The mission of America Needs You is to fight for economic mobility for ambitious, first-generation college students. We do this by providing transformative mentorship and intensive career development.
Since 2009, America Needs You has helped first-generation college students graduate from college and begin careers.
Professional Development Training
One-on-One Mentorship
Internships and Professional Networking Opportunities
Holistic Support
Today only 11% of low-income, first-generation college students are expected to graduate. Last year, 96% of America Needs You Fellows completed four-year degrees. Within six months of graduating, 90% of them secured full-time jobs.
Funds raised through TopSpin will be used to support TopSpin Fellows. These are students, like James, who are interested in pursuing careers in entertainment management, media, and public relations.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York in a single-parent household led by a strong, supportive Puerto Rican mother. Considering the neighborhood in which I was nurtured, I feared the thought of not succeeding for my family. Infested with gang activity, narcotics, and lack of morality, I steered clear and rose to the occasion. I am currently a rising senior at Baruch College, majoring in finance with a minor in information technology & social responsibility. Before this, I had completed my associate degree at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in Business Administration.
Outside of school, I am in the process of building my personal brand in talent management, specifically in the music industry. I am interested in the development of young talented professionals in all facets of the industry and have worked with a number of musicians, photographers, developers, and more. In addition to my passion for music management, upon graduation, I have had a strong ambition of utilizing my knowledge of business administration to build a platform or tech application that would help shape educational learning for those who struggle to learn more about their career industry. After sifting through the financial services industry, school, and the current tech startup space in which I intern, I have come to realize my heart lies within the Financial Technology space until I can achieve my true goal of becoming a successful music manager and entrepreneur.
Through America Needs You I have built lasting connections with other highly motivated students and Mentor Coaches across various industries. I joined America Needs You to explore the many opportunities it has to offer and to make a statement in my community. Giving back to a community begins with building a legacy. I believe that although we may live in an impoverished neighborhood, we can achieve higher goals. I hope to inspire many younger Fellows as well to pursue their many dreams; not just one. We are in this together, and together we can achieve anything.
- James L.