Cynthia Clay Briggs Receives 2009 Dorothy F.Caram Commitment to Leadership Award

Our beloved leader, Cynthia Clay Briggs, is the recipient of Project Blueprint’s 2009 Dorothy F. Caram Commitment to Leadership Award. The award recognizes an outstanding member of the multicultural community whose efforts help to increase diversity in leadership. The recipient is selected on the basis of overall contributions and achievements.*

The United Way established Project Blueprint to recruit, train and place ethnically diverse professionals on nonprofit boards and in other volunteer leadership positions. The Project Blueprint mission is to ensure that participants working in Houston’s nonprofit sector reflect the city’s richly diverse community.

Everyone involved with Houston-area students knows of Cynthia Clay Griggs and her dedicated mission to keep kids-at-risk in school. But some may not know her commitment to developing leaders within the CIS organization from the top down. Throughout her tenure as Executive Director, Ms Briggs has endeavored to hire, recruit and retain an ethnically diverse group of employees, volunteers and corporate partners. These efforts are just one of the many ways CIS- Houston has become, under her leadership, a model for non-profits in Texas and nationwide.

Not only does Ms. Briggs exemplify Project Blueprint’s mission to “be the change you want to see in the world”, she continually empowers and inspires others to do the same.

This honor is especially timely, as Ms. Briggs and CIS Houston celebrate 30 years of service this year.

Congratulations, Cynthia!



Past Recipients of the Dorothy F. Caram Commitment to Leadership Award:

Norma R. Benzon, Ph.D.
Ana Calvo
Erwin Chew (posthumous)
Roland Garcia
Alberto Gonzales
Anne F. Grizzle
Anna James
Marcello Marini
Bobby Moon
Julia Nelson
Norma Olvera, Ph.D.
Shawn Emerson Simmons, Ph.D.
Baldwin Tom
Norma Williams



Click here to see Raise Your Hands Texas' tribute to CIS Houston, featuring Cynthia Clay Briggs.



*Quoted from http://www.unitedwayhouston.org/leadership/pblueprint.html

It was A Night to Remember!!

CIS Students choose their prom dresses at A Night to Remember

In observance of Financial Literacy Month, The Peoples Trust Federal Credit Union held its 5th annual A Night to Remember program on April 4th. Over 200 CIS students were in attendance. Marcus Davis, community activist and successful Houston restaurateur, spoke to the students about the importance of financial literacy. In his inspired talk, Mr. Davis encouraged students to prioritize saving their earnings, value their education and to persevere. In addition to lessons about fiscally responsibility, the participants received a special bonus--- prom dresses and tuxedo gift cards just in time for prom season.

Thanks to Ventura’s Bridal, each girl was able to choose a dress from over 300 choices. “As far as I could see” said Maleah Similton, CIS’s Program Coordinator in attendance, “everyone was happy with her dress choice.” A Night to Remember was yet another memorable experience afforded our students through the generosity of CIS’s dedicated partners. A special thanks to event sponsor, The People’s Trust Federal Credit Union; and Ventura’s Bridal.

Lemonade Day is Almost Here!!!

Attention all young and future entrepreneurs!

Lemonade Day is coming May 3rd, 2009!!

On Sunday, May 3rd, CIS will join an impressive group of companies, organizations an d parents to teach kids how to be entrepreneurs and leaders in the fun and refreshing way—LEMONADE DAY!!! All over Houston, and in other cities across the country, kids who register will sell lemonade to their communities at stands that they themselves set up.
Prepared 4 Life, the event sponsor, will provide everything the students need to set-up and start their businesses. Each participant will receive a workbook that teaches them how to budget, secure investors, choose a location, make the lemonade and the advertising signs—as well as , life-long lessons about customer service, starting a saving account and giving back to the community.

Prepared 4 Life’s goal is to impact the next generation of business leaders by reaching one million kids in the next five years and launching Lemonade Day worldwide. By all accounts, Prepared 4 Life is well on its way to reaching that goal. Already the effort has grown from 2,600 stands in 2007 to 11,200 in 2008. This year Prepared 4 Life expects participation to more than double with an estimated 25,000 stands and as many as 75,000 participants.

All of this enthusiasm and growth is largely a result of a long list of event co-sponsors and community partners. If you want to become involved, to go the Lemonade Day Website or inquire with the following sponsors and community partners.



Lemonade Day Count Down Activities—

The following activities happen in the weeks leading up to the Big May 3rd Date—Join in on the FUN:

April 17, 18, and 19, 2009: Houston Astros Lemonade Day- Meet Jeff Bagwell. Find out more—Click here!

Saturday, April 18, 2009: Boy Scouts Fair- Register for May 3rd at the fair. For more info, Click here!

Saturday, April 25, 2009: Best Tasting Lemonade Contest at the Houston Children's Museum- 50 lucky kids will be chosen randomly to set up stands and compete for the Houston Chronicle’s “Best Lemonade” title. A good reason to visit the newly expanded museum!
For more info, Click here!