ARCC Gives Me Hope

By: Sam Conway

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, the son of an educator, I have seen firsthand a system ravaged by underfunding, prejudice, and racism. Bias in educational and professional settings marginalizes communities, systemic racism inhibits access to opportunities, and discrimination fuels cycles of poverty and disenfranchisement. But ARCC gives me hope. They stand up for what is right, fostering anti-racist policies, and building partnerships with youth-led organizations while addressing systemic racism directly, and ensuring marginalized voices are heard and empowered.

Build from the ground up. Lay a solid foundation, support it, and the rest will follow. I’ve learned this while working to support a grassroots mayoral campaign in Baltimore, rallying for safe, equitable AI at Fidutam and Encode Justice, and seeing progress halted by the challenges of inequity in education and the justice system. Right now, I believe that our best shot at real change comes by cultivating young leaders, nurturing their ideas, and letting them know that their voice matters in the fight to eradicate racism—all things ARCC boldly works to achieve. 

This kind of movement can change the future, not just locally, but across the nation, and the world. It’s a movement built on hope, fueled by action and transparency, and driven by an unwavering commitment to advocate for everyone, not just those at the top. During this internship, I hope to grow as a person, and as a leader, learning about the process behind the action that fuels change. It’s my belief that to be a force for change, one must speak and act from the heart and be willing and eager to learn. ARCC promotes this curiosity and nurtures it with workshops, mentorship, and projects designed to teach interns while making a lasting impact.