I am a queer, Black woman and self-supporting student. Many times over, the work of social justice activists has provided the resources I needed to succeed. I was born into a working-class, Black family. The first years of my life were spent in a small apartment, maintained only by my father’s income. My mother had halted her education and got married and spent over a decade at my father’s mercy. Witnessing their dynamic taught me the importance of financial independence for women. However, I also knew that I needed an education to achieve this. Since entering college, specialized grants, scholarships, and mentorship programs for marginalized youth have sustained me. The help I have received motivates me to engage in social justice whenever possible. Equitable access has changed my life trajectory, and I strive to provide this access to others. In late 2023, I experienced extreme hardship. Unable to continue paying tuition, I was forced to drop out of school and lost my student housing. I became homeless, and I struggled to find work. Fortunately, in February of 2024, I learned about Chicago’s Cara Program. It is a free, nonprofit organization that prepares people who are homeless, suffering from addiction, or recently incarcerated to reenter the workforce. They offer lunch, professional clothing, financial advising, and classes on personal and professional development. I spent over a month working with a coach and other staff who encouraged me fiercely. After completing the program, I secured full-time employment at Rush University Medical Center. Housing and finances secured, I focused on reentering school. After being accepted to Columbia College Chicago, I was also accepted into the TRIO program. Due to the help of both TRIO and Cara, I have excelled professionally and academically. The opportunity to aid a similar organization is invaluable to me. After my life changing experience in the Cara Program, I knew I wanted to work with nonprofits. My ultimate goal is to become a grant writer. In the Spring of 2025, I was accepted into Columbia’s Combined Degree program, and I have now obtained six credits toward an MA of Strategic Communications. In the Summer of 2025, I was accepted into the Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Internship, where I participated in daily workshops on careers within philanthropy. In the Fall of 2025, I spoke on behalf of Cara’s Alumni organization, and we achieved a record-breaking $260,000 in donations for Cara’s operations. My lived experience has made me endlessly dedicated to creating equitable access to employment and education. The Priscilla Shireen Luke Scholarship will further propel me toward a career in nonprofit fundraising, using my written command of narrative to secure resources for underrepresented groups.

I am a queer, Black woman and self-supporting student. Many times over, the work of social justice activists has provided the resources I needed to succeed. I was born into a working-class, Black family. The first years of my life were spent in a small apartment, maintained only by my father’s income. My mother had halted her education and got married and spent over a decade at my father’s mercy. Witnessing their dynamic taught me the importance of financial independence for women. However, I also knew that I needed an education to achieve this. Since entering college, specialized grants, scholarships, and mentorship programs for marginalized youth have sustained me. The help I have received motivates me to engage in social justice whenever possible. Equitable access has changed my life trajectory, and I strive to provide this access to others. In late 2023, I experienced extreme hardship. Unable to continue paying tuition, I was forced to drop out of school and lost my student housing. I became homeless, and I struggled to find work. Fortunately, in February of 2024, I learned about Chicago’s Cara Program. It is a free, nonprofit organization that prepares people who are homeless, suffering from addiction, or recently incarcerated to reenter the workforce. They offer lunch, professional clothing, financial advising, and classes on personal and professional development. I spent over a month working with a coach and other staff who encouraged me fiercely. After completing the program, I secured full-time employment at Rush University Medical Center. Housing and finances secured, I focused on reentering school. After being accepted to Columbia College Chicago, I was also accepted into the TRIO program. Due to the help of both TRIO and Cara, I have excelled professionally and academically. The opportunity to aid a similar organization is invaluable to me. After my life changing experience in the Cara Program, I knew I wanted to work with nonprofits. My ultimate goal is to become a grant writer. In the Spring of 2025, I was accepted into Columbia’s Combined Degree program, and I have now obtained six credits toward an MA of Strategic Communications. In the Summer of 2025, I was accepted into the Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Internship, where I participated in daily workshops on careers within philanthropy. In the Fall of 2025, I spoke on behalf of Cara’s Alumni organization, and we achieved a record-breaking $260,000 in donations for Cara’s operations. My lived experience has made me endlessly dedicated to creating equitable access to employment and education. The Justin Burnell Memorial Scholarship will further propel me toward a career in nonprofit fundraising, using my written command of narrative to secure resources for underrepresented groups.

I am a Black woman and self-supporting student. Many times over, my faith in God has given me the spiritual sustenance I needed to succeed. I was born into a working-class, Christian, Black family. The first years of my life were spent in a small apartment. My entire life was maintained by my father’s income and the faith my parents had that their hard work would manifest. My mother also halted her education and got married and spent over a decade out of work, investing in my future. Witnessing my parents’ sacrifices taught me the importance of a strong spiritual life when pushing into unfamiliar levels of success. In late 2023, I experienced extreme hardship. Unable to continue paying tuition, I was forced to drop out of school and lost my student housing. I became homeless, and I struggled to find work. However, I knew God would protect and keep me, as He always has. Fortunately, in February of 2024, I learned about Chicago’s Cara Program. It is a free, nonprofit organization that prepares people who are homeless, suffering from addiction, or recently incarcerated to reenter the workforce. They offer lunch, professional clothing, financial advising, and classes on personal and professional development. I was intimidated by the program, and for its implications on my future. However, I continued to trust in God. I spent over a month working with a coach and other staff who encouraged me fiercely. After completing the program, I secured full-time employment at Rush University Medical Center. All the while, I remained prayerful and open to the path God was showing me. Housing and finances secured, I focused on reentering school. After being accepted to Columbia College Chicago, I was also accepted into the TRIO program. Due to the help of both TRIO and Cara, I have excelled professionally and academically. At the heart of it all, my faith in God has nourished, sustained, and emboldened me. After my life changing experience in the Cara Program, I knew I wanted to work with nonprofits. My ultimate goal is to become a grant writer. In the Spring of 2025, I was accepted into Columbia’s Combined Degree program, and I have now obtained six credits toward an MA of Strategic Communications. In the Summer of 2025, I was accepted into the Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Internship, where I participated in daily workshops on careers within philanthropy. In the Fall of 2025, I spoke on behalf of Cara’s Alumni organization, and we achieved a record-breaking $260,000 in donations for Cara’s operations. My lived experience has made me endlessly dedicated to creating equitable access to employment and education. This is what I am called to do. My ability to have faith in God’s plan for my life has allowed me to push forward, regardless of the fear I’ve felt. As I move closer to completing my advanced degree, my faith informs every personal, professional, and educational step I take. This scholarship, in combination with, would further propel me toward a career in nonprofit fundraising where I can fulfill God’s purpose for my life.

At the end of 2023, I lost practically everything I had worked for. After fighting through a tumultuous high school experience, I started college at the height of the COVID19 pandemic. Though my ambition continued to burn, my depression overwhelmed me. I spent another three years fighting and exhausted all my supportive resources. Despite this, I was forced to withdraw from school and start over. Withdrawing from school also meant that I lost my on-campus housing and employment. I was forced to return home with nothing. I was thoroughly shocked by the failure. All I had known was survival-driven success, but my anxiety had failed to force me forward. I was tired, and I fell into a half-awake haze of life. However, there was one benefit of losing sight of the path ahead; I could dream. While in college the first time, I suffered from extreme tunnel vision. I wanted to finish college as quickly as possible, and I had limited interest in extra-curriculars or community involvement. I started working my first part-time job at a call center, as I struggled to manage my courses. This lifestyle left little room for me to explore alternative futures for myself. I was English major because that was the only writing program my college offered, but I have always wanted to pursue creative writing. No one in my support network supported my desires to drop out of school, so I attempted to stay the course regardless of my feelings. When I dropped out, my devastation was quickly overridden by relief. I was forced to revise my plans for the future, and I gave myself permission to do what I truly wanted. I applied to my dream school, Columbia College Chicago, and selected Creative Writing as my program. At the same time, I entered a career development program called Cara Chicago. In this program, I not only benefited from community support, but also experienced the beauty of philanthropy. I learned that I wanted to help others, and to provide resources to strengthen communities. Since completing that job program, I have jumped head-first into my journey toward a career that combines my writing abilities and philanthropic interests: grant writing. In the Summer of 2025, I completed the Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Internship, where I learned from women in fundraising and philanthropy. One of my projects focused on researching and documenting resources for women entrepreneurs. Furthermore, I was invited to Cara Chicago's Summer Social event in September. There, I was featured as the alumni representative and shared my story in a room of 500 donors and partners. After my speech, Cara raised a record-breaking $260,000 toward its operations. More than ever, I am confident that the life of my dreams is one where I help others succeed. I want to provide the resources others need to succeed like I have, in spite of obstacles placed in our paths. Currently, I work full-time as a Guest Relations Associate at Rush University Medical Center. At the same time, I am a full-time Combined Degree student at Columbia College Chicago. In addition to completing my Bachelors of Creative Writing, I have also started my Master of Strategic Communication. I am dedicated to completing my studies, so that I can help others pursue their dreams as well.

I am a queer, Black woman and self-supporting student. Many times over, the work of social justice activists has provided the resources I needed to succeed. I was born into a working-class, Black family. The first years of my life were spent in a small apartment, maintained only by my father’s income. My mother had halted her education and got married and spent over a decade at my father’s mercy. Witnessing their dynamic taught me the importance of financial independence for women. However, I also knew that I needed an education to achieve this. Since entering college, specialized grants, scholarships, and mentorship programs for marginalized youth have sustained me. The help I have received motivates me to engage in social justice whenever possible. Equitable access has changed my life trajectory, and I strive to provide this access to others. In late 2023, I experienced extreme hardship. Unable to continue paying tuition, I was forced to drop out of school and lost my student housing. I became homeless, and I struggled to find work. Fortunately, in February of 2024, I learned about Chicago’s Cara Program. It is a free, nonprofit organization that prepares people who are homeless, suffering from addiction, or recently incarcerated to reenter the workforce. They offer lunch, professional clothing, financial advising, and classes on personal and professional development. I spent over a month working with a coach and other staff who encouraged me fiercely. After completing the program, I secured full-time employment at Rush University Medical Center. Housing and finances secured, I focused on reentering school. After being accepted to Columbia College Chicago, I was invited to apply to its TRIO program. TRIO is a student organization that provides additional resources to marginalized students. I applied and was accepted, giving me access to specialized academic support. Due to the help of both TRIO and Cara, I have excelled professionally and academically. The opportunity to aid a similar organization is invaluable to me. After my life changing experience in the Cara Program, I knew I wanted to work with nonprofits. My ultimate goal is to become a grant writer. At Columbia College Chicago, I am studying Creative Writing with a minor in Professional Writing. In the Fall of 2024, I achieved a 4.0 GPA, qualifying me for an early Master’s Degree program. I was accepted, and I will begin my MA of Strategic Communication in the fall. Furthermore, I was accepted into the Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Internship, where I'll learn more about nonprofit research. My lived experience has made me endlessly dedicated to creating equitable access to employment and education. This scholarship would further assist me in my journey into the nonprofit fundraising sphere.