Co - Creators and Executive Producers
Mission:
The mission of Wish Pals is to give children hope and help them embrace their dreams and wishes.
The Wish Pals teach children that dreams and goals are possible through perseverance, problem solving, hard work, vision, care for others and embracing your imagination.
Co - Creators and Executive Producers:
Earl Martin Phalen and Angie Burks
Born into foster care, Earl Martin Phalen is the founder of one of the largest charter school networks in North America with 17 schools daily impacting over 7,000 children. In addition to Phalen Leadership Academies, Earl also founded Skilled US, a tuition-free workforce development program that connects marginalized families to high-demand credentials and living-wage careers ranging from $45,000 to $125,000 annually, plus full benefits. Skilled US empowers thousands of families each year, achieves 87% completion rates, and delivers average earnings gains exceeding $20,000 for program graduates.
Outside of Phalen Leadership Academies and Skilled US, Earl founded the summer enrichment program Summer Advantage USA which offers underserved children research-based academic instruction in the mornings and a wide variety of hands-on enrichment classes in the afternoon.
A former U.S. Senate prospect and author of the children's book Aim High Dream Big, Earl Martin Phalen's nonprofit work has been recognized by two U.S. Presidents, Time Magazine, Parents Magazine and Fast Company. A member of Yale in Hollywood, Earl is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.
Earl Martin Phalen bio link
Angie Burks
A former member of the American Bar Association's Science and Technology Law Section and American Society for Engineering Education's Ethics Section, Angie Burks' case studies have been used across the nation. She was a professor for 12 years at The Ohio State University's College of Engineering and 7 years at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
In 2021, in light of her care for all students, Angie Burks was awarded The Ohio State University's Buckeye Access All Star Award for her commitment to students with disabilities. She has been nominated twice for The Ohio State University Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer, three times for Indiana University’s Trustees Teaching Excellence Award at the IU Kelley School of Business and twice for the IU Student Choice Award for Outstanding Faculty.
Her negotiations course within Northeastern University's distance learning program was delivered to over 800 executives and graduate students in four regions of the world including Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Boston University School of Law and was a Community Builder Fellow at Harvard University.
Angie Burks bio link
Interview with Indiana University's Center of Excellence for Women and Technology "AI Input as Legal Evidence"
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Fun fact: Angie and Earl met 33 years ago, when Earl was finishing Harvard Law School where he befriended the Obamas and Angie was starting law school across the river at Boston University. With a heart for service, Angie was invited to a Harvard Law School student volunteer meeting by Alicia Lowery Rosenbaum who introduced the two. Angie looked to Earl for law school advice and Earl needed a volunteer for his first nonprofit. They have executed wishes, dreams and hopes ever since.
The Wish Pals trademark has been filed with the United States Trademark and Patent Office. Partnership opportunities are limited.
For more information please contact aburks(at)umich.edu