THE CHALLENGEA Disparity in LeadershipUnequal opportunity drives the disparity in America’s corporate leadership and advanced workforce. Nearly a third of the U.S. is Black or Latino, yet only: 5%of senior executives at Fortune 500 companies are Black or Latino 5%of partners at top law firms are Black or Latino 11%of doctors are Black or Latino 15%of scientists and engineers are Black or Latino
SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS REQUIRE HIGHER EXPECTATIONSTo champion talented and ambitious, diverse, underrepresented students, we must focus on success beyond college.
OUR SOLUTIONWe Target What MattersOur society sets the bar too low for how we support our most talented, diverse, and underrepresented students, including students of color from under-resourced communities.It takes more than a college degree to get into a top law school or business school. More than a diploma to be a successful engineer, doctor, or scientist. Where you go to college matters. Grades matter. Majors matter. Career skills matter. And a professional network matters.Aiming HigherFor our Scholars to become the diverse leaders our nation needs and develop the inter-generational wealth and financial security their more privileged peers take for granted – Thrive Scholars aims higher.We offer three options: our 6-Year Program, Thrive Academies and OnRamp; program offerings that support our students from high school to early career. We look beyond graduation, using data to target what drives Scholar success in high-impact careers. Learn more
Not only do our Scholars outperform students with similar backgrounds, they SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPERFORM their more privileged peers at the same Top 100 Colleges. They are:
EricardoHarvard Class of 2019, Deloitte I knew as a Black male coming from a low-income, single parent household, there were many adjustments I would have to make. Thrive Scholars ensured I was academically prepared. That meant instead of focusing on mere survival in college, I could focus on embracing those opportunities I needed to flourish.
WilnaTufts Class of 2018, MPH from Columbia 2020 If I don’t graduate and get the right degree I will have the passion but not the hard skills and tools I need to help me get where I want to get to. And Thrive Scholars has given me the support I need to make sure I know I can do it. They are another family – it helps to know that there are people, besides my immediate family, that are behind me who want me to do well.
Michael QuickFormer Provost, University of Southern California There are many programs claiming to do similar work, and what you need to know is that this one is unique. It is the only one I know of that looks beyond college graduation. The Summer Academy is the only program I know of around the country that immerses students in over 200 hours of calculus and writing instruction. And it has worked — over half of their students graduate with STEM degrees. I know of no other similar program with that data. Based on their success, their model, their willingness to let data guide the way, and their leadership, I can unequivocally say that they have the people and program to change the world.
Kari Van GundyCEO, Zenith Insurance Company Through our decade-long corporate sponsorship, our leaders are mentors to talented, diverse and brilliant young individuals who thrive as they develop skills, confidence and access to opportunities. Our partnership has strengthened our organization and added talented diversity with future leadership potential to our team.