It’s never too early to think about your legacy.
Just ask Rowan College at Burlington County graduate Isaiah Warner. The 21-year-old’s new nonprofit organization, Legacy Room, links youth to resourceful career tools and professional mentors through networking mixers, allowing them to establish a lasting impact in their desired career fields.
“A lot of people don’t know what their purpose is or where they’re trying to go,” Warner said. “You want to leave a legacy, not only for yourself, but for other people, your friends, family, and the environment around you. If you can just give somebody the way to go to the right lane, I think that’s beneficial.”
Initially, Warner had only personal endeavors towards professional growth, a simple pursuit of knowledge with friends. Quickly, his group pivoted to helping the Mount Laurel community at large.
“I was more into finances, and I wanted to learn how to make money in different ways,” Warner said. “So I just asked a few people I know and said, ‘Hey, do you want to learn more about real estate or taxes?’ After two or three weeks, we said, ‘Hey, why are we doing this just for us?’”
This past June, the nonprofit held their first-ever networking event in Mount Laurel. In between the food, refreshments, and discussion between approximately 40 success-driven individuals spoke influential guests like the Mayor of Mount Laurel, Fozia Janjua, who Warner met after teaching her son how to play basketball.
After the success of his first event, Warner set his sights higher. With the help of Janjua, Legacy Room was able to book a larger, more serviceable venue in the Mount Laurel Community Center for his upcoming event, November Networks 2024, which will take place November 9.
More people are free to RSVP than before and have the chance to hear from guest speakers Sam Thevanayagam, President and CEO of Parts Life, Inc., a mechanical manufacturer for clients like the Department of Defense, and Riccardo Dale, a councilman for Beverly City, New Jersey, and founder of Free All Minds Academy, his own nonprofit focused on instilling essential life skills into young men of color.
When considering the mentors to come out and present, Warner takes care in selecting varying voices from the wide range of career paths available.
“I wanted it to be a mix of somebody a little bit more experienced, and someone younger, or someone more intellectual, so that covers a lot of demographics,” Warner said. “We have attendees that are into law, some that are into the military coming around. Some people want to grow the conventional way, nine to five, and some people want to do it the unconventional way, maybe wanting to get into fashion. So we have different resources, and you can reach out to them.”
RCBC will also contribute a table at the event, with representatives from Academics, Workforce Development, and Enrollment Management. As a community college graduate whose father, Paul Warner, teaches Information Technology at RCBC, Warner really wanted to make sure community college students were aware of this event.
“We’re going to give you multiple sources to get help,” Warner said. “And a community college, anyone, any age, anyone trying to learn, it doesn't matter, can apply.”
When not planning and hosting events, Warner and his partners take to social media. Their YouTube channel is rife with helpful tips, tricks, and interviews with professionals covering multiple industries, such as business, real estate, photography, videography, and more.
If you want to attend Legacy Room’s next event, you can RSVP here. If you have any questions, you can contact novembernetworks@gmail.com or call 646-667-5795.
