INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS. PERSONAL SERVICE.

STUDENTS from Page 26 president of Community Relations, and executive director of the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation.

Yasmin Salina, co-founder and executive director of the The Hustlers Guild (HG), a nonprofit, social impact organization created to expose students of low-income households to careers in entertainment, said such opportunities can be “life-changing.”

“Opportunities like this… will help transform their views on self-regulation and decision-making to ensure they succeed in and outside of the classroom. The Washington Commanders’ support shows their commitment to our local youth at such a critical time where gun violence is on the rise,” said Salina.

White said he had dreams of the NFL at their age. After suffering injuries, White pivoted from athletic stardom to using his smarts to get ahead.

“Being an athlete is important, but if you don’t focus on being a student, you won't be an athlete for long. It’s called student-athlete,” he said. “I started listening to my coaches and my family members, and they gave me wisdom– wisdom I use everyday as a Councilmember in D.C. We believe in you, despite obstacles against you.”

Even with hard work on the field, not everyone makes it to the NFL. Less than 2% of college athletes go pro, and less than 15% of high school athletes receive collegiate offers.

Skills And Social Training

Students were broken up into groups, one to do athletic drills and one to learn about social and emotional learning.

As part of the training, 100 youth participants met with Washington Commanders coaching staff, executive leaders, and alumni football players to discuss their experiences with gun violence and participate in workshops centered around social and emotional learning, effective communication, health and wellness, mental toughness and athletic endurance.

“The highlight of the day was the mock press interview workshop, where I got a chance to ask questions and learn about the experiences of retired professional football players. Marcus Smith is legit and dropped a bunch of gems,” said Sevyn Evans, a local high schooler, who participated. WI

DC FUTURES is a new program that gives District residents up to $8,000 for college tuition. Students can choose from more than 50 in-demand fields.

Other benefits include:

• One-on-one coaching to help keep you on track.

• $1,500 stipend for books, travel, and other extras.

• Emergency funds to cover some of life’s unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, rent, food, and child care.

So, whether you want to finish the degree you started, or start the degree you’ve always dreamed of, the first step is just a click away.

Learn more at osse.dc.gov/dcfutures.

SUPREME COURT from Page 1 tence: “Our country has never been colorblind.”

“The best that can be said of the majority’s perspective is that it proceeds (ostrich-like) from the hope that preventing consideration of race will end racism,” Jackson wrote in blasting the six-member majority.

“But if that is its motivation, the majority proceeds in vain. If the colleges of this country are required to ignore a thing that matters, it will not just go away. It will take longer for racism to leave us.”

In the majority ruling, the conservative justices declared that the admis- sions policies of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina (UNC), which consider race a factor, were unconstitutional.

Students for Fair Admissions had presented two cases for consideration against Harvard and UNC, representing private and public universities.

They argued that the practice violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and put white and Asian-American applicants at a disadvantage.

Harvard and UNC maintained that affirmative action should be upheld, contending that their admissions policies align with previous court decisions.

They argued that considering race ensures a diverse student body. They denied any discrimination in their practices.

However, the Court ruled that affirmative action violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The justices stated that the universities’ policies do not conform to the limited exceptions for equal rights without regard to race, color, or nationality.