Students in Harford County’s underserved communities often lack access to the educational, professional and cultural exposure that broadens aspirations and enables upward mobility.  Without intentional interventions that bridge this exposure gap, the talent and potential of these students may forever remain unrealized. 

As individuals interested in the betterment of Harford County, we have undertaken a systematic assessment of interventions designed to expand access to opportunity and reduce the exposure gap in Harford County’s underserved communities.  In so doing, we have made two observations. 

FIRST: By providing a student with (a) visits to transformative environments such as colleges, museums and places of employment, (b) mentors who can help the student explore an area of interest and how to obtain a scholarship or to pursue a career path, and (c) the resources and information needed to participate in experiences such as a joining a sports team or becoming a contestant in an oratorical contest, we are confident that the student, many for the first time, will be able to dream big and set in motion the steps needed to turn this dream into reality.  Indeed, one of our favorite sayings is a quote from Zig Ziglar who said that “You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”  After all, how can these students envision a brighter future for themselves when they have never been exposed to it and realize that this brighter pathway is real and attainable.

SECOND:  There are a number of non-profits in the community dedicated to helping students in underserved communities but lack the contacts, resources and relationships to accomplish their mission.  For example, we identified non-profits wanting to have a career or mentor night but unable to identify members of the business community to serve as mentors or unable to develop the relationships needed with the business community to make these events effective—all tools which we can easily provide given our relationships with stakeholders in Harford County’s business, political and non-profit communities.  We are certain that if a non-profit were provided with these tools, they could more effectively expose students to the many opportunities available to them in the greater world.   Our value is the network: relationships, introductions, and experience — leveraged where they matter most.