C+
CO
CREATE +
COLLABORATE
All
Our Impact
Volunteer
Annual Conference
Alumni
give
All
2019
Growing
up
in
a
single-parent
household
in
the
Detroit
Metroplex,
Ricquel
Archer
is
the
first
in
her
family
to
pursue
a
bachelor's
degree.
She
dedicates
her
early
career
to
nonprofit
work
leading
national
initiatives
for
youth
in
foster
care
and
operating
local
community
centers
for
students
kindergarten
through
high
school.
The
community
center
she
leads
receives
national
recognition.
Ricquel
begins
working
with
Darius
Ford,
a
senior
at
Young
Men's
Leadership
Academy
in
Fort
Worth,
TX.
Their
conversations
and
working
relationship
become
the
inspiration
for
a
Fort
Worth
nonprofit
organization,
Create
+
Collaborate.
Ricquel
begins
to
explore
the
gaps
in
support
services
for
students
transitioning
into
adulthood,
particularly
those
aging
out
of
traditional
youth
development
programs.
She
spends
the
first
three
months
conducting
research,
listening
to
student
experiences,
and
what
becomes
Create
+
Collaborate.
From
humble
beginnings
in
a
Boys
&
Girls
Club
gym,
Create
+
Collaborate
launches
its
first
cohort.
Ricquel
and
Darius
appear
on
WFAA
for
the
first
time,
and
are
featured
in
the
Fort
Worth
report.
Create
+
Collaborate
grows
significantly
in
impact
and
recognition.
Ricquel's
commitment
to
excellence
and
equity
earns
the
organization
support
from
major
brands
and
community
stakeholders.
She
expands
her
role
as
a
speaker
and
advocate
for
first-gen
students,
sharing
stories
about
the
power
of
mentorship
and
opportunity.
Create
+
Collaborate
redefines
the
college
experience
for
first
generation
college
students
and
celebrates
its
first
graduating
class.
Create
+
Collaborate
doubles
in
size
and
receives
non-profit
of
the
year.
the future
is yours to create
