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College Possible
At College Possible, we believe in the power of education. We believe that our students and our supporters can change the country. We coach low-income students toward college graduation and they prove that when college is possible, anything is possible.
Purpose
At College Possible, we believe in the power of education. We believe that our students and our supporters can change the country. We coach low-income students toward college graduation and they prove that when college is possible, anything is possible.
Additional Culture Details
We build a strong organizational culture with a focus on creating positive change through “Ripples.” This practice draws on a powerful speech Robert F. Kennedy gave in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966, in which he said:
It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
The power of this speech, and this quote in particular, is that it calls on each of us do what we can to right the wrongs of the world with the knowledge that every contribution matters. Instead of waiting for a singular leader to change the world, we each must do what we can. Our moral obligation is to take action, and when we do, together, we can change the world. As Kennedy said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and then the total—all of these acts—will be written in the history of this generation.” Many of us at College Possible find this idea tremendously inspiring, and we hope you do, too.
By sharing Ripples, we begin to develop the habit of reflecting on the time since we last met and thinking about the individual acts of courage and belief that we have witnessed or participated in. This serves a number of purposes. First, when people share Ripples, the stories often inspire others and sometimes even provide a little nudge of encouragement to take similar actions in our own work and lives. Second, these stories help us stay deeply connected to our mission and our students.
It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
The power of this speech, and this quote in particular, is that it calls on each of us do what we can to right the wrongs of the world with the knowledge that every contribution matters. Instead of waiting for a singular leader to change the world, we each must do what we can. Our moral obligation is to take action, and when we do, together, we can change the world. As Kennedy said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and then the total—all of these acts—will be written in the history of this generation.” Many of us at College Possible find this idea tremendously inspiring, and we hope you do, too.
By sharing Ripples, we begin to develop the habit of reflecting on the time since we last met and thinking about the individual acts of courage and belief that we have witnessed or participated in. This serves a number of purposes. First, when people share Ripples, the stories often inspire others and sometimes even provide a little nudge of encouragement to take similar actions in our own work and lives. Second, these stories help us stay deeply connected to our mission and our students.
Values
- Strive to be delightful!
- People who constantly exceed expectations are not only delightful; they are always the most successful.