In May of 2020, when the whole world was shutting down, Nadya’s family came to the Community Table for our modified lunch services and instantly made a place for themselves at our table. Nadya, then in 7th grade, had dreams of becoming an aerospace engineer but wasn’t sure where to start.
After joining our Pathway program in 2022, with individualized tutoring for her advanced classes and ACT prep courses, she began to realize her dream could become her reality. Nadya’s hard work earned her a remarkable score of 33 out of 36 on her ACT and with the support of the Pathway team she began to navigate the college application process and plan her future.
At the same time, Nadya’s family also began to flourish. Her dad completed the Power Up Electrical Training program, while her mom participated in our workforce development classes, helping her grow her business. In 2024, the family reached a major milestone by buying their own home.
This fall, Nadya entered her freshman year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (yes – MIT!), to study aerospace engineering. Her hard work and family support – paired with the opportunities provided by Pathway – is a reminder of the value of perseverance and the transformative power of community programs.
Looking back, Nadya credits her success not just to her own determination, but to the encouragement she received from her family and Pathway mentors. “I came home one day and my mom said, ‘there’s this cool program that I want you to go to that’s going to help you get into college’. The Pathway team helped me plan out my life, my college career – without it, I wouldn’t have even known where to start.”
What if every child who walks through our doors could achieve their dreams? Your gift today helps fill plates and futures, making a direct impact on the lives of those we serve.
