Charles Curtis-Thomas
Co-Founder and Board Chair
Charles is the co-founder and Board Chair of PRAIS. Originally from New Jersey with a heritage of family from West Africa, Charles has spent the majority of his time working to help develop the youth and impressionable students of the future. Professionally, Charles has worked in both the political and financial space for a number of years, as well as work with minority impact organizations around New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Charles is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Political Science and Sociology, and he is currently living in New York working as a consultant. Charles has a passion for community impact, and he has experience working as a counselor, an RA, and a mentor for middle and high school students in Philadelphia. In his free time, Charles enjoys reading, playing games with friends, and striving to get closer to God.
Background
EDUCATION
B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, University of Pennsylvania
WORK EXPERIENCE
Financial Consultant
Director, Ase Academy
ACHIEVEMENTS
The Malcom X Makuu Award
University of Pennsylvania College Chair
American Legion Senator
Why did you start PRAIS?
Growing up as a Black man, I became aware of the injustices and difficulties that minorities face at a very young age. I noticed that many of these inequalities were prevalent in the education system through my own experiences in dealing with stereotypes, micro-aggressions, and people who were unaware of the issues minorities faced. Upon coming to college, I was able to become more in tune with my community and culture, and this ultimately made me want to give back to the community in a way that I thought was beneficial.
I personally believe that education is one of the most influential factors in determining the future that an individual will have. As a result, it is imperative for all students to be in an educational environment in which they feel comfortable and empowered. Through PRAIS, I have been able to give back to minority communities and help them feel comfortable and empowered in a meaningful way that sets up for success in the future.
What distinguishes PRAIS from other organizations?
Most organizations seek to accomplish one of two things when working with schools: identifying what their problems are or implementing solutions. By solely identifying the problem, many organizations do not provide tangible steps for schools to tackle the problem. Those that solely implement solutions often apply predetermined solutions to all communities, disregarding the unique climate of each school. PRAIS differentiates itself as it seeks to bridge the gap between these two goals by not only identifying problems specific to a community but using an in-depth knowledge of the problems to provide tangible steps for schools to solve these problems and help their students.
What’s a fun fact about you?
In my free time, I enjoy writing music and occasionally performing as a DJ!