Leading together is core to our model. The people driving change are often networks of effective leaders working together to get things done, however those networks don’t always represent the full breadth of a community. For our communities to flourish, we need diverse networks of homegrown leaders who love their home and are committed to building vibrant communities where everyone thrives.

It is precisely this kind of diverse, committed leadership network that our programs produce—a new fabric of leadership for our communities.

WHO WE SERVE

• 38% Hispanic or Latinx of any race, 24% Black or African American, 13% Asian, 11% Multiracial, 10% White, 2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 2% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2% Not Provided
• 61% women, 38% men, 1% non-binary
• 70% first-generation college students
• 80% from low-income families

A POWERFUL NEW NARRATIVE

National data show that less than a third of all students from low-income families who start college ever graduate. The data are equally discouraging for students whose parents didn’t attend college and those from most underrepresented ethnic groups. Statistics for Act Six scholars tell a much different story. With over two decades of success, the Act Six initiative best illustrates the powerful results of Degrees of Change program models.

Since 2002, Act Six has selected and trained 1,335 scholars from seven cities in 199 cadres for 17 partner colleges.

EVALUATING & EXPANDING OUR IMPACT

As a data-driven organization, we initiate rigorous evaluation. The results tell a compelling story: our scholars consistently defy the odds by persisting, graduating and returning to their communities to lead at rates that exceed their peers.

Building on this success, we are extending our model into new areas, adapting our innovative programming, and scaling our tools so that the transformative powers of higher education and leadership are accessible to more communities.

ALUMNI AT WORK

We see the longest-term impact of our programs in our alumni’s work after graduation. They are leading with excellence and inclusion, working to build more equitable systems, serving the most vulnerable, fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and taking on complex and stubborn challenges. Discover what our alumni are accomplishing.