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Evette KhalilCollege of Staten IslandMariner’s Harbor HousesThe day Evette Khalil and her family wereaccepted into NYCHA housing marked a newbeginning for them. That same day, they had beenasked to move out from where they were livingdue to its substandard conditions. In addition tothe safety and security of a decent home, NYCHAprovided the critical services and resourcesEvette and her family needed to start their newlife in America. By providing an affordable quality education, CUNY isalso helping Evette lead a successful life. She’s excelling in her studiesat the College of Staten Island, thanks in part to the free tutoring for thesubjects she initially found challenging, and is now gaining valuable workexperience as an on-campus math tutor. After earning her bachelor’s degreein computer science and mathematics, she plans to help organizations keeptheir systems running efficiently and safely as an information technologyprofessional. In addition to her busy academic and tutoring schedule, Evetteworks on the weekends and volunteers her time to feed the needy.Ayesha KhanCity College of New YorkMariner’s Harbor HousesNusrat SultanaHunter CollegeMitchel HousesNusrat Sultana is already a published authorand is well on her way to making her mark onthe world through storytelling. The young adultfantasy novel she wrote, “Bleed” is available forpurchase online, where there are also interviewsof her sharing her inspiration for the book. While,she knows making a living as a writer is a difficultcareer path, she says, her Mitchel Houses community has modeled for herthe work ethic, perseverance, and sense of adventure she needs to succeed.The community also taught her the importance of helping others. Toshare her passion for books, Nusrat has discussed the publishing processwith high school students. She also participated in the Bridge-BuildingInitiative, which helps prepare middle school students for high school.Nusrat credits Hunter College’s flexibility in enabling her the time toget valuable internship experience in the industry, at Harper Collins andGotham Writers Workshop, to augment her studies in English and creativewriting, where she maintains a 3.9 GPA.Tatiana SangareBrooklyn CollegePark Rock Rehab HousesAs a first-generation college student, AyeshaKhan wants to make her family proud bybecoming a pediatrician. She’s well on herway to fulfilling her dream, studying biologyin the Honors Program at the City College ofNew York, where she received an OutstandingAcademic Achievement Award this spring. Byvolunteering at Staten Island University Hospitaland at a pediatric and adolescent medical clinic, Ayesha is immersingherself in the medical field. She also participates in a range of studentclubs and organizations, from the National Society of Leadership andSuccess to the Muslim Student Organization and the Medical Club. Ayeshais thankful for all the support and resources that enable her to pursue herambitions. That includes CUNY’s affordable, high-quality education withits top-notch advisors and free tutors. NYCHA inspires her with the jobplacement and education fairs it hosts, and NYCHA’s low-cost housinghelped her parents manage living expenses and save money for college.Tatiana Sangare is majoring in accounting andpolitical science at Brooklyn College, acquiringthe tools she needs to help others. She aspires tobecome an attorney to fight injustice, promotehuman rights, and give a voice to those withoutpower. Believing that financial literacy is one ofthe most important ways to help reduce poverty,Tatiana also wants to become an accountant toshow people the importance of budgeting, saving, and building assets. Alove of politics inspired her to volunteer for both local and national politicalcampaigns. While mentoring students at a charter school, she organized apolitical action day to raise awareness of the political process. Tatiana has alsotutored students in U.S. and world history and organized archival materialsas an intern at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. When she’s not playingsaxophone in the Brooklyn United Marching Band, you can find Tatianateaching karate to youth at Boys & Girls Harbor. Tatiana is grateful for beingthe first in her family to attend college, and to graduate with little to no debt.510

Marilyn Owusu-SekyereCollege of Staten IslandRichmond Terrace HousesAccording to Marilyn Owusu-Sekyere, movinginto NYCHA housing after emigrating fromGhana was one of the best decisions her parentsever made. It offered a firm foundation for theirfamily of six as well as access to vital servicesthat helped them succeed as new Americans.Marilyn believes that CUNY is providing her asimilar platform for success – the tools and skillsrequired to achieve her goals. After she earns her bachelors in psychologyand English at the College of Staten Island, Marilyn intends to do publicrelations and marketing work for large corporations. To Marilyn, givingback is as important as being successful. She co-founded The BethesdaProject, a charitable organization that assists orphaned girls in the DominicanRepublic. She’s also the Vice President of her campus chapter of P.A.C.E.(Planning to Achieve Collegiate Excellence), a college mentoring program.As a member of the Ghanaian Association of Staten Island, she connectswith young adults in the community and helps plan events.Maria SantanaHunter CollegeBronxchester HousesRose MiddletonQueens CollegeAstoria HousesAs a young mother of three, who juggled work,child rearing and pursuit of a higher education,Rose Middleton found herself temporarily puttingher education on hold in order to provide for herfamily. In 2000 Rose eventually achieved morebalance when she traded in long hours and highrent for an affordable apartment in NYCHA’sAstoria Houses that was based on her income. Fast forward to 2013, Rosemade her way back to college and earned an associate degree in businessadministration from Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)in two years. BMCC provided the flexible schedule and financial aid thatmade it possible for her to attend school. She’s currently working on herbachelor’s degree at Queens College so that she can accomplish her lifelonggoal of becoming an accountant. Rose strives to create a better life for herfamily by taking advantage of the opportunities available to Astoria Housesresidents through the non-profit Urban Upbound, such as financial educationprograms. She also helps make her neighborhood a better place as a memberof Astoria Houses’ Resident Association.Shirley OrellanaHunter CollegeBetances HousesThe events that brought her neighbors togetherat Bronxchester Houses – the youth basketballtournaments and annual summer barbecues– inspired Maria Santana to work to improvethe lives of people in disadvantaged, inner-citycommunities. Drawn by CUNY’s affordabilityand reputation for quality, she’s studying historyand human rights at Hunter College. As a JuniorOfficer for the Historical Society of Hunter College, she highlights careerpaths for fellow history majors. Maria was President of the History StudentAssociation at Borough of Manhattan Community College, where sheearned an associates degree. Maria thrives when helping others; she internsat Globe Aware, a non-governmental organization that deploys volunteersfor service around the world, and volunteers her time to teach elementaryschool students how to read through the community organization Masa.Shirley Orellana says it’s a myth that studentsfrom a lower socioeconomic level cannotget a quality education. She’s thriving as apsychology student at Hunter College, currentlyboasting a 3.7 GPA. Shirley credits her diversecommunities in the Bronx and at Hunter Collegefor shaping her into the motivated, passionate,and idealistic person she is today. She believesit is now her turn to make the most of what she’s been given, just as herparents did after they immigrated to the United States from Hondurasseeking greater opportunities. They wanted her to attend college andlearn about new ideas and worlds, since they were not able to do so. Herdesire is to give back to the New York community that has contributedso much to her own development.96

Alismari ReadCity College of New YorkPolo Grounds HousesAlismari Read decided to major in chemical engineering at City Collegebecause she’s fascinated by the prospect of turning nature’s raw materialsinto something useful and valuable for society. As a member of thechemical engineering honor society, Omega Chi Epsilon, she leads aproject that inspires minority high school students to pursue highereducation in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, andmath. When she’s not busy maintaining her 3.9 GPA, Alismari distributesfresh produce with the volunteer organization City Harvest. As Presidentof City College’s Middle Eastern Music and Dance Club, Alismariencourages other students to build self-esteem and confidence throughartistic expression. In addition to winning multiple scholarships and anacademic achievement award, she helped build a system of gyroscopesthat interact via springs at the University of Chicago’s Materials ResearchCenter and interned in the Quality Control Department of a prescriptiondrug manufacturer in the Dominican Republic. Alismari is thankful thather NYCHA home is walking distance from school, which frees up timefor her own development and to give back to her community.7Stella TseHunter CollegeVladeck HousesAspiring math teacher Stella Tse says that NYCHA and CUNY have helpedher realize her potential as a student and set her on a path to achieving hercareer goals. With an affordable home and affordable tuition, she can gether bachelor’s degree without going into debt and save for graduate school.Living at Vladeck Houses has exposed her to different cultures, which isinstrumental for an educator. At Hunter College, where she’s majoring inmath and has a 3.9 GPA, she’s benefitting from limitless job opportunitiesand advice, including assistance with her resume and job applications. Shehas extensive experience as a tutor, in both paid and volunteer settings,including with the advocacy groups Henry Street Settlement and EducationalAlliance. Beyond academic mentoring, Stella was a Peer Educator atGrand Street Settlement, advocating for the LGBTQ community andraising awareness on avoiding teen pregnancy, and is a Health Volunteerat Educational Alliance. She’s also Vice President of the Project RousseauClub, a mentoring and community service organization; an intern with Reachthe World, which introduces students to cultures around the globe; and hasearned two other academic scholarships.8

Gotham Writers Workshop, to augment her studies in English and creative writing, where she maintains a 3.9 GPA. Evette Khalil College of Staten Island Mariner’s Harbor Houses As a first-generation college student, Ayesha Khan wants to make her family proud by becoming a pediatrician. Sh