A’Dorian A’Dorian Murray-Thomas
Murray-Thomas
SHE WINS EMBRACES SISTERHOOD AND SERVICE
SHE WINS EMBRACES SERVICE Dorian Murray-Thomas; theSISTERHOOD founder in Newark byAND giving out free books and reading to Newark
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By Fern Gillespie
and CEO of SHE Wins, Inc.; turned her pre-school and elementary school students. SHE Wins scholchildhood grief into grit and changed ars spoke before Newark’s City Hall to advocate for youth anthe lives of hundreds of Newark’s mid- ti-smoking policies, the impact of violence in their communiBy Fern dle and high school girls. When Mur-Gillespie ty, and how youth-based service in the community could help ray-Thomas was seven years old, her find solutions to community issues. father was murdered by gunfire after leaving his Newark Each year, SHE Wins scholars give back 500 hours in comconvenience store. The sudden loss of her loving father was munity service. Milestones reached in 2020 include SHE Wins’ Dorian Murray-Thomas; the founder in Newark by giving out free books and reading to Newark traumatizing, and her mother Dana Murray, a social worker, first graduating class, 100 percent of eligible students voting andlife CEO of SHE Wins, Inc.; for turned and elementary schoolbeing students. SHEbyWins scholwas determined to make as normal as possible her. her It inpre-school the 2020 election, and graduates accepted George became a family project to keep Murray-Thomas proactive in Washington University, Boston Kean College, childhood grief into grit and changed ars spoke before Newark’s City College, Hall to advocate for youthSt.anschool and the community. Mary’s College, and several other institutions. The SHE Wins the lives ofentered hundreds of Newark’s mid- alumni ti-smoking policies,tothepayimpact of violence their communiBy the time Murray-Thomas Swarthmore College will continue it forward as peerin mentors. in Pennsylvania, she dle was and on ahigh mission to make an impact people listen to service other young At SHE Wins, school girls. When Mur- ty,“Young and how youth-based in thepeople. community could help through social service and social justice. “I have this incred- we strongly believe that young people are not the probray-Thomas was seven years old, her find solutions to community issues. ible support system from my mother, my family, and from lem; they are the solution. They are the answer,” said Murfather was murdered by gunfire after “The leavingquestion his Newark Each year,“We SHE Wins scholars givetoback 500their hourspower, in commy community,” said Murray-Thomas. was ray-Thomas. want young women know how do I re-create this system of support? To help me see my their brilliance, and that they have the responsibility to pay it convenience store. The sudden loss of her loving father was munity service. Milestones reached in 2020 include SHE Wins’ own power and my own worth?” The school combined ac- forward and to make their world a little more just.” traumatizing, and her mother Dana a socialthe worker, first graduating class, 100 made percent of eligible students voting ademics with community service andMurray, gave students opMurray-Thomas recently history at 23 years old when portunity to apply grants, endowments youngest everbeing elected to the Board of was determined to for make life asfellowships, normal as and possible for her. It she in became the 2020the election, andwoman graduates accepted by George related to social action. Education in New Jersey’s largest school district. She has been became a family project keep Murray-Thomas proactive in recognized Washington Boston White College, Kean College,of St. In 2014, during her tosophomore year, Murray-Thomas as aUniversity, President Obama House Champion earned a $10,000 grant to launch her nonprofit SHE Wins. Change, Glamour Magazine “College Woman of the school and the community. Mary’s College, and several other institutions. TheYear,” SHEone Wins “I wanted to create a system of supports and resources for of The Root’s Young Futurists, was featured in ESSENCE magBy the time Murray-Thomas entered Swarthmore College alumni will continue to pay it forward as peer mentors. young women and girls in the city of Newark,” she explained. azine’s “Black Girl Magic” docuseries, has been featured in in started Pennsylvania, she who was on mission to make an impact “YoungCommunity people listen other people. AtCommuSHE Wins, “I to see girls lostatheir parents and siblings to The Positive andto won the young magazine’s 2016 homicide like I service did. Also, girls “I that were in Education. through social andthere socialwere justice. have thisaffected incred- nity we Choice stronglyAward believe that youngPreviously, people she are served not theat the probby other forms of trauma or wanted a safe space to be a girl.” Newark Opportunity Youth Network where she connected ibleToday, support my mother, my family, andin from lem; theyand areunder-credited the solution. They thestudents answer,”tosaid MurSHEsystem Wins from has served more than 500 girls the over-aged high are school altergreater Newark area. in 7th and grade and educational and helped Newark my community,” saidBeginning Murray-Thomas. “The8thquestion was native ray-Thomas. “We options want young womenmanage to know their Pubpower, continuing through high school, the city’s schools, organi- lic School’s restorative justice program. A’Dorian was chosen how do I re-create this system of support? To help me see my their brilliance, and that they have the responsibility to pay it zations, educators, social workers, guidance counselors, and by Mayor Ras Baraka to introduce him for his virtual 2020 own the power and Office my ownareworth?” The school combined ac- State forward andCityto address make their world a little of the in September, is amore 2016just.” graduate of even Mayor’s involved. Swarthmore College, and holds a B.A. in Political Science For two years, SHE Wins scholars have partnered with the ademics with community service and gave students the opMurray-Thomas recently made history at 23 years oldand when United Nations Girl Up Foundation to travel to the Annual Educational Studies. portunity to apply for grants, fellowships, D.C. and endowments she thesuccess youngest woman ever elected to the Board of “I became believe in stories, sisterhood, self- actualization, Girl Up Leadership Summit in Washington, to advocate service,”insaid “Givendistrict. the tools for legislation that improves the outcomes of girls worldwide. and related to social action. Education NewMurray-Thomas. Jersey’s largest school Sheand has rebeen As volunteers for Newark’s Celebrity Reading Program, SHE sources, young people will actually save themselves. Our motto In scholars 2014, during her sophomore year, Murray-Thomas as“She a President White House her Champion SHE Wins is: needed Obama a hero, so she became own.” of Wins have helped promote early-childhood literacy atrecognized
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earned a $10,000 grant to launch her nonprofit SHE Wins. Change, Glamour Magazine “College Woman of the Year,” one Fall 2020 The Positive Community 53 “I wanted to create a system of supports and resources for of The Root’s Young Futurists, was featured in ESSENCE magyoung women and girls in the city of Newark,” she explained. azine’s “Black Girl Magic” docuseries, has been featured in
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