The Jack and Jill of America Foundation's financial support has helped the Greene Scholars Program (GSP) build Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) confidence and competence in youth of African ancestry the San Francisco Bay Area, California. This grant has helped provide hands-on enrichment in science and math and has helped cultivate diversity in future STEM careers for 171 students in grades 3-12 during our 2022-23 program year.
According to one GSP senior, “Greene Scholars provided access to science activities that I didn’t get at school. For example, I got to do a sheet heart dissection and really cool chemistry experiments at a very young age. GSP also helped me realize the importance of finding a strong Black community focused on STEM when I go to college next year.”
Another GSP student said, “One of my favorite experiences in Green Scholars was learning how to do computer programming with my African-American peers. It was a great experience to learn something new and I will never forget it. Greene Scholars helped me have a new learning for STEM that I wouldn't have otherwise had, and it also gave me the tools to be confident.” Thank you to the Jack and Jill Foundation of American for helping to make this possible, and congratulations on your 55th anniversary!
At 12, I was told that women, especially Black women, were underrepresented in the healthcare workforce. Since then, I’ve wondered why there are different responses to Black people within the healthcare system.
The Greene Scholars Program (GSP) exposed me to role models, and gave me the knowledge and the confidence that my schools did not provide. Through GSP, I saw people that looked like me in positions I never thought they would be in. I saw Black people as scientists, as researchers, doctors, and in many other STEM fields. This exposure really inspired me to go after my dreams and also pursue a career in STEM.
GSP also shared opportunities and helped me access scholarships for programs like the Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience at Stanford University. I was raised in a one-income household by a single immigrant mother; without this assistance I would not have been able to attend.
I am now a senior in high school and have been accepted at UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University, University of San Diego, Howard University, the University of Colorado Boulder, San Jose State University. In college I plan to major in Neuroscience with a focus on oncology and other diseases that can affect the brain. I want to learn more about human brains and how to maximize brain health via both holistic and scientific methods.
GSP science workshops, science fairs, college prep and exposure to Black role models in STEM helped me build my knowledge base and confidence to pursue my dreams.
Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc
1930 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-232-5290
Fax: 202-232-1747
We are the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc, the oldest African American-led nonprofit organization in the U.S. and the philanthropic arm of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Our focus is on addressing issues affecting African American children and families through investing in programs that provide quality education, healthcare, and a safe environment. Our mission is to create a strong foundation for children's long-term growth. We are dedicated to transforming African American communities, one child at a time.
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