Graham Featured in Fordham Now

Our Institutional Challenge Grant from the William T. Grant Foundation was recently featured in Fordham Magazine! Graham’s President & CEO, Kym Watson, and Senior Director of Community Leadership Development, Dr. Emily Lopez, discussed the grant and our research partnership with Fordham University.

The Institutional Challenge Grant encourages university-based research institutes to grow existing research-practice partnerships with nonprofit organizations to reduce inequality in youth outcomes. This is the first time in the history of this nationally prestigious award that a New York City-based partnership has been selected. Graham and Fordham will partner to co-develop trauma-informed, career-connected pathways for youth in the Bronx ages 18–26 through Graham SLAM and Graham WORKS. By engaging youth and caregivers in research to co-design Graham’s offerings, we will directly address pressing challenges that NYC communities are facing, including poverty and injustice.

“This is really a comprehensive look at how a community can offer its voice in research. And it will demonstrate what’s actually going on in the community so that we can make comprehensive change,” said Dr. Lopez.