The Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund has a new name.

The grant program for college-bound students living in subsidized housing is now Greater Steps Scholars, but its mission remains the same with financial aid and mentoring. The goal is to help collegians become independent and self-reliant members of the community.

The name change is the result of three years of feedback from organization stakeholders, including students, board members, partner organizations, alumni, and donors. They were interviewed to better understand perceptions of the scholarship program as well as the possibility of increasing engagement and support. The housing authority changed its name to Inlivian last year, which provided impetus for the scholarship fund.

“We learned two crucial points in our research,” said Aisha Strothers, the program’s executive director. “The first was a misconception among prospective and current donors that the fund is part of Inlivian and therefore, receives government funding. We have a great partnership with Inlivian, and our programming benefits students living in Inlivian-managed residences, but we are separate entities and rely solely on individual and private-sector support. Another discovery was that many current students and alumni felt the former name was a mismatch for the aspirational and inspirational nature of the program.”

Greater Steps Scholars was launched in 1983 by John Crawford, who was the housing authority’s youth services coordinator. Crawford and a friend pooled their resources to help a college student pay a $300 bill to return for his senior year, sparking an idea to help similarly situated people of limited means. Since 1984, the foundation has awarded 940 scholarships totaling $3.8 million, including 95 for the 2020-21 academic year.

“Greater Steps Scholars has grown from simply providing partial scholarships to offering a wrap-around service of one-on-one mentors, connections to internship opportunities, and workshops that teach students the financial and soft skills needed to be successful,” Strothers said. “Steps lead you out, but Greater Steps lead you up, and the new name better showcases the opportunity and impact the program provides for its scholars while retaining its sense of pride.”

On the Net:
www.greatersteps.org

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