Education is key.
The beauty of public service is that it enables one to change the world through community involvement. The greater essence of civic engagement is that it allows people to begin taking a vested interest in advancing their communities. That's why I founded Project ASCEND in 2011. I wanted to empower students to attend college with a scholarship because education is the key to success in life. Project ASCEND is more than just a college scholarship program.
We are a grant program that awards volunteer-led service projects financial support to lead their programs. Project ASCEND is a manifestation of my dreams of supporting emerging leaders to participate in community organizing. During my teenage years, I discovered my love for giving back to my community. As I entered my high school each day, it was often like entering a battlefield.
As products of a crumbling public school system, my peers and I received a less than stellar education coupled with little hope for a positive future. So, I became involved in student government and community service initiatives to begin changing things. The volunteering action changed my life by showing me how to create social change—all while under the leadership of other young people.
Project ASCEND was designed to support the next generation of leaders. Whether through a scholarship or service grant, we intend to be the barrier between a student entering jail or walking down the aisle at college graduation. We will no longer allow students to slip through the cracks on our watch.
Thank you for your support.
—
Ola Ojewumi
Executive Director and Founder