Help Neiori Stay At .F.I.T.

Hey guys!

I’m coming to you asking for help.

I’m an African American student from Washington D.C.

Studying illustration at the fashion institute of technology

I’m coming into my second semester these upcoming weeks and I need help with my tuition

I love my hometown but after coming home for thanksgiving break I realized that staying in school is one of my only options between the constant fearing over the safety of my life due to gun violence or the mental abuse of my father.

Throughout my young life I experienced unstable living conditions which also included staying in a homeless shelter for a short time after and effected my sense of safety and confidence in my own future. So to make it this far I’m extremely proud and I can’t go down without a fight.

Recently before coming home for winter break my father decided to abandon me in New York and block me on everything ( instagram, imessage, etc.) and unshare his location so I couldn’t find him.

So I have no way to reach out to him before tuition payments start up again. Leaving everything to me and no way to pay my tuition In such short notice.

My parents don’t have much and I don’t expect a lot from them because they have already done so much but before coming here we came up with an agreement that he would help me pay my tuition and I trusted him.

I assumed it wouldn’t be long term because of his previous patterns but I thought I would have more time to look for scholarships and grants because I knew eventually he would hold it over my head and I would end up owing him for everything he has done for me.

My education is really important to me especially as a black student education is all we have and I feel like even though I’ve only been to f.i.t for a semester I am really growing, making connections and changing the ways I have learned as an artist. As well as developing the level of attention to my artwork.

I don’t want to be another person to fall through the cracks of working a 9-5 barely surviving and being miserable because I am truly in love with being an artist. It’s in everything I do and say and it’s my way of life. I am one of the few members from my family that have sought higher education. I see how my family struggles from paycheck to paycheck and I don’t want that. I want more and think we all deserve more.

That means I am committed to doing whatever is necessary such as opening my commissions and using my newly found passion in tattooing to also raise money.

I know there’s a lot going on in the world right now and I don’t wish to redirect your attention but your support means the upmost to me. Thank you.