportunities for growth and development through hearing how prominent people in the community have accomplished their own goals. The environments for this series are more intimate and allow greater opportunities for the students for dialogue with the speakers.

The International Youth Leadership programming comprises exchange visits for middle and high school age students so they may take the opportunity of getting to know people whose cultural backgrounds are different from theirs: wider knowledge will help promote future peace and understanding.

"She has the unique ability to shatter the opaque prisms of race and class with her unique perspective and that powerful voice," says Scott Brogan, Founding Director of the nonprofit organization.

For tickets [$100 individual tickets], VIP opportunities, Sponsorships visit brilliantlectures.org or call 713-974-1335.

Plane ride to Amman

I had the priviledge of meeting the "BRILL" students on the plane from JFK to Amman, Jordan. What a wonderful, intelligent, and well-mannered group of young people! I am traveling in Jordan and Qatar this week and feel truly fortunate to have met this group of talented students. Their parents and families should be very proud. I hope you guys are having a wonderful time in Jordan and accomplishing all of the fantastic things that Ms. Freeman and Mr. Brogan had on your itinerary. You guys are totally "brill!!!" - Susan Markham

Thanks Margaret for the update!

Margaret , thank you so much for sharing the text messages from Brittany. We have also been waiting for the kids to blog. We are excited as well and can't wait to hear from them.

BLS TEAM

Margaret said...

My daughter is one of the ten lucky BRIL Kids in Jordan. I keep waiting for them to post here but have resigned to the fact that they are both too busy and having way too much fun to include us right now! I thought I'd share some text messages I've received from Brittany on my cell with you:

Received: 4/22/07 2:13pm
Hey!! We're at a dance party right now with the girls in the room and then we're gonna (sic) go play cards and stuff!

Received: 4/22/07 8:23pm
Hey mom! It's 4 in the morning here. I can't sleep and I'm listening to a prayer. It's soo (sic) tight! It plays all around the city at sunrise. I love you.

Received: 4/23/07 11:04pm
Sorry I didn't get to email you. I fell asleep. We're staying on campus today. I'll email you. There are computers everywhere.

Received: 4/24/07 12:29pm
Hey! We're having a bar-b-que and about to go to a party. I'm really sorry I haven't emailed - we were having so much fun in classes today I never got around to using a computer.

**********
These brief texts have told me that a) they've had no trouble bonding b) they've adjusted to the time change and c) they're keeping busy.

Finally, as you can see, she actually said "we were having so much fun in classes today"! With that information I really don't need an email!

April 25, 2007 8:40 AM

Everything has been truly spectacular - the students and the 2 teachers are attending classes, leadership programs, and other activities as well as living with the students in their dorms. I just returned (now 10:30pm here) from a dinner/BBQ they had for the Brilliant Students (as they are referred to) and it was hard to not let the emotions take over. They truly are all having an event of a lifetime and the best part is....they each know it. Tonight the Jordanian students shared a game where all the students were in a circle. One student begins with a large ball of yarn tied to his hand and he tosses the yarn to another person in the circle and says
something special about the person i.e. Hassan, thank you for coming
this far to be here - you are a new friend for life.... This continued for 30 minutes as the yarn criss-crossed the entire group connecting them all; creating a very unique symbol of why I began this. It was one of the most moving things I have ever seen.



Monday they had a fascinating tour of Parliament, meeting with a Director, the Secretary-General of the house and a private tour of the senate. Truly amazing experience for them.

I also met with the director of the Jubilee School and she is over the moon about us and an ongoing exchange - this was all really meant to happen. Again, the higher power (whatever his/her name is) is working with the Brilliant team even here.

Scott