Angeles Echols-Brown

In the deep South where Angeles Echols was raised, African Americans were taught to value education and pass it on with reverence. Angeles Echols continues to honor this tradition. For more than 34 years, this native of Tennessee and Mississippi, and a graduate of Cornell University, has dedicated her life to teaching, tutoring, mentoring, guiding and empowering others. What began with two students in a one-room apartment, evolved into The Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Student’s Bill of Rights, of Educating Young Minds (EYM). Angeles Echols created a comprehensive, non-profit, learning center that has been at the forefront of providing an unprecedented standard of academic excellence for thousands of students: teaching, tutoring, mentoring, and providing resources for students and families who have a need or desire to excel. Its mission is to holistically change the academic, emotional, social and professional trajectories of today’s low-income, at-risk, underserved and/or special needs students who attend school districts, charter schools and homeschool/ independent study programs in low-income, underserved neighborhoods. EYM’s culture, methodology, and multi-faceted programs teach students to be responsible for their own learning and achievements and hold parents/guardians and teachers accountable. With nurtured, community support, EYM has blossomed into a multi-faceted and diverse organization that is supported by the generous support of individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Ms. Echols and her development staff, have received grants that ranged from $1 to $1 million dollars.

The truest testament to Mrs. Echols’ work is the young men and women that graduate from EYM, succeed at college, and then return to their communities as role models and as leaders. Today, Educating Young Minds has a 100% high school graduation rate. 82% of its students have graduated from four-year colleges and/or universities, 12% have graduated from community colleges and 32% have graduate degrees and/or Ph.Ds. EYM students are now graduates of, or are attending Stanford, NYU, Cornell, UC Berkeley, Morehouse, Dillard, Tuskegee, USC, UCLA, University of Hawaii, Spelman, Drexel, Columbia, NYU, and Stanford, Howard University, UC Irvine, CSU Long Beach and many other exceptional institutions.

Educating Young Minds CEO/Founder, Angeles Echols’ numerous awards, accolades and accomplishments include author of interactive bio- Ray Charles, The Man. The Music, The Legacy (commissioned by the Ray Charles Foundation), AP Developer- 25 Easy Steps to English, Phonetically Speaking and Author/and Developer of on-line interactive curriculum (Pre-K-3rd grade, math – English- Science) and resources- Access/No Excuse (ANE) and the following:

• Union Banks CNN Heroes Award
• KCET/PBS Local Heroes Award
• KTLA’s Unsung Heroes Award
• Member - President’s Council of Cornell Women, History Maker Award, Member - President’s Council of Cornell Women
• City of Los Angeles Commendation
• City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation
• United States Senate Certificate of Recognition

Sub-specialities:
At-risk Youth
E-learning