Declaration Project

Equal access to Higher Education should not be a privilege; it should be a norm and a right for all those who aspire to continue their education. Every young individual who desires to pursue higher education should have the right to do so without any unnecessary barriers. Today, America ranks #12 in the world for college completion rates and President Obama has a North Star goal to be #1 again in 2020. We can make this happen if we collectively commit to making higher education affordable and accessible to all individuals regardless of race, class, gender, and all other factors.

—  Lashon Amado, Brockton, MA, YouthBuild USA Program Associate of Education and Youth Leadership & member of the National Council of Young Leaders,