“Gentry noted her own upbringing in rural Kentucky and spoke of how attending a summer learning program while in high school sparked her own path to college access. Many stories echoed a similar path: a ‘caring adult’ helping guide them to academic opportunities or recommending scholarships or a unique opportunity. In many cases, a stroke of luck that those on the panel hope to make much more common with their work.
‘What we’re trying to create in this moment in time is a system that doesn’t depend on you being lucky. Because I’m a lucky one,’ said Gentry. ‘How do we actually invest in communities and build a support system to ensure that holistic support ensures that you don’t have to be the lucky one in that place. And that’s the journey of the cradle-to-career field.’