Maurice Hampton

Ripples of Change

I come from a diverse family, a group of individuals who value community service. By helping each other and those around us—even with the smallest of efforts—we can facilitate enormous change. One small act of grace—one moment of mentorship—is like a stone tossed into a pond: the changes it creates ripple outward, filling the pond. I employ the same approach in my teaching. Whether in a workplace setting where I am mentoring an individual, or in a classroom setting where I am speaking to a group—or even onstage, when I am speaking to a large crowd—I emphasize the value of every small moment of instruction, no matter how subtle or unexpected. Vision A forward-­‐thinking philosophy infuses my approach. I work with students to help them crystallize a vision for their work. Are they laying the groundwork for a career that will serve them decades into the future? Are they working toward a goal that serves a higher, spiritually based purpose? In teaching, my goal is to help students align their personal passions with their work to ensure they remain curious, passionate and challenged. Tools & Technology We are surrounded by resources that can magnify and speed the educational process. My approach includes introducing students to digital tools that can be of great service—like mobile apps and crowdsourced data projects—as well as less obvious community-­‐based resources, like local non-­‐profits and neighborhood organizations. Opportunities for inspiration exist all around us; there's no reason to be limited to traditional sources. Community I encourage students to embrace community wherever they are, starting in the learning environment. We all have lessons to teach each other; I encourage a sense of openness and collaboration in the classroom and beyond. Community can be shared across professional boundaries, neighborhoods, personal interests—all providing opportunities for learning. Strategic Relationships We are surrounded by resources that can magnify and speed the educational process. Through working with me, students learn strategies for developing meaningful and fruitful relationships. These connections can stretch the learning experience into unimaginable realms and expand a student's opportunities far beyond the classroom or lecture hall. Diversity Above all else, I believe the more connections we make—across neighborhood, socioeconomic, race, gender, experiential boundaries and more—the stronger we are as individuals, and the more we can contribute to society. I show my students the value of diversity in their relationships, work experience, social interactions and day-­‐to-­‐day-­‐life.