On Friday, January 30, 2026 , New Futures will gather its community for one of the most meaningful events of the year, the New Futures Community Breakfast . This annual morning event brings together corporate partners, philanthropic leaders, alumni, and community champions who share a belief in the power of education and career opportunity to transform lives across the DC region. Event Details Date Friday, January 30, 2026 Time Doors open at 9am Location True Reformer Buil

CareerCon 2026 is New Futures’ second annual flagship career development event, designed to connect Scholars with the tools, networks, and confidence they need to launch meaningful careers. Taking place on Saturday, March 21, 2026 , this full-day event will bring together New Futures Scholars, alumni, and professional volunteers for a powerful experience rooted in learning, connection, and opportunity. Hosted at the University of the District of Columbia’s Van Ness Campus ,

New Futures propels young adults through community college degrees or professional certifications and into rewarding careers. We offer this through a combination of scholarships, academic and career advising, skill-building workshops, career education programming, and wraparound support. The eligibility checklist below explains the required criteria that applicants must meet to be considered for the New Futures program. Required Eligibility Criteria K–12 Credential Applicants

On September 4, 2025, New Futures proudly hosted the inaugural Thrive Talks , a brand-new quarterly event series created to spark community, learning, and action. The evening brought together Scholars, partners, alumni, and supporters for an inspiring conversation about equity, access, and opportunity. The event began with a rooftop reception and celebration of Pathways to Possibility: The Next Chapter of New Futures , unveiling our new five-year Strategic Plan and reaffirmi

New Futures was founded on a simple but powerful belief: when young people are given access to opportunity, support, and choice, they can build futures that uplift not only themselves, but entire communities. The organization began in 1999 , when Michael Gould (center in photo above with colorful tie) established New Futures with initial funding from the estate of his late brother, Allen Gould. Allen left Michael with a charge to “do something good,” and Michael chose to in

CareerCon is New Futures’ annual, hands-on career-development event designed to ignite growth, build connections, and prepare Scholars for the next step in their professional journeys. Hosted by the University of the District of Columbia , this year’s event brought together 120+ Scholars  and 60+ volunteers  for a full day of learning, networking, and inspiration. The day began with powerful keynote addresses from Dr. Maurice Edington , President of UDC, and Najmah Abdur-Rahm

On a perfect fall evening with sweeping views of the U.S. Capitol, our community came together for Taste of New Futures: Around the World. This annual event is a rooftop celebration featuring different cultures and cuisine in honor of New Futures Scholars and alumni. Hosted by our incredible Associate Board, we transported guests across the globe highlighting six destinations that represent part of our diverse Scholar community: Barbados, Cameroon, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Sri

At New Futures, our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) starts within our organization and extends to the community of people we serve and with whom we partner. We recognize that many of our Scholars and New Futures community members have faced oppressive barriers due to our country’s long history of racism, sexism, classism, ableism and other inequitable practices that we are still grappling with today. We believe in the inherent dignity and

On behalf of the team at New Futures, thank you for making our Taste of New Futures rooftop celebration an incredible night! Thanks to our generous sponsors, donors, and guests, we raised over $18,000 to help fund the next generation of Scholars. We are thrilled by the outpouring of support. It was wonderful to connect with so many people who believe in our mission. The food, drinks, and views were spectacular, and the chance to gather and build community made the evening eve

Ghafoor’s journey is a powerful example of how the New Futures Scholar Program helps turn determination into opportunity while inspiring a spirit of giving back. From the very beginning, Ghafoor had a clear vision for his future. “We started from zero,” he recalls, describing a fresh chapter filled with hope, possibility, and the belief that hard work could open new doors. Determined to pursue engineering, he immediately set his sights on higher education. “I didn’t know how

From a young age, Shalinka understood how deeply compassionate and competent medical care can change lives. After witnessing the loss of her father due to inadequate treatment, she made a promise to herself to become the kind of nurse who listens, advocates, and shows up fully for her patients. She proudly dressed as a nurse every career day, already stepping into the future she dreamed of. Pursuing her nursing degree meant making difficult choices and stepping far outside he

For Readet, navigating the ins and outs of college felt overwhelming at first. Fortunately, she had her New Futures advisor, Allie, by her side every step of the way. “I had to work a little bit harder just to understand what was happening,” she recalls. “Allie helped me with so much — from selecting courses to sharing scholarship opportunities. She helped me feel prepared. I knew what to expect during that first semester because of her.” For many Scholars, understanding the

Rosa’s dream of becoming a teacher began at age seven, when she helped her grandmother learn to read and write. “Something was born inside me, and I just felt so excited to teach.” Even through significant challenges early in life, Rosa never lost her passion for education or her commitment to helping others learn. When she began exploring college options, she quickly realized how much she didn’t know. “I was the first person in my family to attend college, and I didn’t know

Yet again, we are bearing witness to the murder of unarmed Black people at the hands of police. We are increasingly struck by the lack of local and national leadership on this critical and pervasive issue of Black oppression and abuse. Cries for justice in the form of protests and demonstrations not only go unanswered, but are responded to with violence. Our city burns with the pain of generations of inequities met with inaction. In the face of this, at New Futures we affirm