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No computer, broken computer, and classes online . . . Students are left up that creek without a paddle!

4/23/2020

This week we provided “paddles” (refurbished MacBooks) to 2 DC college students, Taronne and Da-Quon, who left their shutdown campuses with computers on their last legs. Imagine being Da-Quon, an honor roll candidate, 2nd year of college and first in his family to attend, with a computer that gives out ... up that creek without a paddle, navigating way rougher waters these days. Fortunately, Da-Quon's "paddle" puts him back on course.

Imagine being an American Indian college scholar, your campus served as access to technology, housing and food. How do you continue pursuing your healthcare, STEM or education degree? You might have to dropout! What do you do without a computer to stay on track ... up that creek floating helplessly downstream without a paddle?

"Conspicuously left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package, most high school seniors and many college students are not eligible for broad financial assistance from the government to help them dig out of the pandemic's economic hole." The Washington Post, April 24, 2020

I understand & care to help

When you reflect on it, the virus-caused shutdowns illuminate how an unaffordable computer is like that paddle, a lifesaver for low-income students' challenging journey paddling upstream toward the American dream, out of poverty, and the low-wage working class life of so many people in our country.

According to The Washington Post, 44% of all workers in the US have jobs that are considered low wage, with median pay of $10.22/per hour; additionally they lack benefits such as health insurance. Many students and their parents held low wage jobs and no longer have them! What a predicament ... up that creek without a paddle. You can’t just go out and buy a new or used laptop; neither you nor your family has the money, especially now if both of you lost a job.

Imagine you’re an ambitious 11th grade student and fortunate participant in a non-profit’s college prep program. You need to keep up your grades since you’re reaching high, for college acceptance, a scholarship, and a degree en route to upward mobility. With no computer at hand you sit helpless ... up that creek without a paddle! Read on about the “paddle” we provided Kevin with.

Kevin’s iMac - a Silver Lining Around a Massive Cloud

For many, it’s just a photo of an everyday activity, a student at a computer, because so little is known about our “Kevins”. For me it’s a heartwarming photo. And if you read on, you’ll get the picture from a new perspective. I look at Kevin perched at his little desk at the iMac, with a smile on my face and in my heart, knowing we’ve made an enormous difference in his life. Kevin is among the fortunate few who through us and others, pulling for him, has a good chance of making it now through the school shutdown:continue his classes online and his college prep workshops, and search for colleges and scholarships. What an empowering tool, a basic necessity in the educational system today. Where would he be without it ... up that creek without a paddle, floating helplessly downstream.

His good fortune includes not only the iMac and the college prep program, but also a mentor who is a program alum, who 10 years ago followed a vocational track, now successful in the IT field, and purchased a home for his family! That’s the upward mobility we’re talking about that “takes a village” to bring their ambition and talent to fruition.
Now do you get the picture? Kevin is among the many students struggling to stay on course with schoolwork and couldn’t without access to the technology. We hope he continues to have a roof over his head and healthful meals. His is a vastly different life from his wealthier peers who not only have access to their classes online, but also have parents receiving pitches daily for online acting classes, music lessons, tutoring, on-line read-alouds, science & technology websites. Is the photo becoming more heartwarming for you as well, knowing what a difference that little old iMac will make in his life… someone else’s trade-in gets a new life, and gives a new life. Thanks to our alchemist Mac wizard we provided 3 students and a tutor with iMacs.
All Out for Change® provides hope and help to low-income students like Kevin, Taronne, Da-Quon and American Indian college scholars faced with potentially tragic consequences due to campus shutdowns along with their limited financial resources (the socio-economic conundrum built into our country’s educational system).

I GET THE PICTURE & I'D LIKE HELP

Help spread the word about our students and American Indian college scholars' urgently needed computers, housing and food: share our e news; like or share our facebook page.

Stay well and help make good news happen!
MaryAnn, Chief Engagement Officer and Founder
AllOutForChange®

Kevin’s iMac - a Silver Lining Around a Massive Cloud

4/10/2020

For many, it’s just a photo of an everyday activity, a student at a computer, because so little is know about our “Kevins”. For me it’s a heartwarming photo. And if you read on, you’ll get the picture from a new perspective. I look at Kevin perched at his little desk at the iMac, with a smile on my face and in my heart, knowing we’ve made an enormous difference in his life.

BTW, if this was forwarded to you, please become a subscriber (we won't clutter your inbox), forward this to others. We pitch in $10 for emergency computer needs with every new subscriber and every donation ($10 minimum)

Imagine being an ambitious high school or college student without access to a computer amidst the pandemic and unable to use a library, rec center, school, or youth development program computer due to stay at home orders!? Kevin is among the fortunate few who through us and others, pulling for him, has a good chance of making it now through the school shutdown: continue his studies, communicate online with his tutor, continue in his college prep workshop, search for colleges and scholarships. What an empowering tool, a basic necessity in the educational system today. Where would he be without it?!

His good fortune includes not only the iMac and the college prep program, but also a mentor who is a program alum, who 10 years ago followed a vocational track, now successful in the IT field, and purchased a home for his family! That’s the upward mobility we’re talking about that “takes a village” to bring that ambition and talent to fruition.

Now do you get the picture? Kevin is among the many students struggling to stay on course with schoolwork and couldn’t without access to the technology; his is a vastly different life from his wealthier peers who not only have access to their classes online, but also have parents receiving pitches for online acting classes, music lessons, tutoring, on-line read-alouds, science & technology websites… is the photo becoming more heartwarming for you as well, knowing what a difference that little old iMac will make in his life… someone else’s trade-in gets a new life, and gives a new life. Thanks to our alchemist Mac wizard we provided 3 students and a tutor with iMacs.

All Out for Change® is committed to helping students like Kevin faced with obstacles to upward mobility due to financial disadvantage (the socio-economic conundrum tragically built into our country’s educational system).

Forward this email to others to help American Indian College Scholars

We pitch in $10 for every enews subscriber you lead us to, and for every donation ($10 minimum).

Forward our good news to help get the word out to raise funds for $400 ipads and $700 laptops and internet access so these students can stay on track in pursuit of college degrees and living wage professions, upward mobility. Possible impact: 10 new subscribers and 55 - $10 donations means 3 ipads for 3 American Indian college scholars with emergency need. There’s an enormous need now while campuses and other facilities are closed.
Make a donation, even a small one, and help get the word out through our fundraising chain and experience the “Happy to have helped” feeling I did!

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DONATE ($10 minimum) and we'll donate $10 more.

Help get the word out, like or share our new Facebook page.

There wouldn't be any of these good stories without the eye-opening conundrums that All Out For Change® seeks to solve.

Watch a short TODAY SHOW segment with an aspiring opera singer
School Counselors Increasingly are Missing Link in Getting Kids to College
“I Was a Low-Income College Student. Classes Weren’t the Hard Part.” Anthony Abraham Jack, New York Times

Stay well and help make good news happen!
MaryAnn, Chief Engagement Officer and Founder
AllOutForChange®

Your contribution fulfills dreams, gives economic mobility by opening doors to college, meaningful careers with fruitful salaries and economic independence.

No computer, broken computer, and classes online . . . Students are left up that creek without a paddle!

Kevin’s iMac - a Silver Lining Around a Massive Cloud

MaryAnn Puglisi

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