Being a first-generation low-income student myself, I understand the profound significance of financial literacy and have witnessed its impact on my life firsthand. This understanding propels my unwavering commitment to dismantling the intergenerational cycle of poverty that disproportionately affects countless Black Americans including my own family. My name is Evan Nelson, I am a first-generation low-income junior at Harvard, where I study sociology and captain the men’s varsity basketball team. From my years of youth onward, the impact of financial dynamics on my family became glaringly evident and only began to unravel further as I got older. These circumstances shifted my parents' demeanor during financial hardships, fueling my determination to alter this narrative and create a better life for my parents and siblings. My father, though lacking a college degree, endeavored to instill invaluable financial insights in me. As I grew older, we continued to have open dialogue on some of my family’s financial decisions and history to learn from past mistakes. These lessons and conversations ignited a fervent passion for financial literacy, leading me to voraciously consume countless videos, articles, and books on the subject. Presently, I lead "Next Ones Up," a non-profit organization I founded six months ago. Our mission is centered on nurturing future leaders through educational mentorship, triggering transformative community effects. Our partnership with a local wealth management firm enabled us to incorporate a financial literacy curriculum into our free summer program which was a huge success. By engaging nearly 20 students, we initiated dialogues about prudent financial practices and encouraged students to do their research on financial literacy. Seeing the light in the students’ eyes as we talked about savings, bank accounts, and investing filled my heart with joy and is a feeling I hope to continue to reciprocate by helping more communities in need. I believe kids in underserved communities, especially in the black communities need positive mentors and doors of opportunity to be opened for their talent and work ethic to shine through. As I envision the future, my aspirations extend to kindling inspiration and enlightenment within marginalized communities, but especially black communities, nationwide. Within the upcoming year, my objective is to empower over 500 students through my non-profit initiative, prioritizing financial literacy in underserved regions. Through this, I aspire to bestow economic mobility, elevate the quality of life, and catalyze the genesis of new cycles of affluence and stability within Black communities.

Oprah Winfrey, one of the greatest black philanthropists and most unique humans of our time said this, “I don't think you ever stop giving. I don't. I think it's an ongoing process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.”, I would agree with this statement and it's something I try to model my life after. I am a first-generation, low-income, student-athlete from Tucson, Arizona, getting into arguably the most prestigious academic institution in the world and becoming a Captain of their basketball team is something that I believe sets me apart and makes me different. On top of this, being a role model to the next generation and founding a nonprofit organization that invests and pours into underserved youth from my hometown also makes me one of a kind. All of these accomplishments are great but I say this with humility, and none of this would be possible without God, my parents, and my mentors. For as long as I could remember, I was a leader and people looked up to me. I think some of this had to do with the natural talent and ability possessed, but a lot of it had to do with the amount of work I was putting in when nobody else was watching. This in turn allowed me to shine when the spotlight was on me. While everyone else was off having fun, partying, and doing whatever kids do, I was reading or training, perfecting my craft because that is what I loved to do. I'm different because I embrace my uniqueness and don't try to be anybody other than myself. More often around me, I see people, friends, and colleagues trying to display themselves as someone they are not, and it's painful to see. I’ve made it a point to surround myself with authentic people who are only themselves, and the result of that has been finding an eclectic group of friends with entirely different interests from all different parts of the world. By being myself and by being such an anomaly I know I’ve made a difference in people's lives whom I don't even know. Everything I do is to ultimately be an example for my four younger sisters, who I encourage to aim for the moon and set lofty goals because they can be accomplished with hard work. For those individuals who I have no idea they are watching me, I leverage my uniqueness to affect their lives in the same way I have been for the past 21 years. I will continue to do well and do good from the heart, push myself to grow each year, stay on the correct path, and keep breaking barriers that are supposed to be in place. If I allowed myself to stay boxed into my environment or become too caught up in what's going on around me I would never see myself in the position I am in now, and I know this is only the beginning. By embracing my uniqueness and continuing to be myself, I know that by God’s will I’ll continue to surprise myself, and everyone else, and when it's all said and done, I hope to give back to those who poured into me as well as pay the good deeds forward. Mrs. Gladys Ruth’s message should inspire us all to make the most out of this life we’re given and to utilize our unique abilities to bring the best out of others.

Samuel L. Goodman told his family, "An education is one thing that no one can ever take away from you", the history of our people has been riddled with exploitation and this saying reverberates at the front of my mind knowing our history and all the suffering we have been through. My name is Evan Nelson, I’m from Tucson, Arizona, and I’m currently in my sophomore year at Harvard University studying sociology and playing varsity basketball. I’m a first-generation low-income college student and hope to be the first person in my family to get a college degree. Like Mr. Goodman, my education extends beyond the classroom, and I have an ever-lasting thirst for knowledge and a passion for teaching and inspiring others. In my free time, I enjoy reading works ranging from philosophical and literary classics to more practical matters such as financial and stock market analysis. This school year while taking classes, I’ve been working as an attendant to my house manager in order to make some money, as I’ve been financially independent for a little over two years now. Through work and the philanthropy of scholarships, I’ve been able to survive easier while here at school and living across the country from my family. I have four younger sisters and for me, the importance of higher education hits close to home because aim to be a great example to my sisters and those who look up to me in my community and those in less fortunate situations. The late great, W.E.B. Du Bois, says, “Education must not simply teach work – it must teach life.”. For me, this quote illustrates how the pursuit of education is another way of giving people life and going hand in hand with a saying he always had for me that went along the lines of “never stop learning”. The pursuit of higher education is important to me because I’m passionate about finding solutions to inequities we face by just simply existing as African Americans. These include issues such as education and wealth gaps and health inequalities. These issues are systemic, but through the pursuit of higher education and with the osmosis that would result from an each one teach one mentality in our communities, we can and I hope to bring about real change in communities of need. I believe that through higher education, we can lift not only ourselves but our families and communities and create opportunities we never knew existed in this life. Mr. Samuel L. Goodman is a great example of how through higher education and a thirst for knowledge outside of the traditional classroom, you can make a difference for your family and your community, something we as human beings should all aspire to do.

"A Voteless people is a hopeless people.". This timeless quote from Amelia Boynton Robinson rings true and holds the same weight as it did over sixty years ago. Amelia Boynton Robinson and her Husband Samuel were American trailblazers, who fought for the civil equality and advancement of our community. The two fought for property and education rights, hosted voting registration drives, and acted as benefactors for black scholars, artists, and civil leaders from all walks of life. A graduate of the esteemed Tuskegee institute and starting her early career as a traveling teacher for the state of Alabama, Amelia knew that she would be instrumental in uplifting and empowering her kin. During a time when it was nearly impossible for black Americans to vote, Amelia was not only one of the courageous eight who bravely launched the fight for voting and economic rights in Selma, but she also successfully registered herself to vote, an extraordinary feat. Later on, Amelia ran for a seat in the House of Representatives and became the first black women to run for office in Alabama and the first women to run as a Democrat in the state. Amelia worked hand in hand with Dr. King to mobilize protests in Selma. Amelia and Samuel's stories have ignited a fire within me to not only educate my family and my community about them, but to actually create action and bolster voting turnout in my community. Going forward, I plan to read and learn more about the civil right players who nearly died for the freedom and liberation my community and I have today. I currently work with the Institute of Politics at my school now and discuss and collaborate with other minority students on topics such as the ones the Boynton's dedicated their lives to. I plan to continue to work with the Institute and continue to have these conversations around the importance of voting. With 2020 setting the record for Black voter turnout with 30 million Black Americans eligible to vote, there's still close to 12 million Black citizens who didn't vote. With the turmoil present in America today, it's a definitive fact that every vote counts. Black Americans have been systematically punished in America for as long as history books will tell, and we need leaders like the Boynton's once again to advocate for our communities. I hope to be the advocate. Im passionate about closing the ever growing wage gap between Black and White Americans and hope, in the near future, to create an action plan to address the issue. Every young black American should know the revere the names of Amelia Boynton Robinson and Samuel William Boynton and the importance they played in the civil rights movement. The two embody black excellence and keeping them in mind, I hope to follow in their footsteps with making a difference in my community. Amelia said, "You can never know where you are going unless you know where you have been.", and seeing where they laid the foundation, I now have a better understanding for the path going forward.