Our friends at Guilford Says Yes, the local group supporting bringing Say Yes to Education to Guilford County, have produced a powerful video about the program.
It evaluates the impact the initiative can have locally, specifically focusing on several local schools. Students talk about the impact of thinking about college as a reality.
Say Yes to Education’s college scholarships and services currently are available to nearly 65,000 public school students in grades K-12 in Buffalo and Syracuse. Most are from low-income or other backgrounds historically underrepresented on the nation’s college and university campuses. A partnership with Guilford County would more than double the number of students Say Yes to Education now serves.
“Our manufacturing history in Guilford County did not require extensive post-secondary education for an individual to work and enjoy relatively high pay,” said Chuck Cornelio, president of Retirement Services at Lincoln Financial Group and chairman of GEA. “As our economic base has changed, so has the demand for job candidates with post-secondary certifications and degrees. This partnership with Say Yes to Education is a long-term effort that would transform our culture over the next 15 to 20 years. It is the fuel that can drive economic growth in Guilford County. Individuals, families and the whole community would benefit.”
The possibility of this unprecedented opportunity for students, families and employers throughout all of Guilford County is very exciting! There is another important and unique opportunity, as well – to bring together in an inclusive and collaborative way many different organizations and support services throughout our county to build on our work together. This would truly be a community undertaking.
Thanks to Donnie Turlington and the City of Greensboro for production.
