When Kimora Custon thought about her life aspirations as a teen living in Chicago public housing, she knew she wanted the ability to help others. Working with her CHA education navigator, she assessed her college options, completed the complicated process of applying for financial aid, searched for additional scholarships, and chose a psychology program at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign.

“I want to be able to come home with new skills and knowledge and help my community.” Before she left for college, she attended Take Flight, an S2S event that provides students with necessities for dorm life and this year even included new Chromebook computer for each student.

“Sometimes I’d worry about my mom having the ability to eat.” Said Kimora, but, “Having the support network and a scholarship was a big help. It relaxes the stress of [financial] worries.”

Because S2S is a nimble not-for-profit we can quickly respond to CHA Youth needs and support or run programs that lead to college persistence and perseverance. Education is a proven pathway out of poverty. We rally behind our CHA Youth to help propel them on their pathways to academic success, economic stability, and independence.

Now more than ever, because of the pandemic, economic downturn and civil unrest, we need to come together as a community to support and nurture black and brown youth. Jimmy Stewart, S2S donor, recently reminded me that, “If they succeed, we all succeed.”

Kimora is expected to graduate in the spring of 2021. Will you make a gift so we can all succeed in 2021?

You can change a life, and we change the world, together.