WISE Alumna Nicole Sharpe

Nicole Sharpe’s 1988 WISE project on political activism at Woodlands High School gave her the fundraising experience that inspired her career in nonprofit management and philanthropy. She continues to support WISE today, believing it to be a valuable program because it prepares students for life beyond high school.

“WISE is an amazing career pathway opportunity for young people,” said Nicole. “It provides students with the opportunity to explore what they think they should do professionally. It gives them a chance to realize the career they want to pursue and the steps it will take to get there, or it shows them what not to pursue for the rest of their life. It gives students a platform to explore.”

Her WISE Project: Political Activism

The first time Nicole raised money was during her WISE project. Interested in law and politics, she was selected to the Washington Internship Experience through the Washington Workshop Foundation during her senior year at Woodlands High School. She had to identify a congressperson to work with and have them commit to her internship and she had to cover the cost for the trip. Nicole had to figure out a way to finance a 2-month-long trip to Washington, D.C.

Nicole’s mentor, Ms. Jaqui Williams, helped her brainstorm fundraising ideas. Nicole wrote her first proposal. The proposal included a cover letter, and in it she spoke about her desire to learn about the political system. Nicole’s mother took her proposal to work to help her raise money.. Nicole got donations from $200 to $1000, raising enough money to make her trip to D.C. possible. “What fascinated me was that all you have to do is ask,” said Nicole. “I was hooked.”

During her WISE project, Nicole was also involved with the Rainbow Coalition and the Jesse Jackson Presidential campaign. She ran weekly registration drives targeted at college students and canvased the communities for the campaign from Maine to Virginia. Over the entire project, she raised $10,000 through her fundraising efforts.

“I met every black and Latino public official in New York State,” said Nicole. “Many were mentors to me. WISE put me in a position where I could meet these people and where I could later network with those contacts.”

A trip to New Hampshire for the Jackson Campaign was Nicole’s first experience with racial prejudice. It was the first time she was called the N-word. The hotel refused to give them a room.“Race was not an issue at our school. I grew up in a caring and protective environment. Everyone got along,” said Nicole. “WISE forces you to step outside your comfort zone to deal with the world, and once you are forced to deal with the world, there is no going back. You see it for what it is. My experience made me think analytically about society and what I was leaving my parents to face. It put race and my life as a black woman in perspective.”

Because of WISE, Nichole knew what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She wanted to make a difference and pursue a career in public service. She attended the University of Albany where she majored in African Studies and minored in Political Science and Portuguese. Nicole became a political action intern for the CSEA and volunteered with the Black & Puerto Rican Legistative Caucus. She worked with a team on one of the largest political action rallies against the Former Governor Mario Cuomo’s budget where they raised her first one million dollars with the “Share the Pain” campaign march in 1990. Nicole was elected as the first African American female Vice President of the student association at SUNY Albany. Nicole went on to get her Masters in Finance at New York University.

What’s Next?

Interested in public service, Nicole hopes to build her own consulting business and work as a fundraising developer and manager of non-profits. Although she once had dreams of becoming a senator, she realized that she would “rather be a candidate-maker than a candidate.” When asked if running for office was in her future, however, Nicole responded, “Who knows? Being a leader has been in me for so long.”

Why I Support WISE

“I believe WISE was one of the most in valuable experiences in my life,” said Nicole. “I believe that young people need to be taught to think independently, and WISE does that. WISE prepares them for life.”

A Challenge to My Former Classmates

To her former classmates, Nicole shares:

“I invite you to think about your experience with WISE, and I challenge you to share your experience by writing about it,” said Nicole. “Make a financial commitment. If not money, then donate your time, your talent. Reach back, and support the program. We need to keep it alive.”

Share your WISE story at http://www.wiseservices.org/share-wise-story.
Contact WISE at office@wiseservices.org.