Junior Freda Tei Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

Campus Compact named Manhattan College junior Freda Tei a Newman Civic Fellow for her advocacy work done in her hometown of the Bronx. The award honors inspiring student leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to challenges faced by their communities.

Since 2009, Tei has been an advocate for better schools and social change. She participates in her local Bronx community through the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) and Sistas and Brothas United (SBU). Originally drawn to community organizing, Tei and her fellow high school students worked to decrease overcrowding by joining the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition’s campaign to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into schools.

At Manhattan College, Tei helped establish a tutoring program at SBU and has been instrumental in the college access program. She has also continued to organize as part of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, training new members in community organizing strategies. Tei has spearheaded a petition campaign to support the New York State Dream Act and registered people to vote.

“We are extremely proud of Freda Tei and happy to have her represent Manhattan College in the Newman Civic Fellowship,” says Brennan O’Donnell, president of Manhattan College. “Not only has she developed her own leadership abilities, she is helping to build a new generation of young community leaders.”

The Newman Civic Fellow Award is generously sponsored by the KPMG Foundation, which works in partnership with business and higher education to provide college and university students the opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through learning, practicing, and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. For more information about the organization and the award, visit http://www.compact.org.