Nezzie Garcia, who is a light-skinned brown woman with curly hair that is black at the top and transitions to purple at the ends, smiles at the camera, wearing a black and white striped shirt.

Nezzie Garcia

Innezz “Nezzie” Garcia’s employer - a busy, understaffed surgery center in the Twin Cities - recently offered her a promotion. But, it came with a catch. To accept it, she would need to go back to school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA.
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David Mesta, a tall light-skinned brown man with short curly hair and glasses, is smiling in front of the Washington Monument. He is wearing a medium grey suit and a white and grey patterned tie.

David Mesta

"If I wasn't fortunate enough I would have become just another statistic of a Mexican college student who failed because of the barriers put in front of me and I have been very close to failing college and close to not achieving my American Dream."
Chelsea Birasa, a black woman with braided hair pulled back into a pony tail, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a white collared shirt and gold hoops.

Chelsea Birasa

 

“I am literally still in school because of LeadMN. They have supported me in terms of emergency grants and scholarships. I was told I was not eligible for a lot of emergency assistance on campus and through agencies. I was denied so many times. Because of my scholarship through LeadMN, I am able to afford tuition and remain in school.”
Kimmy Kistan, a brown woman with long, wavy hair that is black with a balayage fade into medium-brown. She wearing an unzipped calf-length puffy black jacket on top of a green sweater and black leggings. She is smiling at the camera, posing in front of a snowy nature background.

Kimmy Kistan

Kimmy Kistan always dreamt of coming to the United States to pursue a college education. As she neared the end of her secondary schooling, she determined nothing would stop her from achieving that dream.

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Philip Krzyszton, a white man with red hair, standing next to vintage plane in a green field with green trees. He is wearing aviator sunglasses, dark blue jeans help up with a belt, a light blue button up shirt, and a brown tie.

Philip Krzyszton

Philip Krzyszton grew up in rural Wisconsin and developed a love of aviation early on when a neighboring farmer shared his passion for planes.
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Ladan Abdi, a brown woman with long, straight black hair, smirks at the camera, as she is hugged around the neck by her two young daughters.

Ladan Abdi

Century College student Ladan Abdi is a refugee, mother, and future nurse.
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Alex Trebesch, a woman with long dark brown hair, smiles at the camera. She is wearing rounded black glasses, two black chocker necklaces, and a black shirt with a medium brown cardigan over top.

Alex Trebesch

“College was never in the plans for me. I didn’t even think I was going to graduate high school.”
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Nezzie Garcia, who is a light-skinned brown woman with curly hair that is black at the top and transitions to purple at the ends, smiles at the camera, wearing a black and white striped shirt.

Nezzie Garcia

Innezz “Nezzie” Garcia’s employer - a busy, understaffed surgery center in the Twin Cities - recently offered her a promotion. But, it came with a catch. To accept it, she would need to go back to school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA.
Read more
Henri Mingo, a white femme-presenting person with curly, red, shoulder-length hair, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a bright orange long sleeve V-neck shirt, a statement necklace, and rounded glasses.

Henri Mingo

“I’m trying to take these challenges in stride. I know that I won’t be in college forever, and I want to enjoy the good things about being a student, like being in senate and connecting with other students.”
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Dame Gamada, is a black man with a short beard and short, curly black hair. He is wearing a royal blue Under Armor zip up and is smiling at the camera. This photo is courtesy of DCTC

Dame Gamada

Dame Gamada grew up in Ethiopia, and immigrated to the United States in 2015, seeking greater opportunities and his own version of the American Dream.
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Headshot of Axel Kylander, a white man with short dark brown hair and glasses, wearing dark grey suit and navy blue tie with small maroon polka dots.

Axel Kylander

"There are so many things that could have gone differently with my story, so many opportunities for a different path if there had been a clear, on-campus pathway to mental healthcare for any student."
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Karina Villeda, a brown woman with long, dark, curly hair, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black button up shirt and red lipstick.

Karina Villeda

Karina Villeda is a mother, student, and future lawyer. Karina grew up surrounded by diversity, and saw her community interacting with the law in many ways.
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Ali Tomashek, a white woman with medium brown hair, smiles in front of Lincoln Memorial in bright orange coat.

Ali Tomashek

"While I was enrolled, my outstanding tuition balance prevented me from using campus resources such as the food court or the bus system. I struggled to pay my rent, pay for groceries, or pay for medical expenses with a job that only paid minimum wage. I remember staring blankly in my kitchen, calculating how I would survive on only frozen food."
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Caledon Johnston, a white man with short brown hair, smiles for a selfie. Ice is wearing red-framed aviator sunglasses and it is a sunny day.

Caledon Johnston

“Emergency grants were a lifeline for me - when I received the grant, I was at the end of my rope.”
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Marcelus Ifonlaja poses in front of Washington Monument

Marcelus Ifonlaja

"Whatever you're passionate about, whatever you care about, whatever you like - let that shine. Because when you let that shine, others around you see that. And that will attract the right people."
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