In the community where I grew up, seeing the world didn’t seem like an attainable goal. It felt reserved for an elite group of people— not for me, an African American kid from East New York, Brooklyn. Which is why the chance to study abroad was such a formative experience in my life. Not only did it open my eyes to the rest of the world, shaping me into the borderless global citizen I am today, but it embedded in me the belief that there should be no limits to your expectations.
My keen interest IN understanding cultures and communities around the world truly developed when I chose to study outside the borders where I was raised while attending St. John’s University. I saw many of the same struggles in communities around the world that we faced at home.
At Global Citizen, we work to build a movement to end extreme poverty. Whether you are in Manhattan, Madrid, or Mumbai, the issues of clean water, sanitation, health, and education are as relevant as ever.
That’s why, I am thrilled to announce that Global Citizen is launching our third year of the Curtis Scholarship, a yearlong mentorship program conceived and funded by Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis. The program seeks to create, support, and equip a network of youth advocates and community leaders committed to local and global action, while also empowering people of color and underrepresented minorities through mentorship and travel.
This year’s Curtis Scholars— aged between 16 and 20—will have the opportunity to participate in monthly mentorship activities as well as an all expenses paid learning trip to South Africa this summer.
Studies suggest that fewer than 5% of those who study abroad in college are African American. And many of those surveyed cite financial constraints as the primary reason behind why they don’t consider traveling abroad. As of 2010, only 10% of diplomats in the US State Department came from African-American, Latino, and Native American communities.
We are living in an unnerving period of isolationist rhetoric, and an increasingly divided world. This makes barrier-breaking programs like the Curtis Scholarship that link the local and global fights to end poverty more vital than ever.
A future where more young people have limitless expectations of where they can go in life will certainly be a brighter one.
Xiomara Small is a Talent and Events Associate at Global Citizen and studied International Relations at St. John’s University. She enjoys traveling and cycling and can be found riding her bike in Prospect Park on the weekends.