Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Porter.
Hi Christina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a Black woman raised in the South, my passion for social justice and advocacy was shaped by my personal experiences. Moving from the urban community of Kashmere Gardens to what was considered suburban Alief in the late 80’s, there weren’t many people of color in our neighborhood. Because I was often one of very few students of color in honors classes, I encountered systemic racism and implicit bias in education early on in my educational journey. I used my AP English summer reading assignments to discover my cultural identity through the writings of Black authors. During the first few years of my career as a teacher in two different Title I schools, I gained valuable insight into teaching at-risk youth of color. Towards the end of my time in the classroom, I stumbled across the opportunity to sponsor a group of Black male students interested in forming a dance group to entertain their peers during pep rallies and other school functions. Hours of practice after school, coupled with moments of sharing motherly advice, laid the foundation for what would eventually become my true calling of working with young men of color. Upon obtaining my master’s degree in counseling, I joined a more affluent educational community as a school counselor in a school district in northwest Houston. While gaining a vast amount of knowledge of the educational system outside of the classroom, my experiences as a school leader brought back memories of my time growing up in the suburbs. The same perceptions of racism and bias that I encountered as a student, I was now able to see first-hand as an adult who can foster organizational change. That change came from pursuing my doctoral studies at Baylor University, a tier-one research institution.
I have over 18 years of experience as an educator and mentor of a diverse group of students throughout the greater Houston area. Not only am I the lead counselor of my middle school campus in Cy-Fair ISD, but I am also a licensed professional counselor associate. An active member of many local Houston community organizations, I have spearheaded many community education-related programs, including serving as chair of my sorority’s signature education program. From 2014-2018, the program motivated, engaged, and assisted almost 200 male and female high school students of color in reaching their maximum potential by providing academic enrichment and life skills training to support their journey to college or vocational employment. During my time as chairman, my chapter’s program was recognized with numerous awards both at the regional and international levels of the sorority. Even then, I recognized the vital necessity of the importance of positive role models and building trusting relationships with young men and women of color. I was committed to providing the students in the program with the opportunity to learn from those in a variety of fields and interests, one of those professionals being three-time award-winning anchor/reporter Chauncy Glover from KTRK-ABC13 when she heard of similar work he was doing with his own non-profit mentoring program he’d established for inner-city teenage boys, The Chauncy Glover Project (CGP). As a result of our meeting, Chauncy sought my help to bring his nationally recognized program to Houston. Within the first few months, my involvement with the program evolved into being the sole manager of the day-to-day operations of the organization. As Executive Director of The Chauncy Glover Project, I lead an executive and volunteer mentor team of 25 males. In this volunteer role, I establish & maintain community partnerships, prepare grant and fundraising proposals, maintain the program budget and donations, plan the program curriculum, train staff, and communicate with community stakeholders, parents, program participants, and staff to ensure all program expectations and individual needs are met. As a result of my leadership, CGP has helped to send over 150 young men to college with scholarships since coming to Houston in 2016.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Near the end of the first year of my doctoral program, I was given the news that I was pregnant with a child with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect. Like most mothers of children with Down Syndrome, I was pressured by medical professionals to terminate my pregnancy. I did what any future researcher would do: I studied and learned about Down Syndrome for myself. Ultimately, I decided there was no other choice but to meet this little person who I had already grown to love, regardless of what struggles may arise. Months later, the onset of premature labor at 31 weeks earned me an indefinite stay in the hospital on immediate bed rest to avoid giving birth too soon. While in the hospital, it was suspected there was a problem with the baby’s ability to breathe, which could result in major complications for both me and my baby girl. Aside from an abrupt ambulance ride to the medical center to receive the best care, my faith and perseverance prevailed. A week later, I gave birth to a healthy and determined baby girl. Together, we spent five weeks in the NICU at Texas Children’s Hospital. In between feeds and diaper changes, I continued my doctoral studies, attending classes virtually at the hospital and writing the first drafts of my dissertation research on the mentoring program for which I volunteered most of my spare time. With the pressures of having a newborn, conducting doctoral research during the onset of a global pandemic, and not to mention my responsibilities within The Chauncy Glover Project, I still managed to maintain a 3.8 GPA and graduate from Baylor with my doctorate degree in education as scheduled, and with honors.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work with The Chauncy Glover Project (CGP) inspired my dissertation research, focusing on the influence of culturally specific programs like CGP that target young men of color who have the potential but lack the guidance and support to achieve success after high school. My graduate professors deemed my manuscript as an “exemplary study” that has been shared with doctoral students through the Baylor Library as a prime example for others to follow as they complete their own studies. My research has also garnered the attention of educational conferences across the U.S. and Mexico, where I have shared my work in break-out sessions, round table discussions, and panel presentations. Most recently, my research has been presented at sessions during the widely acclaimed American Education Research Association (AERA) at their annual meeting, the Texas Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) Conference, the International Conference on Urban Education Biennial Meeting, and at the Lone Star State School Counselor Association Conference this fall.
I have been featured as a guest panelist for many organizations and have received many awards, including being the youngest of ten recipients of the inaugural Mayor’s History Makers Awards in 2018. In addition to my volunteer work with CGP, I serve on the Houston Millennial Advisory Board for Mayor Sylvester Turner, serve on the board of directors of Julia F. Thompson, Inc., the charitable arm of the Mu Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, as well as the Down Syndrome Association of Houston. Through my education and influence, I am committed to fighting for my daughter, Kynnedi, my students, mentees, and those who often go silenced because of the societal barriers placed upon them. It is my personal philosophy that all students can succeed, no matter the diagnosis or circumstance.
With the creation of my own educational consulting firm, Kismet Learning Solutions, I am determined to use my experience as an educator, mentor, and mental health professional to help organizations and other educators understand how culture and race impact the academic and social experiences of students of color. In choosing the name “Kismet,” not only did I want to honor my daughter, but I also wanted to honor the struggle for change because it is inevitable. As an educational consultant focused on culture and race in education, I recognize the significant level of concern regarding the underachievement of Black and Latino males when compared to their peers, and I am committed to social justice and challenging the roles of power, privilege, and oppression that have led to this achievement gap. CGP works to speak directly to the needs of Black and Latino male youth by fostering meaningful relationships through mentoring that creates a safe space to address the impact of culture on the academic experiences of Black and Latino male youth through empowerment. As a leader of this program, I have been able to use my knowledge and experiences to help improve the negative outcomes of young men of color through mentoring by generating a wealth of knowledge that is practical and readily available to parents, educational leaders, and the community.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I could give any advice to those who are just starting, it would be to keep going. Not every proposal will be accepted, and not everyone will believe in your message. But for those who say “no,” someone will say “yes.” Keep believing and keep fighting.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @its_dr_chrissypooh
Image Credits
Jelani Photography
Comcast Houston Imagery Studio
