Earlier this month, Metro Philadelphia named College President Dr. Donald “Guy” Generals as one of 94 Education Power Players. The list includes influential leaders who are creating more accessible pathways to a quality education, fostering meaningful collaborations between schools and communities, and supporting the long-term success of students by ensuring that every Philadelphia student is learning. 

As the sixth president of the College, Dr. Generals was selected as an Education Power Player for his inclusive vision and passion for helping students – particularly community college students – find a path forward. With more than 35 years in the higher education sector, he says that he fell in love with the sector by accident. He originally planned to attend law school. However, after working some of his first jobs in higher education, he realized that this was his calling. 

Starting off as a teacher and tutor, he was able to connect with students and found fulfillment in helping them succeed. Even today, Dr. Generals says that he is often learning from his students.

“Over the course of my career, I have watched students overcome incredible social and economic obstacles,” said Dr. Generals. “Despite those challenges, they were able to persevere and achieve high levels of academic success, resulting in social mobility for themselves and their families. The lessons I have learned from my many students include the value of resilience and grit, and how education can change the trajectory of not just the students, but also their families.”

In the full interview, Dr. Generals discusses what he believes are the three most critical things that students need to learn. You can view the full list of Metro Philadelphia’s Education Power Players here and check out the interview between Dr. Generals and Metro reporter Myranda (Randy) Tristant below. 

Meet Carmelo Robles, a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician who’s also an instructor in the new Toyota T-TEN program at the Career and Advanced Technology Center. Robles, a T-TEN alum himself, discusses the unique program, which allows students to make money working for the largest car manufacturer in the world while completing their associate degree.

1.) What is the Toyota T-TEN program? How is it unique, and how will it prepare students? 

T-TEN stands for Technician Training and Education Network. The program provides state-of-the-art, hands-on automotive diagnosis and repair training with an emphasis on skills needed to succeed in the automotive industry specializing in the Toyota and Lexus brands. It places our students at Toyota and Lexus dealerships while attending school, further reinforcing their hands-on experiences taught in class.

2.) You’re an alum of the Toyota T-TEN program. How has it helped shape your career? 

The T-TEN program helped springboard my automotive technician career by graduating with several industry standards and Toyota certifications that allowed me to command an above-average pay rate shortly after graduation. It also laid a solid theoretical foundation for automotive systems, especially in electrical and electronics circuit diagnosis, which paved the way for my success up the ranks of Toyota certification-level Master Diagnostic Technician and multiple promotions from line technician to group leader and then eventually to shop foreman. 

3.) You’re also a resident of West Philadelphia. What do you think this program, and the Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC), more broadly, will bring to this neighborhood and this region? 

It will shine a much-needed light on the trades that are in very high demand. The structure alone signals to the community that the city is vested in West Philadelphia and the surrounding neighborhoods. Hopefully, it will promote a sense of pride in the neighborhood and continue the clean-up efforts in the area that I have witnessed in the past 15 years or so. West Philadelphia certainly looks much different now than when I started working in the area back in 2001. 

4.) Can you talk a little about the evolution in technology you’ve seen in the auto industry throughout your career? What kinds of equipment will students in this program get to use? 

When I first started in the industry, vehicle onboard diagnostics were primarily performed by one onboard computer, mainly for engine performance. We saw vehicles equipped with additional systems like anti-lock brakes, airbags, etc., which required their own electronic control units (ECU) and the use of different equipment to diagnose. They were on their own network and were not able to communicate with each other. Making a diagnosis of overlapping technology and concerns was very difficult. Nowadays vehicles are basically mobile internet, with computers or ECU in just about every system and component you can think of. It’s very common for vehicles to be fitted with over 30 onboard computers, and they all can communicate via different networks. The equipment that is now required, and students will be trained on to properly diagnose and repair vehicles, consists of highly advanced diagnostic software, laptops, multimeters, and digital oscilloscopes capable of reading, displaying a high volume of data, and capturing electrical and electronic signals.

5.) What do you hope students get out of the program? 

I want the students to learn a skill set that will provide them and their families with a good quality of life and be the best automotive technician possible. The program goal is to translate real-world scenarios and diagnostic procedures to the student that will help them achieve success in the automotive industry overall, not just as Toyota/Lexus technicians only. 

Brooke Asman remembers the first time she attended Community College of Philadelphia. A 2015 graduate of the Liberal Arts – Honors program, she describes her overall experience as wonderful. 

“All of the teachers I’ve had were amazing,” Brooke said. “Everyone loves what they do and all the things they teach. I’ve never had a professor that I felt didn’t want to be there. They made me excited about the things I was learning.”

Soon after graduating, Brooke transferred to Arcadia University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy. Married with two children at the time, Brooke says that she and her husband decided to take in two foster kids with exceptionalities. She says that after completing one semester at Arcadia, she stopped going to school to stay home and help them. 

After separating, and later getting a divorce, that’s when Brooke decided she needed to go back to school. 

“I was trying to figure out what I could do financially that would support my family on my own,” she said. “I went onto the Community College of Philadelphia’s My Degree Path and couldn’t believe how many credits I had toward a Nursing degree. I was really surprised.”

After taking a few classes, Brooke applied to the College’s Nursing program and was later accepted. Outside of being able to take care of her family, Brooke was inspired to become a nurse from an experience at a behavioral health facility with her foster daughter. 

“The nurses there were really wonderful with her and really helped her emotionally,” Brooke said. “As an Art Therapy major, Nursing was always something I was leaning toward. I realized it was a different way that I could go about helping kids.” 

Brooke graduated from the College’s Nursing program in May and is currently studying for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam. She recalls the Independence Blue Cross Nurses for Tomorrow Scholarship playing a huge role in her being able to continue her studies. 

“That was a big opportunity and a big help,” Brooke said. “I’ve been in school for so long that I ran out of financial aid. I would have had a real hard time paying for everything. I didn’t have to work as much, and I got to spend more time with kids and to study more.” 

Outside of the financial burden the scholarships lifted, Brooke also recalls feeling seen and believed in. She no longer had to balance working 36-hours a week, clinicals, taking care of her family, and school. This pushed her to the finish line. 

“I remember getting a call from financial aid after a really tough day in clinical telling me that one of my professors – Petrina McFarlane – recommended me for a scholarship,” she said. “I started crying in my car. I know that many people in Philadelphia grow up poor like I did. I also know that the resources in the city are limited, so to know that my teacher thought that I was worth that resource meant the world to me. It meant that she thought I was going to make it through school.”

She added, “It felt really good because Nursing school is a lot harder – it’s an entirely different standard. I didn’t always feel confident as a student.”

Brooke’s goal is to become a nurse in the School District of Philadelphia. She wants to continue learning more about the Nursing field and plans to return to school to earn her bachelor’s degree.  

When asked to reflect on her overall experiences at the College, she said, “It’s been life-changing for me.”

“I will miss CCP so much. This place means so much to me,” said Joseph DeFeo, an English major who graduated with the Class of 2022. “I’ll always be a CCP Lion.” 

Joseph started at the College in fall 2019, immediately getting involved with Philadelphia L.E.A.D.S., participating in a toy drive the student organization ran that year and the student retreat held in Maryland. He was drawn in by his inviting peers as well as the mission behind L.E.A.D.S., which encourages students to make good decisions and become leaders in their own lives. The leadership society program helps instill leadership qualities at varying stages of a student’s life by teaching them a framework to approach leadership from multiple perspectives.

Joseph enrolled at the College declaring Nursing as his major, thinking it was a good way to make money and live a sustainable life. His family encouraged and supported his decision, but plans for Joseph’s future changed once he became involved with L.E.A.D.S.  

“Being a part of L.E.A.D.S. changed me in a lot of ways,” he said. “I realized in order for me to enjoy and have a good life, I had to take leadership of my life.” 

Joseph came to realize Nursing wasn’t the right program for him. Instead, his real passion was in English, so Joseph switched his major, which led to questions from his family about his decision and future plans. But Joseph was confident in his decision, thanks to support from the L.E.A.D.S. program, which encouraged him to follow his interests.

Calling the College “a family,” Joseph shared he felt he belonged at CCP since he first stepped foot on campus. He was also involved in many other areas of the College, including The Vanguard and CCPTV’s Focal Point, and the support he’s received has only added to the noteworthy student experiences he encountered since enrolling. 

Joseph is headed to West Chester University to earn his Bachelor of Science Education in English degree (B.S.Ed.). After that, his dream is to return to his home at CCP to teach an English class.   

Graduating with Highest Honors and other accolades, Aye Kalle has always set high standards for herself. She arrived in the United States from Conakry, Guinea, in November 2015, seeking better educational opportunities. Aye, whose first language is French, started to learn English from her children and by taking noncredit English courses at the College. On May 7, she is receiving degrees in Architecture and Interior Design, and a proficiency certificate in Architectural Visualization. This fall, Aye will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Architecture at Drexel University. 

“Design is something you can do for your community,” she said. She eventually hopes to resolve some of the challenges that buildings pose to residents and cities in Guinea.

“The buildings in my community are concrete, and they absorb heat. People have a hard time sleeping because it is so hot,” she said. New building materials and methods can reduce heat retainment and improve conditions for residents.

Her father, a former university professor, encouraged Aye, her five sisters and two brothers to excel in education for more opportunities in life. She competed with her siblings, especially her twin sister, and other students at being at the top of the class, and was always good at math. Aye wanted a career and a life that some thought of as nontraditional.

“Some people thought that school for women in my country was a waste of time. I don’t know if I would be here if not for my dad. I had a good foundation from my family,” said Aye.

Her road to graduation was not easy, especially with the pandemic. When she started credit classes in May 2018, she went to school full time and worked full time. Now a mother of four, she navigated her education and her children’s lessons from home during the pandemic, with one daughter having to start kindergarten online while she also attending classes.

“You have to have a goal for something, and you have to learn, not just study. I knew that in the end, I would be so proud of myself,” she said.

At the College, she became involved with Grady’s Community Garden, an initiative to help students learn how to grow their own healthy food, and food sovereignty initiatives to help food insecure students.

“It allowed me to give something back. Last year was critical. Seeing students get food for themselves and their families, it’s like I was connected with their hearts,” Aye said.

“Whatever your situation is, don’t give up on your education. Education will give you what you need in life. Your education is your key – never give up on your education.”

“I’m confident and proud of myself and my school. At the College, staff have time for their students. I have confidence in what I learned, and what I can do at Drexel.”

For a lot of high school students, when the school day ended, that meant it was playtime. But that wasn’t the case for Luvlee Day, who attends Parkway Center City Middle College (PCCMC) and is a dual enrollment student at Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). 

Instead of heading outside after school, many times, Luvlee needed to stay indoors to do homework. 

While she admits it was hard work and required sacrifices she didn’t think she’d have to make at such a young age, one thing was very clear: Luvlee was not going to quit. The path she chose would teach her a good lesson about the impact of making sacrifices and doing the work. 

“It taught me to keep going,” she said. Luvlee now loves the idea that she’s much further along in her academics as a high school and college graduate.

On Saturday, May 7, 2022, along with about 109 of her peers, Luvlee will graduate from Community College of Philadelphia, earning her associate degree in liberal arts, one month before her high school career has even ended. 

While the dual enrollment process of completing high school and college credits simultaneously had its challenges, Luvlee noted that she just needed time to adjust to the demands of high school and college at a young age. 

Luvlee appreciates the freedom the College offered and the support her PCCMC teachers provided as she and other students learned to deal with their new academic demands. Luvlee, aware of her visual and independent learning style, appreciated that there wasn’t any “hand holding” throughout the dual enrollment process. She liked that it allowed her to figure out the appropriate steps to take on her own and that she could ask and receive help when needed. 

“My teachers and the CCP administrators provided support and were there to spot us when we needed,” she said. “I had great professors and they were a big help when all of our classes went online [during the COVID-19 shutdown].”

The process helped her to realize that at times, it’s necessary to step back, assess her situation and “just do the work,” even if it means putting in extra time and effort. She credits the dual enrollment program for helping her mature and challenging her to keep fighting.

“It makes you realize it was the best thing for me even if it didn’t feel like it at the time,” she said.

Luvlee initially wanted to take a break from school after the last four years of schooling, but she has since been motivated to seek additional information about the College’s Nursing program, a career path she expressed interest in previously. 

Meet Ahmad Mitchell: aspiring chef, activist, and Community College of Philadelphia’s outgoing Student Government Association (SGA) president. Ahmad wears many hats both on and off campus. 

After graduating from Central High School in 2018, Ahmad joined Job Corp’s Advanced Career Training program to pursue his passion for culinary arts. With a grandfather who owned a deli, and family members who own land to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, Ahmad explains that he has always understood what it means to be a land steward. This understanding further fueled his desire to become a chef.

He says that he’s always wanted to go to college but didn’t want to take out debt to do so. Upon completion of the Job Corp program, he was offered a scholarship to attend the College. 

When asked why he decided to enroll, he said, “This was the best choice for me.”

“The legacy of success that CCP has with its alumni was really appealing to me,” Ahmad said. “Hazim Hardeman who’s a CCP grad and a Rhodes Scholar comes from my neighborhood. In some regard, I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to make my neighborhood proud, follow in his footsteps, and have the same amount of success that he’s had.” 

Ahmad is proudly blazing a trail of his own advocating on behalf of issues such as food insecurity and worker’s protections. His grandmother was the late Augusta Clark: the second Black woman to serve on Philadelphia’s City Council. You could say activism is in his blood. 

It wasn’t until his time at Job Corp that he first got involved in politics. 

“After I started working in the restaurant industry, I noticed workers were not being treated fairly,” Ahmad said. “Some people were fired without reason, paid less than others for the same work, or given schedules that did not accommodate them.”

Determined to make a change, he joined One Pennsylvania (One PA): a multiracial, intergenerational, and multi-issue membership organization advocating on behalf of good family-sustaining jobs, strong and healthy communities, and corporate accountability.

He’s been able to testify in front of City Council about his experience in the restaurant industry and help enact Philadelphia’s Fair Workweek law. He remembers how powerful he felt and realized at that moment that he could truly make a difference. 

He was able to bring that energy on campus in his role as the SGA president by connecting students with on-campus resources, helping to create a smooth transition back on campus after months of virtual learning, and making sure that student life remained vibrant.

Despite the challenges of community organizing, Ahmad describes himself as an optimistic person. 

“Some people say, ‘that’s foolish,’ but I think cautious optimism is the only way forward,” Ahmad said. “We can’t be satisfied with massive wealth inequality or having to go into debt just for a chance to advance our social status. Our work is the wildest imagination of our ancestors, and we have to keep pushing until that’s our reality.”

When asked to reflect on his time at the College, Ahmad said, “I’ve received a very well-rounded education at CCP. You can come in with your mind made up wanting to do one thing and then you’ll leave with the tools to develop a better plan.

“Not only am I a better chef, but I’m also a better leader. I’m more knowledgeable about how our government works and how to run my own business.”

After graduating with an associate degree in Culinary Arts this May, Ahmad will be heading to Disney World in June to participate in the Disney Culinary Program. He’s looking forward to honing his craft – especially in fine dining.

After wrapping up the internship in December, he will pursue his bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Food Systems at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. For Ahmad, it’s a full circle moment that allows him to earn a degree in what sparked his passion for culinary arts: urban agriculture and supporting undernourished communities. 

“I’ve always loved the connection between food, culture, and community,” Ahmad said. “Food is a human right. I want to create a restaurant that also serves as a community partner to provide not only nutritional shelf-stable foods, but fresh fruits and vegetables to help reduce food insecurity.”

He added, “I’m interested in seeing how I can achieve my goals through my passion and help people along the way.”

Each time Natalya Topova wanted to expand her career possibilities and challenge herself, she’s turned to Community College of Philadelphia. 

During her first experience at the College, she obtained a Clinical Assistant proficiency certificate in 2017, which led to a job in the field. 

“After a while, I felt I could do more,” said Natalya.

Her proficiency certificate provided stackable credits, which enabled her put those earned credits toward a degree in Health Care Studies, which she received in 2020. She also received a certificate in Phlebotomy. Natalya discovered her strength, and a career path became clearer.

“I never thought I would like phlebotomy or would be around blood,” she said.

Again building on her education, phlebotomy led her to a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), which she will earn this year. As a behind-the-scenes technician, she is trained to test blood samples and help doctors diagnose and treat patients. The program also prepares students to take the MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician) ASCP Board of Certification Exam.

She credits the College’s labs, clinical opportunities and resources for helping her be successful in the program.

“I learn best with hands-on training, and I liked that the College has a lab, and we got to use the instruments. The clinicals also helped a lot. Employers like to see that you have a license and clinical training. I also benefitted from the Library—everyone was helpful and nice,” said Natalya.

A working mom, Natalya attended the program part time, enabling her to pursue her education. She is thinking about earning a bachelor’s degree, but she may take a break first before continuing in a four-year program. 

For anyone thinking about following their dream of seeking a better career and a degree, Natalya recommends following through with that ambition.

“Definitely do it. Try new things—that’s how I started. I never thought I’d be able to do it. Until you try, you don’t realize what your capable of,” she said.

Afshan Khan will be graduating from Community College of Philadelphia this June with an associate degree in Health Care Studies. While she has always dreamed of obtaining both her high school diploma and associate degree by 18, things did not necessarily work out how she originally planned. Despite the hiccups she’s faced along the way, Afshan has valued education for as long as she can remember.> 

Originally from Pakistan, she says her family moved to Philadelphia for her to get a better education—and a better shot at life. 

“In my country, women don’t get a lot of opportunities,” Afshan said. “Education for women is not the main goal. That’s why when I was seven, my dad moved us to Philadelphia.”

The 2021 Global Gender Gap Report, created by the World Economic Forum, ranked Pakistan 153 out of 156 countries based on four key categories: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Only 46.5% of Pakistani women are literate, 22.6% participate in the labor market, and on average women earn 16.3% of the income a Pakistani man makes. 

It's no surprise why Afshan was determined to graduate high school with an associate degree. She looks back on how excited she was after being accepted into her top high school: Parkway Center City Middle College. However, due to a family emergency, she was forced to return to Pakistan for six months. Once she came back to Philadelphia, she learned that she was no longer able to enroll at Parkway. 

She was soon recommended to participate in the College’s Gateway to College program. Gateway to College is a dual enrollment program, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, that offers students ages 16 to 21 the opportunity to not only earn their high school diploma, but to earn college credits toward an associate degree or certificate.

With the support of the Gateway program, Afshan was able to earn her high school diploma in 2020 at 16 years old. She was also the valedictorian for her graduating class. Once she completed the program, Monifa Young, the Gateway to College program director, told Afshan about the Octavius Catto Scholarship that officially launched in January 2021.

The Catto Scholarship helps make community college more accessible to Philadelphians by providing last-dollar funding to cover the cost of tuition, as well as support to cover the cost of books, enhanced academic success and career coaching, academic advising, and connections to resources like housing assistance and child care. 

“Ms. Monifa spoke with me about the Catto Scholarship and how much the scholarship helps students,” Afshan said. “After looking into it, I found out that I qualified. They pay for all your classes and help alleviate stress with other finances.”

She added, “This is the main reason some students aren’t able to go to college. The Catto Scholarship was there for students who had those financial struggles and helped them overcome them. We also have success coaches to help you out every step of the way.”

Afshan also spoke about how impactful the workshops the Catto Scholarship offers have been. Some of the workshops Afshan has attended include managing stress, what to do when your motivation is low, as well as how to drop classes and what risks to be aware of. She is on the planning committee and helps the Catto team identify what workshops would best benefit students.

“Overall, the Catto Scholarship is the whole package,” Afshan says. “I don’t know what I would have done without it.”

In addition to her studies, Afshan devotes much of her time volunteering to help others. She tutors high school students at Strawberry Mansion High School; she is involved in the Women Speak program, within the College’s Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center, where she advocates on behalf of women’s rights through writing and public speaking; and she will be wrapping up her time as a volunteer in the College’s AmeriCorps Next Steps program. 

After graduating in June, she plans to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a nursing degree. She says that down the line she wants to become a physician. 

“In every community, nurses and doctors are always needed,” Afshan said. “In my country, many people have to pay out of pocket and some people are too poor to afford health care. I want to open a hospital for people where they can get their treatment for free and help them out.

“While I always didn’t know what I wanted to do specifically, I’ve always been interested in nursing and the medical field. There are no doctors or nurses in my family at all and the woman in my family have not received a lot of education. I would like the be the first woman in my family to become a doctor. I just want to help people.”

In addition to a hospital, both in the United States and her home country, Afshan also wants to open a school in Pakistan to provide women with educational opportunities. She even wants to launch her own scholarship similar to the Catto Scholarship. 

She said, “I want to show them that women can accomplish anything. They just need the right opportunities.”

When asked to reflect on her time at the College, from the Gateway program to the Catto Scholarship, Afshan said, “CCP is an amazing college and one that every student should attend before going to a four-year college. A lot of the professors I had were caring. There are also a lot of opportunities here and they offer so much help for students to take advantage of.”

While she has enjoyed her experience at the College, she’s excited to attend a four-year school and earn her bachelor’s degree. In terms of what she’s looking forward to most at her next college: being one step closer to her goal of becoming a nurse and having the four-year college experience.

Nathaniel “Nate” Gordan was only 13 years old when his parents sent him to live with his aunt in North Philadelphia. Born in Covington, GA – a small city about an hour outside of Atlanta – Nate says he at first had a hard time getting used to the hustle and bustle of a big city. Covington has a population of nearly 14,000 people versus the 1.6 million Philadelphians who live in the city. 

When asked why he moved to Philadelphia in 2017, he says his parents wanted him to get a better education. Nate says that personally, he was looking for a much-needed change. In fact, Nate has experienced a great deal of change over the past five years. 

When he first moved to the city, he was enrolled in virtual learning; his aunt did not want him to attend his neighborhood school. He later enrolled in Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. That was until the family issues he escaped followed him north and interrupted his education.

Nate soon found himself in the foster care system going from group home to group home. Despite the uncertainty he was facing, at 16, Nate made the decision to enroll in Community College of Philadelphia’s Gateway to College program. He says he was determined to not only get his life back on track, but to get ahead in terms of his academics. 

“Getting my education has always been a priority of mine,” Nate said. “Even in middle school, I wanted to take college classes. It’s been a goal that I have wanted to accomplish for a long time now.”

Community College of Philadelphia’s Gateway to College program was established in 2006 to serve “opportunity youth” who have disengaged from the educational system. This dual enrollment program, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, offers students ages 16 to 21 the opportunity to not only earn their high school diploma, but to earn college credits toward an associate degree or certificate.

Nate is one of the 100 students the Gateway program serves each year. He describes the program as “very impactful.”

“The Gateway program has helped to facilitate where I am now,” Nate said. “The program’s impact is much bigger than the educational aspect. It also includes a lot of emotional supports. They helped me get a paid internship and even enter the Supervised Independent Living program so I can have my own apartment.” 

“It’s opened up a whole new world of opportunities,” he added. 

In addition to his 3.96 GPA, Nate is very involved on and off campus. He interns with state Sen. Sharif Street and often volunteers with the College’s Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership. He’s been able to register people to vote, participate in community clean ups, and give out more than 200 meals a day with Sen. Street’s office throughout the month of Ramadan. (Pictured right, Nate volunteering with Sen. Sharif Street and Philabundance to kick off the 30-day food drive for Ramadan)

“Because I’ve moved around a lot, I decided to volunteer with the Institute to find a community – to find my niche,” Nate said. “Being in the Gateway program, the staff constantly encourage you. They push you to do things outside of your comfort level.”

When asked how he balances it all – school, work, and his volunteerism – he says, “I just do it.”

Nate was recently recognized by Sen. Street on the Pennsylvania Senate floor for his work as a legislative intern. Throughout his time at Sen. Street’s office, Nate has worked in his Germantown and Jefferson district offices assisting the staff with constituent services. 

He was even able to lead a special project where he created a civic engagement curriculum for school-aged children and designed a bookmark to encourage self-guided learning.

“I’ve always been interested in the legislative process, specifically local politics,” Nate said. “Senator Street’s office is in the community on a very deep level. It’s what made me realize the impact local politics has on our lives and how that impact is often overlooked.”

Nate graduates this June and will be heading to attend his first-choice school: the University of Pennsylvania. He plans to study Economics but is also interested in the Urban Studies program.

“When I visited Penn, I really enjoyed the atmosphere on campus,” Nate said. “Just like CCP, Penn has a lot of great programs on campus and in the city. I want to be a part of that work.”

He added, “During my studies, I’m interested in learning how different systems work, how cities are built, and how this impacts people of color.”

Nate says that post-college, he’s interested in attending law school to study financial law and wants to help people like himself who are living in underserved areas. 

After reflecting on his journey over the past five years, Nate was extremely grateful for the support he’s received -- from Monifa Young, the Gateway to College program director, and Michael Miles, the Community Engagement Specialist with the Institute, to Aissia Richardson at Sen. Street’s office. He says everyone has been very supportive and describes his network as “family.”

When asked what motivates him, Nate said, “I have a lot of potential and I want to realize it. I want to help others just like people have helped me along the way. I know there’s a place beyond where I’ve been and all of the challenges I’ve faced.”