Empowering the Future, One Scholar at a Time
The Urban Scholars Initiative is a New York-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational equity and opportunity for historically underserved students from New York and the US Virgin Islands.
Founded on the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not, we work to close the achievement gap by providing comprehensive academic support, mentorship, college readiness programming, and leadership development to students from underrepresented communities.
Our mission is to equip high-potential young people with the tools, confidence, and support they need to excel in school, graduate from college, and become the change in their communities.
Through partnerships with local schools, universities, and community leaders, Urban Scholars serves middle and high school students across the five boroughs and the islands, offering:
Since our founding, over 90% of our students have gone on to attend college, with many becoming the first in their families to do so. Urban Scholars alumni have graduated from institutions such as Columbia, NYU, SUNY campuses, and HBCUs across the country.
At Urban Scholars, we don’t just prepare students for college—we help them build a vision for their future and the network to bring it to life.
