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Posts published in “OppySpotlight”

OppySpotlight: Roy Paul & Cents Ability

The Oppy’s Spotlight Series exposes Sternies to writers, artists, and causes outside of our typical professional networks. This month’s article highlights Roy Paul, Executive Director of Cents Ability, a financial literacy organization.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Roy and I sat down (virtually) in April and had a wide-ranging conversation about financial literacy: why it’s not taught in schools, what common misconceptions it has, and how Cents Ability is helping. Roy’s enthusiasm was palpable in his colorful storytelling. The Jackson Five house in Gary, Indiana makes an appearance. So sit down and learn more about this fascinating topic; at the end, we tell you how to get involved.…

OppyArts Spotlight: Donnie Aki

Welcome to another installment of OppyArts Spotlight, where the Oppy highlights exceptional artists navigating the Corona environment, showcases their creative process, and searches for ways for MBA students to get involved in their local arts communities. This month’s feature is LA-based musician Donnie Aki.

Donnie started his career in early 2020 and had to quickly shift and adapt to a pandemic paradigm. Since his debut, he’s put out multiple singles and been featured in a number of collaborations with other LA-based artists. His recent release, “Rich Lovin,” already recorded over 300k streams on Spotify alone and led to his first music video, which I must say, is just a delight.…

OppySpotlight: Orcé Cosmetics

The Oppy’s Spotlight Series exposes Sternies to writers, artists, causes and entrepreneurs outside of our typical professional networks. This month’s article highlights Yu-Chen Shih, founder and CEO of Orcé Cosmetics based in Los Angeles, California.

Born half Malaysian and half Taiwanese, Yu-Chen Shih, 28, grew up in Singapore and was often bullied for her darker complexion. She was put on skin whitening treatments and endless diets since she was eight or nine years old. To many, including her family, she did not fit the traditional beauty standards held in Asian cultures defined by white skin, slim figures and sharp features.…

OppyArts Spotlight: Ernest Brockenberry

Welcome to another installment of OppyArts Spotlight, where the Oppy highlights exceptional artists navigating the Corona environment, showcases their creative process, and searches for ways for MBA students to get involved in their local arts communities. This month’s feature is Brooklyn-based musician Ernest Brockenberry.

Ernest started releasing music in 2019, culminating with the release of his first EP “Cruel Alchemy.” He started performing in early 2020 before the pandemic shifted the course of the world. While last year presented countless challenges to artists and the general public, the year allowed Ernest to build dedication to his music, his vision, and his image of himself as an artist.…

OppySpotlight: Jamie Bruno & Urban Agriculture Cooperative

The Oppy’s Spotlight Series exposes Sternies to writers, artists, and causes outside of our typical professional networks. This month’s article highlights Jamie Bruno, co-founder and Program Director of the Urban Agriculture Cooperative (UAC) based in Newark, NJ.

Jamie has worked in urban agriculture in Newark for the last eight years with various nonprofits. Outside of the UAC, Jamie is an Artist and Data Analyst. She served the Greater Newark Conservancy as their first Foodcorps Service Member between 2014-2015. In 2017, Jamie helped to develop creative messaging for green infrastructure and environmental education projects as a Resident Artist with Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and coLAB Arts in New Brunswick, NJ under a National Endowment for the Arts Grant.…

OppyArts Spotlight: Gary Granata

By: Gary Granata and Conor Clark

CC: I quarantined in Tuscaloosa, Alabama volunteering at Granata Woods, a permaculture food forest created during the pandemic by Dr. Gary Granata. Gary is a farmer, community organizer, and food & good times historian. He taught me how growing and smoking your own paprika makes “the store bought stuff taste like red saw dust you put on deviled eggs.” 

I spent the day helping him place large logs on contour to create growing space on the land. The day was hot, the work was hard, the stories flowed and I sometimes had difficulty keeping pace with 60-year old Dr G.…

In the Fight: Community-Led Change in North Brooklyn

In the Fight North Brooklyn is a community activism group that began in 2019. Tobi and Chelsea, two of its founding members, joined the Oppy for a conversation on effective political engagement, protests in NYC, difficult conversations, and more. To learn more about In the Fight, check them out at https://linktr.ee/inthefightnbk or on social media @inthefightNBK.

Listen to the interview in its entirety below.


Mattia: Tell me about yourself!

Chelsea: Definitely, I can start. My name is Chelsea, obviously. I’ve been in New York City for about three years, currently located in Bushwick. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio. I’ve been involved in politics in different ways for a while.…

OppyArts Spotlight: Suhayb Zarroug

This article was written using excerpts from a recorded interview. To hear the interview in its entirety, please listen to the audio below.

Suhayb Zarroug is the modern embodiment of a Renaissance man. He coupled his experiences in art dealing, events, design, and creative consulting with strong marketing fundamentals and relationships. His latest venture is Novo Press, a publishing company that engages readers and supporters throughout the drafting process in an effort to connect networks of disparate freelance artists in the current landscape. 

This concept of purpose-driven publishing will be exhibited in Novo’s upcoming first edition featuring photography, poetry, and mixed media content focusing on personal encounters with climate change and “beautiful trash.”…

Introducing Novo Press & OppyArts Spotlight

This is an interesting year to be a grad student. We’re reworking how we study, network, and collaborate. A sense of purpose is hard to come by- many feel they’re just going through the motions until they either get their degree, or this nonsense finally ends. Personally, I refuse to let my MBA experience be anything less than a biopic-worthy epic, which is why I was so excited to speak with Suhayb Zarroug about Novo Press and to introduce the Oppy’s new series aimed to connect Sternies with writers and artists to help create art and explore meaning and purpose. …

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