Expanding Horizons: ITM Coaching Ecosystem
We’re excited to announce our official rebrand from Duncan Tree Foundation to Duncan Tree Ventures, marking a bold step forward in our mission. Our signature coaching initiative, now called “In the Middle,” has evolved to support not just high school students, but also parents, educators, college freshmen, and nursing students—building a holistic coaching ecosystem.
This winter, we developed a dynamic 13-week curriculum that covers emotional intelligence, critical thinking, stress management, leadership, and healthy communication. Our updated digital presence—featuring a refreshed website, reorganized podcast content, and a stronger social media strategy—enhances community engagement and storytelling.
Strategic partnerships with Philadelphia schools, nursing programs, and healthcare systems are helping us scale impact across sectors. With pilot programs launching soon, new board members joining, and a community relaunch event on the horizon, Duncan Tree Ventures is ready for a powerful year of growth.
ITM's Multi-Demo Approach | Ideogram AI 2025
Dear Supporters,
Your continued belief in our mission has enabled significant progress over the winter months. We're excited to share how we're evolving our program to create even more meaningful impact for youth.
Organizational Evolution
We've officially rebranded from Duncan Tree Foundation to Duncan Tree Ventures, reflecting our expanded mission. We've also refined our "In the Middle" program (formerly "Kids in the Middle") to broaden our impact beyond high school students to include parents, educators, first-year college students, and nursing students - creating a comprehensive ecosystem of support.
Curriculum Development
Our team has made substantial progress on curriculum development for the coaching program:
Created comprehensive 13-week curriculum with specialized activities for different demographics
Developed exercises focused on emotional intelligence, critical thinking, stress management, and leadership
Integrated real-world scenarios to help participants navigate challenges effectively
Added components addressing resilience, boundary-setting, and healthy communication
Digital Transformation
We've refreshed our digital presence to better engage our community:
Launched our new website at duncantree.org with updated branding
Reorganized our podcast content for better accessibility
Enhanced our social media strategy to better share participant success stories
Implemented improved analytics to measure our digital impact
Strategic Partnerships
We're expanding our network of collaborations:
Initiated conversations with Philadelphia school district contacts
Connected with nursing programs to address high stress levels among first-year students
Engaged with healthcare systems to explore program applications in medical settings
Built relationships with volunteer professionals bringing diverse expertise to our team
Looking Forward
In the coming months, we'll be:
Launching our pilot program with a select group of students
Hosting a relaunch event to introduce our expanded vision to the community
Continuing to develop specialized materials for different participant groups
Expanding our board with diverse voices including youth representation
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support enables us to create spaces where young people develop the emotional intelligence skills needed for lifelong success.
Big Moves & Bold Voices: Announcing Rishi Singhal + Podcast Season 3 Launch
Duncan Tree Ventures Welcomes Rishi Singhal to Board of Directors & Launches New Podcast Season
We’re excited to announce that Rishi Singhal has been unanimously voted onto the Duncan Tree Ventures Board of Directors! With over three years of volunteer leadership and 29 months as a recurring donor, Rishi’s dedication to our mission is unmatched. He joins board members Robert Ooghe and Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester in steering our nonprofit’s continued growth.
To mark this milestone, we’ve launched Season 3 of The Duncan Tree Podcast—kicking off with Episode 1: Next Gen Narratives: Gen Z Insights & Bridging the Generational Gap. 🎧 Tune in on Spotify for impactful conversations on youth leadership and intergenerational change.
A special thank-you to Jenny DeLeon and Dr. Sheila Forrester for helping launch the podcast during the pandemic. With 17 years of impact, Duncan Tree Ventures is stronger than ever—and the best is yet to come.
Rishi Singhal: Podcast Guest and Our Newest Board Member!
Hello Community!
We had a fantastic quarterly board meeting, where Rishi Singhal was unanimously voted in as the newest member of the Duncan Tree Ventures Board of Directors!
After three years of consistently volunteering his time and talent—and 29 consecutive months as a recurring donor—Rishi has truly shown his heart and commitment to our mission. We’re thrilled to officially welcome him to the board alongside fellow members Robert Ooghe and Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester.
To celebrate this exciting milestone, we’re launching Season 3, Episode 1 of The Duncan Tree Podcast with Ouida:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4W7L5id6V5RRyE0soJNMDW...
Next Gen Narratives: Gen Z Insights & Bridging the Generational Gap
Special thanks to Jenny DeLeon and Dr. Sheila Forrester for their early partnership in helping us launch the podcast during the height of the pandemic.
We’re proud to be 17 years strong—and just getting started.
Stay tuned—more exciting news is on the way!
In the Middle: Helping Young People Find their Superpowers
ITM Peer Leadership Session | AI-Generated Image
Dear ITM Supporters,
Your generosity continues to create ripples of change in young lives. This quarter, we're excited to share how your support is helping us build a stronger foundation for youth emotional intelligence and leadership development.
Success Story
We recently connected with a school in Queens where 98% of students come from immigrant families. Many students balance significant home responsibilities while pursuing their education. The school's principal shared: "We are looking for opportunities that inspire and uplift our students, helping them break out of difficult circumstances and realize their full potential." This is exactly where ITM's emotional intelligence coaching can make a difference.
Recent Progress
Developed enhanced curriculum incorporating student feedback for maximum impact
Partnered with experienced coaches who will help deliver our emotional intelligence training
Created youth ambassador roles to ensure student voices shape our program
Built partnerships with local schools and youth organizations to expand our reach
Impact Highlight
Our focus group with students revealed that many feel "finally listened to" through our program approach. We're especially proud that our emotional intelligence coaching is helping students develop critical life skills while maintaining their academic progress.
Looking Forward
This past weekend, we've gathered with professional iPEC trained coaches to refine our approach further. We're also developing specialized materials to support teachers and parents, creating a complete support system for our youth.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support, in any amount great or small, helps us create safe spaces where young people can discover their superpowers, while tapping into their potential and developing the emotional intelligence skills needed for lifelong success!
Want to find out how you can make an impact? Reach out to us via the contact form and we’ll be in touch!
It’s our 17th Birthday!
The Duncan Tree team celebrates in Downtown Manhattan at our Summer 2009 Launch party.
Seventeen years ago today, on January 28, 2008, Duncan Tree was born. What began as a vision has since blossomed into a movement—delivering over $50 million in services across four countries: the United States, Jamaica, the Philippines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
We are profoundly grateful to every individual (and corporation) who contributed their time, talent, and resources to fuel our journey. Your dedication has been the heartbeat of our impact.
As of last Friday, we step forward under a new name: Duncan Tree Ventures, Inc. With this fresh identity and renewed vision, we remain committed to scaling new heights and transforming lives—one community at a time.
The summit is in sight, and we’re bringing as many people with us as we can. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Want to find out how you can make an impact? Reach out to us via the contact form and we’ll be in touch!