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WHAT I WISH OTHER PEOPLE KNEW When it comes to education, don’t just give to the elite universities. There are so many individuals and philanthropists who give their money to universities
that already have significant endowments. All this does is help them become more elite, and racial wealth gaps grow even wider. If you donate $100,000 to a prestigious university, you’ll
help one student. But you could transform the lives of 40 to 50 students if you donated that $100,000 to an organization like mine. The students in our program are so grateful. Many of them
need to work full-time so that they can afford to go to school full-time. If they miss one day on the job so that they can study, they won’t be able to pay their tuition. STEM Advantage
provides scholarships so they can attend school without having to work full-time, as well as paid internships so they can gain real-world experience. We hear the same thing repeatedly from
our students: “You will never understand how much your program has changed my life.” WHY MY APPROACH IS UNIQUE We focus on talented students who attend public universities and offer
them opportunities usually limited to students at private or elite public universities. These include paid internships, one-to-one mentoring, scholarships, professional and career
development and community. Our efforts pay off when our students graduate with a STEM degree and go on to careers in technology and engineering. And when they graduate, they “pay it forward”
as role models and mentors for siblings and younger students. ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE It’s as simple as reaching out to an organization that supports a cause or
population that you’re interested in. Ask them how you can get involved. When you volunteer, you give them the benefits of all your skills and experience. Sometimes, however, it’s not
possible. Your plate may be full — for example, you work, raise a family and serve as a caretaker for one of your parents. Recognize that you don’t have time now, and that’s OK. You can
always support the organization with a donation and volunteer later, when you have a more flexible schedule.