Camp Fire Heart of Iowa has been impacting youth development for over a century through groundbreaking work within their camps and programs, creating social change throughout the country through inclusivity and leadership. This is achieved by placing campers—the youth—first, acknowledging that every human comes from a different situation with a different background. Camp Fire has provided equitable opportunities for families and youth to be empowered. Camp Fire Heart of Iowa has been impacting youth development for over a century through groundbreaking work within their camps and programs, cr ..read more

During my college career, I would always be asked about my long-term career goals, what I was studying, and what I planned to do with my degree. I know the questions were asked out of curiosity, but they bothered me because I didn’t have a concrete answer. My first years of college were spent going to class and working, not really taking the time to get involved in my college community and explore career and internship opportunities. It wasn't until my junior year that it hit me—I was going to graduate soon, and I hadn't taken advantage of the multiple opportunities that John Jay had to offer ..read more

It was November 1, 2023, and I was quietly watching the clock hit 11 AM. It’s been six months into my gap year, my thoughts were riddled with anxiety and aimlessly running around in my head as I was dreading to receive this one email. What’s the worst possible thing that could happen as I started to put in my login information to see what score I received on my LSAT? The last piece I need to finally get into law school and make my dream of becoming a lawyer come true. But my heart sank through me as I saw a 144 score across my computer screen. I felt everything flash before my eyes as it will ..read more

Growing up on Long Island, there was always a school library in the building I was attending that year. The bookshelves were flooded with stories and appeared to go on for miles, a nice woman waiting by the door to guide me through them without fail. The front of these rooms would have an inviting carpet and a giant rocking chair where that friendly teacher read us a picture book once a week. Afterward, my classmates and I took turns playing hide-and-seek behind the displays of colorful titles, one of which we got to bring home over the weekend. I never realized how fortunate I was to have th ..read more

Growing up on Long Island, there was always a school library in the building I was attending that year. The bookshelves were flooded with stories and appeared to go on for miles, a nice woman waiting by the door to guide me through them without fail. The front of these rooms would have an inviting carpet and a giant rocking chair where that friendly teacher read us a picture book once a week. Afterward, my classmates and I took turns playing hide-and-seek behind the displays of colorful titles, one of which we got to bring home over the weekend. I never realized how fortunate I was to have th ..read more

Admissions offices and institutions with performative equity missions claim that it is who you are that matters, not where you come from. When select groups of students are left out of the equity equation, however, this idea begins to fall apart. Growing up, I was told that hard work was the key to success, and that where I come from would not define my future. While this mantra resonated deeply with me, the reality I faced was far more complex. I am caught between the worlds of office hours and working three jobs, and I am a first-hand witness to the disparities in academics. The private hig ..read more

Author Keke Grant-Floyd (front left), along with Executive Director and Founder of Press Pass NYC Lara Bergen leading the organization’s signature Student Editor Bootcamp for New York City public high school students this past summer. If you had told me two months ago that I’d be in another fellowship so soon after completing and graduating from two other fellowships, I wouldn’t have believed you. While those experiences were transformative in their own ways, my experience as a Future Leaders in Action Fellow has helped me grow in so many ways that I didn’t expect to happen over the span of t ..read more

In a world where the path to success often seems predetermined by access to resources and opportunities, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by underserved communities in breaking free from the chains of disadvantage and inequality. However, amidst these challenges, I discovered a hidden gem with the potential to transform lives: social capital. This powerful asset, often overlooked, holds the key to unlocking doors that were once seemingly closed to those in underserved areas. As I embarked on a summer fellowship with Liberated Success, my journey unveiled two essential truths: so ..read more

Being the eldest daughter in a Caribbean immigrant family, I’ve oftentimes girl-bossed my way into the world of leadership, non-profits, and public service. For as long as I could remember my family heavily instilled in me the importance of leadership, advocacy, and helping improve the lives of others as I did for myself. As these values became second nature to me, I developed a desire to uplift the experiences of others through equity, inclusion, and community engagement. Despite this feeling and a budding passion for social impact work, I longed for a deeper connection to those with the sam ..read more

As a first-generation Latina, I was the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college. At times, I found it quite intimidating to go down new paths nobody in my family had gone down before. I found it easiest to blend into the background and observe,  not really participate. I was too afraid to speak up, afraid of making a fool of myself in a room full of intellectuals. Growing up, I would often hear my mother say,  “me siento como una cucaracha en un baile de gallina.” That is pretty much how I felt a lot of the time, like I had pulled off the ultimate scheme and some ..read more