EqChange Students: Creating Equity in and out of the Classroom
EqChange Students is committed to turning the tables now for students in need, ensuring they are no longer overlooked and have equal access to the same school and community programs and opportunities as their peers. Our mission is to create pathways that build self-confidence and provide students with the resources they need to thrive.
We believe in empowering students, not by changing who they are, but by giving them the opportunity to succeed as they are. By fostering equitable access to programs, we help students unlock their full potential, ensuring that every child has the tools to succeed, regardless of their situation.
Transforming students' lives through equity.
You change a student not by changing who they are, but by offering them the opportunities they deserve to thrive as their authentic selves.
Vision
Provide Equity (Eq) to ensure success
Mission
To empower students in need to thrive as their authentic selves and realize their full potential through equity.
Purpose
We are the catalyst that connects students in need to sponsors and fill the gaps in access to school and community programs.
Our Goals: Make the C.A.S.E. for student equity
Community Engagement
every child is valued and supported
Access to Opportunities
diverse experiences
Sustainable Impact
foster on-going growth
Equity in Support
create unlimited potential
Why EqChange Students?
A catalyst for change
Despite the abundance of charitable initiatives aimed at supporting children, many programs fail to provide lasting, meaningful impact, particularly for those in low-income situations. Traditional avenues, such as student exchange programs, predominantly benefit privileged students whose families can afford the associated costs, leaving many deserving children without access to transformative experiences that promote personal growth and self-confidence.
The Eq-Change Students Program endeavors to create a brighter, more inclusive future for our community's youth, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive as their authentic self. Through a focus on simple acts of kindness and an environment that prioritizes equity, the program seeks to cultivate self-confidence and pave the way for lasting success.
Our Objectives are:
-
Empower Disadvantaged Students: Transform the lives of multiple students facing challenges, helping them rise to meet their peers.
-
Promote Equity: Create a fair and inclusive environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
-
Build Self-Confidence: Foster personal growth and resilience, enabling students to believe in their potential and capabilities.
Students and Sponsors can complete a profile to allow each to get to know who they are supporting/being supported by. There are four types of Sponsors:
-
Pillar Sponsor: Donations are pooled together with other sponsors to support a student(s), creating a powerful network of support.
-
Foundational Sponsor: You donation supports multiple students.
-
Keystone Sponsor: Commit to supporting one student on a personal level, with the option to provide ongoing support for their academic career.
-
Structural Sponsor: Make a broader impact by supporting multiple students at once, helping to change lives on a larger scale.
Origin Story
Transforming Students' Lives Through Equity
In my quest to make a meaningful, lasting impact in my community, I wanted to go beyond traditional charitable donations that often result in fleeting change. I envisioned a way to create a real, tangible difference in the lives of local children—one that extends beyond a single moment and fosters ongoing growth.
My passion led me to focus on helping students in need. Initially, I considered joining a student exchange program. While it’s a noble initiative that can enrich lives, I realized it often benefits only a small group of privileged students—those from families with the financial means to support such opportunities. This approach left many deserving children without access to the transformative experiences that come from cultural exchange and personal development.
What if there was a way to make these enriching experiences accessible to all students, particularly those facing financial hardships? This sparked my idea for a program dedicated to empowering youth, building their self-confidence, and providing them with diverse life experiences, much like those offered in exchange programs. By focusing on equity, we can create pathways for success that truly uplift every student.
The heart of this program lies in simple acts of kindness, ensuring every student feels valued and included. We aim to foster an environment where equity is prioritized, setting the stage for confidence to flourish and success to follow.
Thus, I proudly launched Eq-Change Students. Our motto captures our mission: “You change a student not by changing who they are, but by offering them the opportunities they deserve to thrive as their authentic selves.”
Join us in transforming the lives of students, one act of equity at a time. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community, empowering every student to realize their potential and succeed.
If we can provide a platform for students in need to step on so they are at the same level as their peers, we have begun to change lives.
Jason C. Fitz