The First Steps Toward Impact

“I believe that’s the most important thing I took with me into my post-graduate life, whether it’s personal or professional, I look for a way to connect with the people who do not think in the same way I do. Why? Because there’s value, innovation, and prosperity in our differences… if we only have the courage to take that first step.”  – Lauren Schmidt, M.Ed. Human Development Studies ’20 

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A Summer in Accion

“Through these rich conversations and experiences, I witnessed how it is not just access alone, but access to right resources – those designed with the entrepreneur in mind –  that could mean the world to small business owners as they seek their own version of success.”

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Summer Immersion Experience with Vanderbilt’s Student-Athletes

“We wanted to offer student-athletes a space, despite the uncertain externalities, where they felt engaged and able to dream about their futures after sport. Our team believes that this is part of our mission as we work to affect change in our communities.”  Mario Avila, Turner Family for Social Ventures, Director

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Interning in a Pandemic: A Reflection of My Experience with Soles4Souls

“Social impact has become my new compass and a human-centered approach will always guide my way as an entrepreneur, researcher, policymaker or any other career path that my degree will take me to when I return back home, to the Southeastern European country called Albania.”

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