Access and Equity

Authored by Pam VanHorn, Ph.D

As a young high school assistant principal in a large urban district, there were opportunities for our students that found their way to my desk. One opportunity in particular caught my attention. One of the larger banks in our city was offering to mentor interested minority students and introduce them to the banking and financial world. This opportunity immediately brought to mind a student that might be a great fit! Calling that student into my office, I set out to explain the program and nudge this reluctant teenager to at least try it out. To make a long story short, the experience ended up turning into a decades-long successful career for that young man after earning a college degree.

Students who are never exposed to the world outside of what they know are limited to a life with constrained opportunities. The combination of poverty and a culture of limited access has been a challenge for young people to overcome across multiple generations. Access to greater opportunity is a big part of equity in education and the business world.

As Greg VanHorn and I were involved in educational consulting at Cascade Career Prep High School in North Akron, the staff was discussing an opportunity for students to attend a local business conference. The meetings and workshops would be followed by a formal dinner during which participating students would be introduced to area business leaders. These were leaders who were interested in mentoring students whose families live in poverty and have little access to real opportunities to break out of that cycle. The staff was facing the challenge of needing to raise funds to have students participate. Greg and I looked at each other and knew immediately we were going to help get those students get to the conference. Access is a big part of equity.

Six students from the school attended the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio. During the three-day conference, students from Northeast Ohio were brought together to explore social justice and diversity issues through team building, leadership development, relationship building, and the power of networking. After completion of the Fall Retreat, two students chose to participate in the formal Humanitarian Award dinner as Student Ambassadors. Through this opportunity, the students were introduced to adults who committed to mentoring them in a world of business and entrepreneurship. Because again, access is a big part of equity.

Greg and I were so happy to help make this opportunity available to the students as Cascade Career Prep High School. Maybe, just maybe it will lead to a decades-long successful career for them as well! We can provide access, as we know it’s a big part of equity! One student at a time.