A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Quiet Campuses, Big Futures: The Power Of HBCU Roots And Community Support
Doors don’t open by accident—they open because communities decide to turn the handle. We celebrate student achievements, shine a light on HBCU pathways, and share tangible ways to show up, from buying a book that centers Black educational stories to cheering on a local step show that fuels scholarships and joy. Along the way, we welcome a staffing founder who traces her journey from Wilberforce’s quiet hills to building a national recruiting firm, proving how mentorship, rigorous writing, and public speaking at an HBCU can still shape contracts, client trust, and confident leadership years later.
We dig into the Common Black College App and why simplifying admissions matters for families balancing time and cost. Then we zoom out to entrepreneurship: our guest breaks down what she learned in Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women program, with NYU Stern instruction, mentor guidance, and a cohort of Black founders who turned community into momentum. Her playbook is practical—know your numbers, sharpen your offers, and invest in relationships—because placing candidates well is as much about listening as it is about speed.
This conversation threads personal pride with real resources. You’ll hear about upcoming mentoring events, a holiday fundraiser at the Wonder Chamber, and clear contact info for Lauris Staffing USA if you’re hiring or job hunting nationwide. We close where we began: with gratitude for HBCU faculty who push students to write tighter, think clearer, and speak up, and for alumni who keep showing up for the next class. If this story moved you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs these resources, and leave a quick review to help more families find their path.
Welcome to a Better Chance for Youth Television Show with your host, Monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate, and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community, and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity. An opportunity for hope in a future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of a Better Chance for Youth show with your host.
SPEAKER_03:I started in the back today, but it's because I have some announcements and I really, really want you to see them before we start the show. But stay tuned. Welcome back. So, yes, you can't see me. That's because I need to make sure you see these announcements today. Now, if you haven't been on Amazon, we have a new book out. Although on Amazon it will say our family began at an HBCU, but you know, our close friends and family, we can make sure you get the at the WU because this story is about a journey of my nephews. Um, y'all know I love them dearly. My nephews doing a project about HBCUs, and of course we had to use Wobbleforce because you know, my parents, you know, if they didn't go there, there would be no me. Now, our next project that we have, and you can get all these items actually on Amazon. Um, and if you can't get them on Amazon, inbox me so I can make sure you get them. We also have a new education book. I'm also looking for new authors for our anthology number two. So if you are definitely interested in that, please send me an inbox or greeting or something and say, hey, I need the link. So I'm looking for teachers, people who work in education, people who may have left the field that want to share their passion and story. For the holidays, guess what? We are going to be at the wonder chamber. The wonder chamber is one of San Antonio's hidden gyms. We will be at the wonder chamber to definitely um celebrate the holidays, but we are definitely supporting, and this is a fundraiser for one of our local daycares. And we want to spread some holiday cheer to some of our college students that attended the send-offs. So, hey, we will be looking for you at this space. I like to say big, big, big congratulations for Miss Anaya Williams. She is one of our wonderful scholars at FamU. Um, also, you know, AJ did his thing too. So, and they also were winners at our Takisha A. Davis scholarship this year, well, last school year, but they're on to college and doing some amazing things. And so, congratulations to you all in your newly uh positions at your campus. I'm super proud of you, Dr. Brown. I'm so proud of you. And you know, this year during uh the college fair, somebody please send for me so I can go. But um my mentor, I'm super proud of him. Mentor, my friend, my sounding board, you name it, I am extremely proud of you. Congratulations on your honorary doctoral degree. Those that have been inquiring, you can actually book me to come and speak, come and do a workshop, come and do some fun times, all in the name of learning about our historically black colleges and universities, or just different things to teach the teaching tools. You've asked for it, I've made it available. I am now accepting bookings. Information is on the website, as well as um, if you look in the newsletter, the link will be provided. And you know, who knows? Maybe we can work something out and I can come and speak and motivate your young people. If you watch last week's show, uh, you definitely are missing a treat that you want to be a part of. This Saturday in San Antonio, we have an interest meeting for those who uh want to be a part of this female organization and mentoring and things like that. Details in the flyer, and she actually was a wonderful guest on our show. So please, please, please check it out, support, or just go. This Sunday in San Antonio is$15 to get you there, but you don't want to miss the step show. They're bringing back stepping, and I had a wonderful time sitting down, interviewing this wonderful person um and an amazing organization. So I will be there Sunday, and y'all know, look for me, I'm always in the HBCU gear. So that's it. That's all for all our announcements that we have this week, and you know, after the commercial, we will definitely be back on track with ABC Youth Television Show.
SPEAKER_01:Are you interested in attending a historically black college at university? Hello, my name is Robert, I'm president and founder of the College Black College. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges at the same time for over$20. HBCU graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields, disability. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success, and they have the best benefits in seeing that. That coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you have lifelong exercise. So if you're interested in completing the Common Black College app, visit our website, the commonblackcollege app.com to apply now. Thank you and get educated.
SPEAKER_04:I um working with the candidates as well as the clients. So um my job is to make sure that I'm matching the right candidate with my clients, with the right firm or the right company, and um, it's rewarding in helping people to um find a job and um just constantly building and keeping the relationship with the client and with the candidate. And so um I like it, it's fun, it's fast-paced, and um it just keeps me going. Um, but as far as Goldman Sachs, um, I did see around 2021 that Goldman Sachs had a program um and they called it uh 1 million black women. So I decided to go ahead and take a shot at um applying for the program. Did not know that I would be selected. Um the cohort that I applied for was cohort three. There were 2,000 applicants, and I was one of 174 that was selected. It was a 10-week program where it was a combination of um going to Goldman Sachs headquarters for instruction, as well as um the remainder of the weeks were finished online. So the educational piece was with um NYU Stern School of Business, and then you had the folks at Goldman Sachs and also just other uh founders that have excelled and they were part of the program. You were paired with a mentor and a group of other founders. Um, and those founders, you know, it was product-driven companies, service-driven companies, and you were grouped according to the revenue um that you guys were um bringing in at that time. So a wonderful experience, definitely helped out with my business, um, sharpened my skills, and then allowed me to increase my network with other black founders.
SPEAKER_03:Oh wow. See, I told you I do my homework. I I follow a lot of our classmates, and every time I look at y'all, I'm like, God, we used to be uh biggett road. Right.
SPEAKER_04:We dirt roads, corn heels. No, we didn't hear sirens, you know. I mean, no police sirens, fire trucks, or anything. And you know, when you look back at that, you kind of we took that for granted. Um, because now when we go back, whether it's going back to Don Dance or Yeah, it's isn't it peaceful when you go back and you just like how quiet and still, and when you're walking on the campus, and you know, whether you're going up the hill, or just say if you just want to walk out on the lawn and you're like, look at all of these acres that we're on, and just listening to the still quietness, and it just makes you appreciate because you're only there for the weekend, right? And then you go back to your life, the hustle and bustle to your respective city. And um, I am so thankful for my experience. I if I could go back, I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I would choose to go to Whoopiforce again.
SPEAKER_03:I would I say that now. I mean, because I honestly was not playing at all, be it for I had a whole different plan, but you know, you played stuff and God played stuff two different things. But if you could state a professor that you had a Wuperforce, uh who would be that person that just was like had you get yourself all together?
SPEAKER_04:I would say the professor um that I would say that stuck out to me was Dr. Grisby. Do you remember him? Yes, and um I mean, just challenged me. Um, and you know, I would write papers. I had him for um social science, and I've had him for quite a few classes. My major was political science, and I I had planned once, yeah. So he um I would say him, he really challenged me. Um another one would be Dr. Situ. Did you have her? I cried the whole time. I Dr. Situ taught me how to write. That pushed, you know, with that research and writing that research paper. And um so that I credit that like I think that really was helpful. You know, I have to create and develop contracts now when I'm receiving uh, you know, new clients and I have to send off contracts. And here I am sending contracts to law firms, right? So attorneys that's looking over my contract, and I have to make sure that it's on point because then they'll look through and want to red line, send it back, and um, but yeah, so you're like I think it's that helped. Um having public speaking, I was shy when I got to overforce. And um, you do you remember taking that freshman year?
SPEAKER_03:Yes, I I think we might have been in the same class. I know we was in the Dr. Grisby class because it was in the lower lecture hall, and he he just kept us going that whole class.
SPEAKER_04:He did, he did, and then just speaking out in front of people, and lo and behold, uh, throughout my career, I always have to speak in front of people. So I I'm so thankful for that, you know, like getting me out of my comfort zone to speak in front of people, and now I just be walking through the crowd, talking to people, connecting, you know.
SPEAKER_05:Look at you.
SPEAKER_03:That's amazing though. Yeah, that is super, super amazing. So if people were interested in getting more information about your company and things that you do, um, how can how can we get to that?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, so we do have a website, um, and that would be www.lauristaffingusa.com. It lists um what we do, uh, talks about my background and just you know the years of experience that um I have in the staffing industry and my team. Um, it also talks about the um industries that we actually staff for. Um so all that information is there. If you'd like to get in contact with me, um you can also send an email through the um contact section. Our phone number is listed. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. However, we work with clients all across the country, so and candidates all across the country. Um, so definitely get in contact with us. We would love to work with you, and um yeah, so that's pretty much how um they are able to contact us.
SPEAKER_03:Awesome, also, well, I am super duper proud of you. I do watch everything. I know people are like, well, Nick, you don't do anything. I don't know. Our classmates are here, you know, we cannot talk for hours and years and days, but we wake up, you know. But I will be at Dance this year. Uh, one of my classmates challenged me because I haven't been in a while.
SPEAKER_04:So when was the last time that you were there? Oh god. Uh we had a choir reunion.
SPEAKER_03:Um, and the people who was in the choir from when I was there, we had a reunion and we sang at an event together, and so they want to do that again. I come out of retirement for the folks. Okay.
SPEAKER_04:I I will try to be there this year. I plan on it. Um, I can't wait to see you. I haven't seen you in so long.
SPEAKER_03:Oh my god.
SPEAKER_04:The last time that I was on campus was 2018, and that was when the alumni association um when we had the actual um conference, and it was in uh Fairborne. So 2018, I got a chance. You know, of course, the conference was at the hotel, and I came to the campus, um, saw everybody that was on campus, and you know how we're all one big family. Went in the union to come out in front of the union, um, went up to the um fountain and was looking at all the names, the bricks that are laid around the mountain. And went into I went up the hill, went to the classes, went to lower lecture hall. I didn't get a chance to go up to the upper lecture hall, went to the library, just walked around.
SPEAKER_03:Wow, I'm like, we I was talking to one of our uh classmates today because, like, you know, like I said, we close knit, people don't realize it. And we were talking about walking up the hill with his nose.
SPEAKER_04:That was a mess. And imagine did you if you say I talked to someone right before the show, and I said, walking from Tempkin, that was far in the cold.
SPEAKER_03:It hit different when you when we lived in the back, it hit different. I will not lie to you. So guys, if you are watching, I'm telling y'all, Wilberforce produced some amazing things. Like, I got some more classmates lined up for you, but thank you so much for giving us your time and telling us about yourself. Um, so y'all, we came in 95 together. So, you know, just saying, yeah, 95 is the best.
SPEAKER_04:And I thank you for having me. Um, I thank you for all that you do. I see you often interviewing alum and just having a good time and just putting people out there, and I commend you for that. I commend you for all the work that you do with young people um and helping young people get to college. I mean, you are doing some phenomenal things, and I respect that.
SPEAKER_03:Um, so you keep it up to that's what that you uh yeah, you you may mention Dr. Sittu. That's probably why I got that I have my name now because yeah, Dr. Robinson. She played okay. Yes, definitely. So, but thank you for coming. Anything we can do, you got announcements or something, we can put it in a newsletter for you. But I will look forward to seeing you definitely admired.
SPEAKER_04:Okay, I can't wait to see you, and um, I will definitely be sending you something to put in your newsletter. Awesome, awesome, all right.
SPEAKER_03:Thank you. Bye. So till next time, you guys, you uh have been watching ABC, a better chance television. I told y'all, and I will keep saying, What before it's produced amazing things in the case, this year.
SPEAKER_00:Look no further. The Daily Gospel Network has what you need. With more than 300 ministries from all over the country broadcasting every week, you're sure to get your dose of spirit-filled encouragement from the great programs on the Daily Gospel Network. Catch the Daily Gospel Network on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, all mobile devices, and the internet.
SPEAKER_02:Tune in to a better chance for youth television show with Host Tony Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network. The television show dedicated to highlighting incredible truths on the world. Join us every week as we uplift the youth and help them on the internet support. At the Better Chance for Youth Television Show with host Tony Robinson atks for watching a Better Chance for Youth Television show with your host, Monique Robinson. The television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time, God bless. From your friends on a better chance for youth television show with your host, Monique Robinson.
