Why Now, Why Always

“It takes a village to raise a child “ – African Proverb

Before I say anything out of my mouth that lands as a cornucopia of accents from Brooklyn, to South East London to Jamaican patois. Before I hint at my political views, my favorite foods, my upbringing, my occupation; anything that can provide insight into who I am as an individual,  the first thing that is established from any encounter is that I am Black. Now, this is not an earth-shattering statement as we all are mostly, experienced, and identified initially through sight. Unfortunately for a Black man in America, that comes with a host of other complications.

We are at the cusp of change that has for far too long enabled racial injustices that have prevented the advancement of minorities in all parts of our society.  As the Black community in this country continues to fight a centuries-long battle for equal rights it is more important than ever to help support and stand in solidarity with the Black community as we are healing from and galvanizing around yet another agonizing cycle of inequality and violence. 

There are many ways to end this cycle, one important aspect is education and breaking through barriers to achieving a college education, as it will go a long way in removing some of the systemic divides that has been raging in our society. This point was the foremost reason for my approaching our CEO, Anant Kale, to propose that AppZen take meaningful measures and not just make empty promises. In keeping with Anant’s and Appzen’s commitment to ensuring AppZen is positively contributing to the community through action, we established the AppZen STEM Scholarship for Racial Justice.

Every bit helps

Every student’s story and circumstance is different, however,  the financial gap in paying for college is especially apparent in Black communities. By providing scholarship assistance, we are enabling greater success in college, supplying backing for deserving students who want to graduate with their degree and give back to society. 

The scholarship is a small start in giving Black students looking to foster a career in STEM, the financial bump needed to take a leap and enroll in a degree, as well as a boost to morale and a student’s confidence in their ability to work toward a better future.

I am excited and proud to be part of an organization that is cognizant of the world that we operate in, beyond profit margins and ROI, and takes a stand to actively participate toward creating a better world. 

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