SPOTLIGHT - Path To College
Meet Christine Sylvain, one of the most passionate and effective charity leaders on this planet. Christine continues to catapult her cause into the stratosphere which supports high-achieving low-income students. As the Executive Director of this insanely popular non-profit; her expertise and dedication is unmatched. So pay attention!
How did you start out with Path To College?
In 2017, I founded the Path to College Fellowship, whose mission is to secure the acceptance of as many high-achieving, low-income students into top-tier universities as possible. My vision is to answer and address one of society’s most urgent educational inequities: access to higher education. At my core, I love the art of storytelling in any medium especially at the intersection between history, politics, and literature.
I began my career as an associate producer of documentaries for broadcasters such as PBS and HBO, and worked on “Hecho a Mano,” a film that won an Emmy in the cultural and historical documentary category. I first realized my passion for educating and mentoring adolescents through my experience leading the Journalism Academy for a local charter high school, before working at an alternative prep school in a multitude of subjects including college advising and SAT prep.
By bringing wide experience in high-level operational and program management, as well as expertise in supervising budgets, spearheading policy and procedure development, I focus on forging solid relationships, and developing a top-performing team to ensure our impressive impact is sustainable. Most importantly, my deep understanding of some of the systemic challenges holding our best and brightest back from achieving the highest levels of their academic potential. Path to College is the way beyond these obstacles for the most overlooked and most over-deserving students.
What’s your best advice for finding DONORS online?
Build and lean on your committed Leadership Team to tell their own stories of why they support your mission. Path to College's mission is to expand minds and ignite potential. Your net worth is only measured by your network; build a foundation of support that is truly invested in your vision.
Path to College is proud to have Education Champions woven into our foundation. They are forward-thinking, equity-valuing, and community-focused. Their integrity speaks for itself, so when they ask for support through a crowdfunding campaign or through a matched contribution opportunity, we feel confident to engage that new donor, as well.
What is your best advice for finding VOLUNTEERS online?
First-hand testimony from your volunteers. The incredible PTC Career Coach Mentors and Committee Volunteers sharing their own experiences when serving our students provides the best stream for new volunteer recruitment.
Our Mentors regularly meet with their students one-on-one and develop a relationship based on rapport, trust and ultimately supporting the student with reaching for their goals. They can attest that providing this kind of service creates better fulfillment in their own career and personal life, too.
What are some of your favorite charities that you follow and admire?
Inner City Innovators, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, and all the organizations within the United Way of PBC's Mentor Center are doing inspiring work that uplifts youth voices and meets the needs of their focused communities.
If a kid walked up to asking for your advice and you only had a few minutes to give ‘em your best tip, what would it be?
Find a Mentor. Find someone local, experienced, and committed to helping you achieve your goals. Find someone who is a positive role model and a friend who respects you. And remember that the path to success is not linear.
Bet YOU are inspired to help out right?
You can support these students through PATH TO COLLEGE with the purchase of one of these exclusive Amanda Gorman designs! I donate part of my proceeds of each sale to the non-profit directly. So get some Merch That Matters.
10% contribution to individual charities is based on final price after costs.