Throughout the summer, Skandalaris Center Summer Internship Program participants will be writing guest blog posts about their internship experience. Following is one such post.
Uncovering Untapped Potential
By Candace Hayes (LA ’21)
Author: Candace Hayes, a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis who’s majoring in Sociology on the pre-law track.
Internship Venture: Dream Builders 4 Equity is a 501(c)(3) non-profit co-founded by Neal Richardson and Michael Woods in 2016. Dream Builders uses an innovative model to provide at-risk youth with the opportunity to attain financial ownership in real estate located in low-income, distressed communities. This ownership will be earned by attending life/job skill courses and contributing to community development efforts.
The best part of my internship at Dream Builders 4 Equity (DB4E) has been building relationships with the talented students in our program and watching them grow into budding entrepreneurs. I’ve been so impressed with the determination, passion and drive these students have displayed. Many of them had their own successful entrepreneurial ventures ranging from clothing design to music production prior to joining DB4E. These inspiring students are the epitome of what DB4E strives to do: empower at-risk youth to turn their passions into profits that can be used for both personal and community development. Not only have I watched these bright students gain confidence in their abilities throughout the program, but I’ve also seen their passion to uplift those around them grow as well. A wise person once said that “you never know what someone is capable of until you give them the opportunity to shine” and my time at DB4E has proven that to be true. These students have always had the ability and the passion to be great, but they lacked the access to resources that would tap that potential. DB4E has both provided these resources and created a path for the students’ professional success. By the end of the eight-week program, these students will have learned about financial literacy, professional development, networking, entrepreneurship, public speaking and so many other invaluable lessons that will help shape their future. I am both humbled and honored to have been one of the first collegiate interns brought into the DB4E team. This program has helped so many students shine brighter and become more confident in following their dreams. DB4E has uncovered a bounty of untapped potential in historically overlooked communities and I, for one, cannot wait to see what the future holds for these brilliant students.