ALMOND BLOSSOM INITIATIVE
About Us
The Almond Blossom Initiative, founded in 2019, is a non-profit, student-led organization aimed at helping families in poverty in the greater Orlando area. Especially after the COVID-19 Pandemic, The Almond Blossom's role in the community has been more important than ever. By providing new opportunities and experiences, the Almond Blossom helps families and students get back on their feet and escape intergenerational poverty.
Why?
In the United States, almost 40 million Americans are living below the poverty line. People largely believe that poverty results from the faults of an individual but in reality, it's much more complicated than that. Poverty is a complex issue that is made up of many different factors and barriers that keep someone in a state of poverty or prevent them from seeking the help that they need to get to a better place. The Almond Blossom alone won't solve poverty, instead, we are one of the many contributing organizations, committed to removing specific barriers to alleviate the stresses of living in poverty as well as provide opportunities. We also not only provide direct help but also education on the topic as a more informed community can foster more support for everyone within the community.
Our Focus
As a student-led group, we focus on the educational barriers that exist in poverty. Graduating high school is something that so many students get to experience but we understand that not everyone's circumstances are the same. For varying reasons, many students in our country have to sacrifice their education in order to provide for their families.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 39% of jobs in the US require a high school diploma or an equivalent. The bureau continues and finds that those with high school diplomas make about 25% more than people who were unable to complete high school. Although these bright students are completely aware of the massive benefits of having a diploma, their situation doesn't allow them the opportunity to get one.
The Almond Blossom does a variety of drives and programs to make education more accessible, equitable, and affordable. Click the button below to see our specific drives and projects.
Leadership
Co-President:
Frances Yong
Co-President:
Philip Yong
Vice President:
Emily Meffe
Secretary-Treasurer:
Whitney Choung
Project Director :
Minaal Arain
Project Director :
Andrew Chen