As a junior in high school, Yasmine Arrington became a 2010 Fellow in the LearnServe International Program in Washington, DC. LearnServe challenged her to help solve a need within the community. At the time, Yasmine and her grandmother were searching for scholarships to help cover her future college tuition, but could not find one for teens like her with incarcerated parents. Realizing that millions of other youth like her have an incarcerated parent and would benefit from a college scholarship and mentorship program tailored to their experience, Yasmine decided to create one herself. With the support of trusted mentors who Yasmine asked then to be the founding board members, Yasmine established ScholarCHIPS, Inc. (For Children of Incarcerated Parents) in 2010. In October 2010, Yasmine hosted a Kick-Off of ScholarCHIPS, where she officially announced the launch of ScholarCHIPS. This ScholarCHIPS Kick-Off event was Yasmine’s Girl Scout Gold Award project. Yasmine now serves as the organization’s executive director.

ScholarCHIPS is the only organization in the DC region that works to achieve the following mission: provide college scholarships, mentorship, mental health supports, and a robust support network for children of incarcerated parents, inspiring them to complete their college education. Our advocacy program empowers our scholars to tell their own stories in an empowering way also impacts public policy and decreases the stigma faced by this population. ScholarCHIPS’ goal is to empower youth with incarcerated parents to graduate college, establish upwardly mobile careers, break out of cycles of poverty and incarceration, and contribute to their communities in positive and transformative ways. To date, ScholarCHIPS has served 88 scholars and has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, book awards, and graduation gifts. ScholarCHIPS now has 40 graduates.

With your support ScholarCHIPS will continue to achieve our mission in support of the following vision: a world where children of incarcerated parents are no longer marginalized and stigmatized by society, have equal access to higher education, and, ultimately, experience a future absent of poverty and incarceration.

Sourcr : scholarchips