Neighbor News
Ridgefield ABC Celebrates 37 Years of Empowering Young Women of Color
Where are they now? Hear from some Alumnae and help RABC support our current Scholars
Safiya Samms arrived in Ridgefield at age 13 leaving behind her family and friends in Brooklyn to embark on an educational journey designed to open doors to future college opportunities. Safiya is one of the outstanding Scholar alumnae from the Ridgefield A Better Chance program. Safiya graduated from Ridgefield High School in 2007. She majored in business at Bentley College, where she also earned her master’s degree in business administration. Her career path led her to Google’s Geo Division and later to a Boston start-up. She is currently a Senior Product Manager at Meta in London. Safiya says of her experience in Ridgefield “My academic success in college and grad school as well as my career achievements in the tech industry are a direct result of my time in the Ridgefield ABC program. I wouldn't be where I am today without this program and the community's investment in supporting students like me.”
Ridgefield A Better Chance (RABC), affiliated with the national organization A Better Chance, has been a cornerstone of the Ridgefield community for 37 years. With its mission to provide academically talented and highly motivated young women of color with the opportunity to excel in Ridgefield’s public high school, RABC has positively impacted the lives of dozens of Scholars since its inception.
Upon arrival as freshmen, the Scholars become part of the RABC community, residing in the RABC house under the guidance of the Resident Director and Resident Academic Director. These young women receive support from the RABC Board of Directors, host families, academic advisors and numerous volunteers who contribute to their academic and personal growth.
So where are some of the RABC alumnae now?
Jacinta Utubor, RHS ‘15, says of her RABC experience “I am forever grateful to RABC for providing me with the tools and resources to grow and thrive academically. The unwavering support from the board, staff and my host family pushed me every day to reach new heights. I will always thank RABC for shaping me into the ambitious driven woman I am today”. Jacinta graduated from Union College, received her nursing degree from Simmons College and is currently a Hematology, Oncology, BMT Registered Nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Fulvia Vargas-De Leon, RHS ‘08/ Lehigh University, ‘11. Fulvia is an attorney and is the Assistant Counsel to the Governor of New York. “I am so thankful for the tremendous support I received as a scholar who was set on becoming a lawyer someday. As a scholar I was able to spend my summers engaging in mock trial camps, led our high school’s mock trial team and received continuous mentorship throughout my four years at RABC. Always thankful for RABC and its commitment to realizing the dreams of so many Scholars”. Her advice to incoming Scholars is to “take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. It may not all make sense now, but trust this experience is setting you up for great success in the future.”
Sylvana Soto, RHS ‘19/ Stony Brook University. “I am working at the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a Communications Fellow (as part of the Govern for America Fellowship Program). RABC has been so instrumental in where I am in my life.”
As the holiday season approaches, one significant way to support the incredible RABC Scholars currently enrolled in the program is to donate through Giving Tuesday on December 3rd. The goal is to reach $10,000.00 and the organization is excited that a generous donor has offered to match the first $2,500.00 in donations. But you don’t have to wait for Giving Tuesday, donations for Giving Tuesday are being gratefully accepted now, simply click on:https://fundraise.givesmart.co...
As RABC looks to the future, its commitment to empowering young women of color remains steadfast. With a legacy of success and a supportive community, RABC continues to inspire the next generation of Scholars, ensuring they have the tools needed to thrive in their academic journeys and beyond. Community support, especially on #Giving Tuesday, is vital for continuing this important mission. To learn more about the program, go to: www.ridgefieldabc.org.
Submitted by Susan Ferguson, Member of the RABC Board of Directors
