Breaking barriers to build Black wealth: The journey of 5 Strong
By Quameiha Raymond-Ducheine, storytelling associate
As graduation season approaches, 55 newly selected 5 Strong Scholars eagerly await their first semester. The auditorium at Atlanta Metropolitan College is brimming with excitement as scholars gather for their monthly college preparation session. These sessions equip students with the tools needed to excel in higher education.
The primary mission of 5 Strong is to close the racial wealth gap by helping African American students graduate with zero to minimal student loans. Scholars receive full-tuition scholarships to Historically Black Universities (HBCUs) and a wealth of academic, financial and career support throughout their college years. Since 2015, Andrew Ragland, founder of 5 Strong, and his dedicated team have graduated over 100 Black scholars with minimal student debt. Ragland emphasizes the importance of graduating without debt, stating, “If our students are graduating in debt, they are coming out behind in the racial wealth game. If they can graduate without that debt, then they are on a level playing field with the other races and can move towards becoming financially stable.”
Guest speaker Ryan Jones, a dedicated 5 Strong volunteer for eight years, conducts an experiment demonstrating the importance of focus and balance. He invites a scholar to the stage and challenges her to balance a $20 bill on a wooden pole while only focusing on the bill. When the pole repeatedly falls, he redirects her focus to a sign that reads “Future” at the top of the pole. She successfully balances the pole, illustrating that concentrating on the future helps maintain balance. Moments like these are abundant at 5 Strong.
Inspired by the Posse Foundation, a leadership-based scholarship that sends students in cohorts of 10 to well-endowed, predominantly White universities, Ragland adapted this model for HBCUs. Initially securing partnerships with four HBCUs, 5 Strong now has 14 partner schools nationwide. These HBCUs provided education for African Americans when higher education was largely inaccessible. By offering access to higher education, they have significantly advanced Black Americans’ social and economic status. 5 Strong continues this mission by providing scholarships to students who desire to attend HBCUs but lack the financial or social capital to do so.
5 Strong primarily serves first-generation college students, often overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Ragland states, “We support students who may not have the best GPA or highest test scores but still deserve the opportunity to succeed in life.” When accepted, scholars receive 24/7 access to mentors, career support, mental health counseling, and free cellular phone service while on campus. The program also sponsors visits to their universities before the first semester.
Ihwanjai, a rising freshman at Savannah State College, says the campus visit solidified her desire to attend college. Facing several life challenges and financial constraints, she appreciates 5 Strong for recognizing her character and perseverance. “Because of 5 Strong, I now see a future in college and graduating within four years,” she says.
Ben Carter, a 5 Strong Scholar who graduated from Bethune-Cookman University in 2022 and now works at Chick-fil-A’s corporate headquarters, reflects on the support he received. “Because of 5 Strong, I did not feel alone in college,” he says, crediting the program with helping him graduate with minimal debt and transitioning comfortably into the real world. He is now on track to purchase a home, make financial investments and build generational wealth.
Reflecting on nine years of breaking barriers and building Black wealth, Ragland is proud of the 5 Strong dedicated volunteer base, which sustained operations until it secured a significant grant in its fifth year. He notes that their challenge has been securing funding. “Larger foundations constantly receive grants, while smaller, especially Black-led nonprofits, get overlooked.”
Just as Ragland recruits and empowers overlooked scholars, 5 Strong, an often overlooked nonprofit, deserves the support it needs to fulfill its mission. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is proud to support the 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation. As 5 Strong continues to grow, it aims to expand its network to the West Coast, providing Black students who wish to attend HBCUs with the support they need to make that dream a reality.
To learn more about the 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation visit their website here.
