Meet the Innovator: Tonee Lawson of The Be. Org
Tonee and The Be. Org are part of the Social Innovation Lab’s 2018–19 Cohort. To learn more about SIL and the cohort, click here. To see her at our Impact+Innovation Forum on April 30, register here!
SIL: Tell us about your Be. Virtual project. What are you trying to do during your time with SIL?
TL: Be. Virtual is a youth-built virtual reality (VR) technology for social-emotional learning (SEL). This virtual curriculum engages youth in the coding and development and the resulting product is used to make social emotional learning more easily integrated in the school day.
SIL: Why did you decide to start this? Where did the idea come from?
TL: The idea started as a video game platform and evolved into VR. At The Be. Org, we use unconventional methods to engage youth in social emotional development and the VR platform continues this tradition. VR development is more cost efficient than video game development, and those who use experiential learning platforms experience an 80% retention rate.
SIL: What would you consider success for your project and how would the world be different if your project is successful?
TL: Success for the project means The Be. Org easily integrates SEL in all classrooms. This includes building several curriculum modules for use in schools and with youth groups. In the long term, youth would be more prepared for the workforce by being able to learn vital skills in teamwork, communication, and self-awareness.
SIL: What have you accomplished so far?
TL: Currently, the prototype is being developed by a group of youth with our partnering nonprofit, Code in the Schools. This first product iteration will focus on content including responsible decision making and social awareness.
SIL: What are you getting out of your time with SIL?
TL: I have thoroughly enjoyed the social design and customer discovery processes. As the program concludes, I am looking forward to connecting with a larger network of individuals that may be interested in financially supporting the project or joining the team.
SIL: Tell us about yourself. What got you interested in this issue? Any experience which informs your work now?
TL: I’ve been working with youth for over 10 years and noticed gaps in their communication, resilience, and self-awareness skills. I once heard from a middle school student who wanted to be an actress and gave up on her dreams. She said “nobody in Baltimore ever makes it.” The youth in this city are very talented and need some additional support to provide the social emotional skills to build the foundation to pursue and achieve their dreams. I enjoy taking standard teaching methods and content and making them more engaging through using traditional games and new technology. I’m a kinesthetic and visual learner; I learn by doing and visual integration. I am able to connect with youth to create engaging content that yield a greater rate of retention.
SIL: What’s your favorite place or thing to do in Baltimore?
TL: My favorite place to go is R. House. It’s perfect for meetings, lunch, getting work done, and having a cocktail. I also enjoy festivals, baseball games, concerts, hidden shops and boutiques, and spending time outside with a nice harbor view.
SIL: What advice do you have for would-be social entrepreneurs thinking about starting a venture?
TL: When starting any new venture, my suggestion is to always lead with passion. It’s important to be profitable in any business, but be driven by your passion. Being an entrepreneur is not a glorious task. It requires long nights, lots of sacrifices, and does not immediately turn a large profit. When these challenges inevitably occur, you have to remember the passion you had for creating impact to push you through.
SIL: How can we get involved?
TL: Join us at our Beyond a Dream Youth Conference! As we continue to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the The Be. Org, we are excited to bring back our signature event, the 2019 Beyond a Dream Youth Conference (BADYC). This year’s conference will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019, on the lovely campus of Goucher College in Towson, MD. We will attract students in grades 6–12 and their parents from the Central MD region. BADYC gives students an opportunity to learn from industry-experts, explore various careers, and prepare for college. This year, we will focus on careers in: Health Professions; Finance & Entrepreneurship; STEM; Digital Arts, Communication, and Marketing; and additional sessions for Parents and Professional Development. Registration for this educational day of fun is available at https://badyc19.splashthat.com/.
The Be. Org is on Instagram, Facebook, and online at https://www.thebeorg.com/. Learn more from Tonee at SIL’s annual Impact+Innovation Forum on April 30th! Details available at this link.
