In the U.S., education and opportunity are nearly synonymous particularly in an economy where education attainment, social, and economic outcomes are increasingly linked. I had the chance last week to explore this topic with other philanthropic leaders at the Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Leadership Conference , and was heartened by the path forward.
We gathered to discuss what Education 2.0 needs to look like, including the skills and knowledge students need to be successful and the systemic barriers facing Latino students. But at the heart of the conversation was the fact that helping students and particularly low-income students and students of color access a quality education is, at the end of the day, helping them participate in the American dream.
When we remove barriers and give students access to a quality education, we open up the bridge to opportunity that leads to a well-paying job, to practicing a skill or trade, to supporting a family and engaging in meaningful ways as citizens.
My work at the Gates Foundation affords me the privilege of learning from and supporting the work of institutions and partners across the country who are helping to remove barriers and extend opportunities for students. But rather than tell you about institutions and organizations, Id like to share the stories of two students: Tyler and Carlos. Although these students live on opposite sides of the country, their stories are both reminders of how opportunity and personalized support can help students achieve their dreams and take part in the American dream.
Growing up in Georgia, Tyler balanced high school with a part-time job to help his mom make ends meet for the family. In fact, he was midway through his high school graduation ceremony before he realized he wanted to go where neither his parents nor his two older sisters had gone before: college.
However, during his freshman and sophomore years at Georgia State University (GSU), Tyler struggled under the weight of his new responsibilities. A nearly full course-load, an internship, and a daily bus commute were proving unsustainable.
Thankfully, Tyler was connected to someone at GSU who could help. Crystal Mitchell, a graduation and retention specialist, helped him get back on track. She was even able to provide information about the Panther Retention Grant, which eased some of Tylers financial burden and allowed him to live on campus during his junior year.
Once those barriers were removed and he got the support he needed, Tyler began to excel academically. He also joined a fraternity and enlisted as a student ambassador for the university, sharing his story of challenges and is set to become the first in his family to obtain a college degree.
","type":"video","meta":{"author":"GatesFoundation","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRi8JQTnKQilJW15uzo7bRQ","cache_age":86400,"description":"Tyler Mulvenna, like millions of students in this country, is the first in his family to attempt college. Watch his story and learn how Georgia State University is working to help make it a success story.","provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zXtHilqri94/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Postsecondary Success: A Student View","type":"video","url":"https://action.news/watch?v=zXtHilqri94","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"58d921a1e4b06c3d3d3e6fc8","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/we-need-to-talk-about-opportunity_b_58d921a1e4b06c3d3d3e6fc8","entryTagsList":"@health_adhd,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_gad,@health_ibs,@health_models,@sensitive_international,@sensitive_politics","sectionSlug":"contributor","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":"https://action.news/news/topic/contributor","subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.contributor","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":3},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"58d921a1e4b06c3d3d3e6fc8","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
