For the past 6 years I have worked at Collins Academy High School in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago's West side.  Like most Black and Brown communities throughout the nation, North Lawndale has been hit significantly harder by the COVID-19 pandemic, both with higher infection and death rates amongst residents and higher rates of job loss.  

Many of my recently graduated seniors and their parents lost their jobs or had their hours significantly cut due to the pandemic, making their plans to attend college in the Fall much more difficult. 

Many of my recently graduated seniors are preparing to be first generation college students, attending classes completely online, but have no laptop computers at home. 

The majority of my students who choose to attend college are often supporting themselves financially in addition to being full time college students.  An unexpected fee on their student account or an especially expensive textbook, in addition to their other expenses (phone bills, personal hygiene products, meals not covered by their meal plans, if they have a meal plan at all, etc.) can be all it takes to push them out of college. The tragically low rates of college persistence for students like mine reflects this reality. This year will be even more challenging, as some students who were relying on a meal plan and a dorm room have to scramble to provide housing and food for themselves, while attending school online full time.    

I am raising money to support my college bound students so that they can get to their campuses as they had planned, and have the resources they need to be successful while there. Additionally, the funds will help to provide laptops and other supports to students who will be starting classes online in the Fall.

If you are a white person, please consider how you have benefited or will benefit from generational wealth and opportunities in ways Black folks have systematically been excluded from. We must redistribute the wealth. Any amount you can donate will help.