Why It Is Important To Support Black Talent

Ni’Asia Ali is a scholar with the Sachs Foundation. After graduating as salutatorian from Sierra High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she obtained a scholarship with support from her mentor at the Our Elevated College Preparatory Program. In addition to being actively involved in activities such as filmmaking, cheerleading, volleyball and participating in clubs like the Black Student Union and National Honor Society, Ali produced a documentary titled “Behind The Masc,” which explores toxic masculinity in Black communities, landing her on the Sachs Foundations’ radar.

Toxic masculinity was a topic of interest for Ali because she recognized its presence and impact within various communities, including Black communities. She believes toxic masculinity is “a significant issue that needs to be addressed and brought into the spotlight, seeing how it not only affects men but also has negative consequences for women.” By shedding light on this topic, Ali wants to bring awareness to the historical and generational trauma associated with the issue, and contribute to breaking the cycle by promoting healthier, more inclusive attitudes and behaviors. She is headed to historically Black North Carolina A&T State University in the Fall with the support of the Sachs Foundation.

According to Ben Ralston, president of the Sachs Foundation, “Ni’Asia epitomizes the caliber of excellence we invest in; A dedicated individual who engaged with our youth programs from a young age, excelled academically to become school Salutatorian, and leveraged her voice beyond the classroom to create impactful documentaries addressing issues in her community. There is no doubt in my mind that she, along with her fellow scholars, will continue to assume leadership roles as they pursue their education.”

The Sachs Foundation of Colorado has awarded $1.5 million in scholarships to talented Black students in the state this year. Of the scholarship money, $1,250,000 went to 30 undergrads and $305,000 went to 16 graduate scholars for education at universities such as Yale University, North Carolina A&T State University, Stanford University, Spelman College, and the University of Pennsylvania. Sachs’ mission to advance racial equity for Black people in Colorado extends beyond financial support, and includes its Teacher Development program, which has increased the number of Black teachers choosing Colorado for employment by over 400% in just two years.

The larger funding program seeks to empower Black students in Colorado by providing them with financial assistance to pursue their academic endeavors. The program underscores the importance of investing in the education of Black students and seeks to address the historical inequities and barriers they may face as they pursue higher education. The newest class of Sachs Scholars’ academic achievements are a cause for much celebration at a time when racial equity programs are being rolled back throughout the country despite extensive research highlighting the barriers that African American students encounter.

Ralston stated, “Our Sachs Foundation scholars are incredibly accomplished, not only academically, but in the positive contributions they make to their communities. We’re proud to support these outstanding Coloradans in their studies, and to advocate for Black students across the country, who due to lingering systemic inequity, have the lowest six-year college completion rate of any racial or ethnic group, and still trail white counterparts in degree attainment by 12 percent.”