Economic Growth United States Project #9238

Leadership Development -EQ Training

by Duncan Tree Ventures

Project Report | Jul 16, 2025
Launching Our Next Chapter-In the Middle

By Robert Ooghe Jr. | Board Secretary

ITM's Strategic Coaching Evolution

Dear Supporters,

This spring has been transformative for our "In The Middle" program. Your unwavering support has enabled us to reach critical milestones that position us for significant impact in the coming months.

Curriculum Completion & Legal Protection

Our 13-week curriculum is now complete! Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester customized our approach using advanced AI tools to assist with creating a comprehensive program featuring:

Professional learning objectives and evaluation metrics for each 90-minute session
Academic references supporting our evidence-based methodology
Specialized tracks for high school, college freshmen, and first year nursing students
Full trademark and copyright protection process through a NYC-based law firm is in motion

Elite Network Expansion

A breakthrough came through The Hotchkiss School network, reconnecting us with Ray McGuire, Hotchkiss and Harvard alum, former Vice Chairman of Citi and current President of Lazard. This elite educational connection opened doors to:

Potential male-focused initiative addressing the "crisis amongst young black boys"
Multiple new board member prospects with extensive networks
Strategic opportunity for NYC private school consortium meeting

Creative Team Expansion

We welcomed Bianca Alvarez, former Mattel creative director with extensive NGO experience including Ford Foundation and United Nations projects. Her portfolio perfectly aligns with our mission to create compelling visual storytelling that demonstrates our impact.

Digital Innovation

Our website migration to AWS is progressing with enhanced functionality including member-only content, interactive features, and professional design that reflects our growth. We're implementing both professional and engaging "story-driven" approaches to connect with diverse audiences with Aaron Sturm of Holistech Systems and Mark Hoppe of Nekawa Media.

Strategic Pilot Development

We're excited about launching our first formal pilot program through:

Marion County, Indiana church partnership with Lilly Foundation potential
Corporate "feeder program" positioning for workforce emotional intelligence
Private school focus for measurable transformation outcomes

Looking Forward

This summer launches our pilot programs with 5-10 students at $5-10k total investment. We're awaiting decisions on 5-6 grant submissions (August-September timeframe) while building partnerships with institutions experiencing high turnover who need emotionally intelligent talent.

Thank you for believing in our mission. We need your support which enables us to create transformative experiences where young people develop the emotional intelligence skills needed for lifelong success in an rapidly changing world.

For more information and updates, please visit duncantree.org.

Upward and onward!

Robert Ooghe, Jr.
Board Secretary
Duncan Tree Ventures, Inc.

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Mar 6, 2025
Building Resilience: KITM's Winter EQ Progress

By Robert Ooghe | Board Secretary

KITM's Multi-Demo Approach | Ideogram AI 2025

Dear Supporters,

Your continued belief in our mission has enabled significant progress over the winter months. We're excited to share how we're evolving our program to create even more meaningful impact for youth.

Organizational Evolution

We've officially rebranded from Duncan Tree Foundation to Duncan Tree Ventures, reflecting our expanded mission. We've also refined our "In the Middle" program (formerly "Kids in the Middle") to broaden our impact beyond high school students to include parents, educators, first-year college students, and nursing students - creating a comprehensive ecosystem of support.

Curriculum Development

Our team has made substantial progress on curriculum development for the coaching program:

Created comprehensive 13-week curriculum with specialized activities for different demographics
Developed exercises focused on emotional intelligence, critical thinking, stress management, and leadership
Integrated real-world scenarios to help participants navigate challenges effectively
Added components addressing resilience, boundary-setting, and healthy communication

Digital Transformation

We've refreshed our digital presence to better engage our community:

Launched our new website at duncantree.org with updated branding
Reorganized our podcast content for better accessibility
Enhanced our social media strategy to better share participant success stories
Implemented improved analytics to measure our digital impact

Strategic Partnerships

We're expanding our network of collaborations:

Initiated conversations with Philadelphia school district contacts
Connected with nursing programs to address high stress levels among first-year students
Engaged with healthcare systems to explore program applications in medical settings
Built relationships with volunteer professionals bringing diverse expertise to our team

Looking Forward

In the coming months, we'll be:

Launching our pilot program with a select group of students
Hosting a relaunch event to introduce our expanded vision to the community
Continuing to develop specialized materials for different participant groups
Expanding our board with diverse voices including youth representation

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support enables us to create spaces where young people develop the emotional intelligence skills needed for lifelong success.

Links:

DuncanTree

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Nov 5, 2024
Kids in the Middle: Helping Young People Find their Superpowers

By Robert Ooghe | Board Member

KITM Peer Leadership Session | AI-Generated Image

Dear KITM Supporters,

Your generosity continues to create ripples of change in young lives. This quarter, we're excited to share how your support is helping us build a stronger foundation for youth emotional intelligence and leadership development.

Success Story
We recently connected with a school in Queens where 98% of students come from immigrant families. Many students balance significant home responsibilities while pursuing their education. The school's principal shared: "We are looking for opportunities that inspire and uplift our students, helping them break out of difficult circumstances and realize their full potential." This is exactly where KITM's emotional intelligence coaching can make a difference.

Recent Progress

Developed enhanced curriculum incorporating student feedback for maximum impact
Partnered with experienced coaches who will help deliver our emotional intelligence training
Created youth ambassador roles to ensure student voices shape our program
Built partnerships with local schools and youth organizations to expand our reach

Impact Highlight
Our focus group with students revealed that many feel "finally listened to" through our program approach. We're especially proud that our emotional intelligence coaching is helping students develop critical life skills while maintaining their academic progress.

Looking Forward
This past weekend, we've gathered with professional iPEC trained coaches to refine our approach further. We're also developing specialized materials to support teachers and parents, creating a complete support system for our youth.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support, in any amount great or small, helps us create safe spaces where young people can discover their superpowers, while tapping into their potential and developing the emotional intelligence skills needed for lifelong success!

Links:

Duncan Tree Website

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