Who are you and what are your practitioner sites?
My name is Nana Younge, an alumna of Worcester Public Schools, an educator, entrepreneur, youth development leader, and community engagement practitioner. My work explores how the intersections of race, age, gender, and socioeconomic status shape entrepreneurial journeys. I am the Founder and Executive Director of Get Girls Going, a nonprofit that empowers Black and Brown teen girls to launch social enterprises that tackle real-world problems while preparing them to be leaders who challenge racial and gender inequities. I also serve as Program Director at Innovate@BU, Boston University’s IDG Capital Student Innovation Center, where I guide students in developing entrepreneurial mindsets and innovation skills to launch ventures. In addition, I am an Adjunct Faculty member at Boston University’s Metropolitan College, where I teach and mentor future leaders in the creative sector.
What inspired you to join the Doctoral Program in Transformative Education?
As a Ghanaian American, I am deeply inspired by the wisdom of my heritage. One symbol from the Akan people of Ghana, where I am from, depicts a bird with its feet facing forward while its head reaches back to retrieve an egg. The symbol means “go back and get it,” which is a reminder that the past must guide the future. My community has long used ancestral stories and lived experiences as education, teaching generations how to navigate challenges and sustain culture. This shaped my belief that out-of-school learning is as vital as classroom learning, and that together they can transform individuals and communities. My commitment to education as a field of study and practice stems from my recognition that education and problem-solving are inseparable. If problem-solving drives change, education must cultivate the capacity to solve problems. This conviction guides the ways I seek to contribute meaningfully to the field of education. My educational journey, the legacy of Black women who have influenced my work, and the young people I work with have all inspired me to pursue the Doctoral Program in Transformative Education.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I hope this program will equip me with the tools and networks to explore critical questions about education systems. This program will further expand my capacity to contribute to the field by envisioning and cultivating radical possibilities for what education can become. I aspire to build on my current work by continuing to create spaces where Black and Brown girls are empowered to learn, teach, lead, and transform their communities.