Greater Steps Scholars

Graduation time is here! Greater Steps Scholars is excited to celebrate 26 graduates this year!

As we send off our 2021 graduates to their new lives, we are equally as excited to celebrate our 63 renewal scholars heading back to college this Fall and our 30 new Scholars heading to school for the first time.

Even though it’s a few months away, we’re already gearing up for our 38th Annual Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, August 1 at 4 pm. We’ll be virtual again this year, and, with our theme of “Focused Forward,” we’re set to celebrate 26 amazing graduates who have persevered through an uncharacteristic year.

40 organizations receive grants to reduce disparate outcomes, support training, policy and criminal justice reform

Charlotte, NC (November 2020) — Duke Energy today announced the recipients of $1 million in grants through the Duke Energy Foundation to nonprofit organizations committed to social justice and racial equity in North Carolina.

$25,000 grants will be distributed to 40 organizations across North Carolina.

“We all have a role and responsibility in advancing justice and equity,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Duke Energy is committed to creating equal opportunities for the communities we serve, and we’re proud to support organizations already leading this critical work across North Carolina.”

Funds from Canopy Housing Foundation, Ally Charitable Grants, and Truist Foundation will provide students with much-needed mentoring and career readiness skills

Charlotte, NC (October 2020) — Greater Steps Scholars, formerly known as the Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund, announces that the organization has received three grants totaling over $24,000 from three foundations — the Canopy Housing Foundation, Ally Charitable Grants, and the Truist Foundation.

Funds from the grants will be used to bolster Greater Steps’ Career Readiness and Mentor Program, a series of workshops and resources that concentrate on the skills and knowledge needed for Scholars to confidently take the next step in their professional journeys. In these workshops, students learn about important skills such as resume and cover letter writing, mock interviewing, professionalism in the workplace, building social media acumen, and more.

Funds will help students in Charlotte subsidized housing by lending one-on-one support and guidance throughout their post-secondary education journeys

Charlotte, NC (October 2020) — Greater Steps Scholars, formerly known as the Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund, announces the receipt of a $25,000 program grant from The Leon Levine Foundation. Funds from the grant will directly be used to strengthen Greater Steps’ Career Readiness and Mentor program.

For many students living in Charlotte subsidized housing, the lack of financial access is often the biggest barrier to a college education — but it’s not the only one. Another barrier is not having access to the emotional support and social capital that students need to create a viable path to self-sufficiency and economic mobility.