STOKES FOUNDATION & LAUNCHPAD

---

My experience attending The Taft School in Watertown, CT, profoundly shaped my perspective on education and opportunity. Taft, set on sprawling acres with the latest tools and technology, offered an exceptional education, but it came at a significant cost - both financially and emotionally. Leaving my home and community to access such a high-quality education highlighted a glaring inequity: why should anyone have to leave their roots to thrive academically? Today, Taft’s tuition exceeds $75,000 annually, making such opportunities inaccessible to most. I was fortunate to have Prep for Prep at a young age, which gave me access to Taft. 

Years later, from 2012 to 2014, I returned to another Taft - this time as a special education teacher and wrestling coach in the South Bronx. That experience also profoundly shaped my perspective but in a different way. At this Taft, too many of my students faced food insecurity and housing instability, their daily realities starkly contrasting with my own boarding school experience. It became painfully clear that systemic inequities in education often leave the most vulnerable children without the resources and stability they need to succeed.

This is why the partnership with the Stokes Foundation is so important to the LaunchPad Collective. Together, we aim to bring the life-changing impact of boarding school to San Bernardino, offering a transformative experience for girls, particularly those in the McKinney-Vento program who are experiencing housing instability. With Stokes, we’ll create a safe, supportive, and empowering all-girls urban residence that provides the stability and resources these young women need to thrive academically and personally - without leaving their community.

This partnership aligns perfectly with LaunchPad Collective's overall mission to foster equitable opportunities, economic empowerment, and community resilience. By integrating the Stokes urban residence into our model, we’re ensuring that education and stability are foundational to our holistic approach to community-driven development.

The Stokes model serves as a beacon for the girls it supports and strengthens the entire community. It offers a future where no young person has to leave their home to find success, where the tools, resources, and opportunities they need are accessible right here in San Bernardino. This partnership is a step forward, a commitment to equity, justice, and a brighter future for our city.