Our Story

Our Story

Our Story

Step Ahead Scholars began organically, as a college prep workshop in response to the lack of support that Black, LatinX, Immigrant, and First-Generation students and those historically underrepresented higher education face. It quickly became a go-to college access initiative as students and their families realized it provided access to information, resources, skill sets, and strategies needed for successful college transitions.

In 2010, Kamal Carter, an Atlanta public school teacher, in response to students facing educational disparity and unequal opportunities, created Lunch With a Mentor, a volunteer mentoring program that offered students real-world life experiences.

Debra Nealy, a college access and equity advocate, volunteered. When one senior asked for help, she successfully guided them through the process and began developing the Step Ahead Scholars To and Through College Model.

Together, Kamal and Debra with the help of volunteers, are bridging the college equity divide.

Step Ahead Scholars began organically, as a college prep workshop in response to the lack of support that Black, LatinX, Immigrant, and First-Generation students and those historically underrepresented higher education face. It quickly became a go-to college access initiative as students and their families realized it provided access to information, resources, skill sets, and strategies needed for successful college transitions.

In 2010, Kamal Carter, an Atlanta public school teacher, in response to students facing educational disparity and unequal opportunities, created Lunch With a Mentor, a volunteer mentoring program that offered students real-world life experiences.

Debra Nealy, a college access and equity advocate, volunteered. When one senior asked for help, she successfully guided them through the process and began developing the Step Ahead Scholars To and Through College Model.

Together, Kamal and Debra with the help of volunteers, are bridging the college equity divide.

Step Ahead Scholars began organically, as a college prep workshop in response to the lack of support that Black, LatinX, Immigrant, and First-Generation students and those historically underrepresented higher education face. It quickly became a go-to college access initiative as students and their families realized it provided access to information, resources, skill sets, and strategies needed for successful college transitions.

In 2010, Kamal Carter, an Atlanta public school teacher, in response to students facing educational disparity and unequal opportunities, created Lunch With a Mentor, a volunteer mentoring program that offered students real-world life experiences.

Debra Nealy, a college access and equity advocate, volunteered. When one senior asked for help, she successfully guided them through the process and began developing the Step Ahead Scholars To and Through College Model.

Together, Kamal and Debra with the help of volunteers, are bridging the college equity divide.

Our WHY

Our WHY

Our WHY

This lack of support leads to income inequality and limits upward mobility.
We’re committed to solving this injustice by helping students and families overcome
systemic barriers while transitioning from high school to college and beyond.

The average high school
student receives less than

38 Minutes

of college counseling
over four years.

The counselor-
to-student ratio is

1:466

This lack of support leads to income
inequality and limits upward mobility.

We’re committed to solving this injustice by
helping students and families overcome
systemic barriers while transitioning from
high school to college and beyond.

The average high school student receives less than

38 minutes

of college counseling
over four years.

The counselor-to-student ratio is

1:466

The counselor-to-student ratio is

1:466

This lack of support leads to income inequality and limits upward mobility.
We’re committed to solving this injustice by helping students and families overcome
systemic barriers while transitioning from high school to college and beyond.

This lack of support leads to income inequality and limits upward mobility.
We’re committed to solving this injustice by helping students and families overcome
systemic barriers while transitioning from high school to college and beyond.

Our Model

We support students by introducing them to college access and success strategies that cultivate best fit college experiences that lead to economic wellbeing.

We engage students in the communities where they learn and live by providing easily accessible:

Parent/
Student Presentations

Targeted Student
Workshops

Student Learning
Communities

One-on-One
Purposeful Mentorship

College Campus
Support

Meaningful
College Exposure

Our Model

We support students by introducing them to college access and success strategies that cultivate best fit college experiences that lead to economic wellbeing.

We engage students in the communities where they learn and live by providing easily accessible:

Parent/Student Presentations

Targeted Student Workshops

Student Learning Communities

One-on-One Purposeful Mentorship

College Campus Support

Meaningful College Exposure

Our Impact

Our Impact

Students and Parents
Guided Through College
Admission Process

Scholarships and
Grants Earned

Students Provided
One-on-One, College
Access Coaching Sessions

College Enrollment Rate
Immediately Following
High School

College Graduation Rate

Students and Parents
Guided Through College
Admission Process

Scholarships and
Grants Earned

Students Provided
One-on-One, College
Access Coaching Sessions

College Enrollment Rate
Immediately Following
High School

College Graduation Rate

Students and Parents
Guided Through College
Admission Process

Scholarships and
Grants Earned

Students Provided
One-on-One, College
Access Coaching Sessions

College Enrollment Rate
Immediately Following
High School

College Graduation Rate