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A SINGLE DEGREE.
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY.

One Million Degrees accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility. 

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TYPES OF SUPPORT

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The OMD Support Model

Our holistic, research-driven support model directly impacts the City Colleges of Chicago students we serve and serves as a national model for driving community college student success.  OMD Scholars have access to four pillars of wraparound supports: Academic, financial, professional, and personal.

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Academic Support
  • Accountability calls with a dedicated OMD Program Coordinator (PC)  
  • Guidance to help you navigate campus resources
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  • Stipends to help with books, transportation, or other college costs
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  • Student development sessions (SDS) on topics like time management and self-care
  • Resume building LinkedIn training, and mock-interviews
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  • One-on-one and group mentoring from OMD staff and coaches  
  • A community committed to growth, success, and empowerment  
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BECOME AN OMD COACH

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Coach a scholar, support your community

One Million Degrees Coaches act as a sounding board, thought partner, and cheerleader for OMD Scholars. By volunteering just a few hours a month, you can make a lasting difference in a scholar’s life and career.

BECOME A COACH
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OMD helps scholars succeed

WORDS FROM OUR SCHOLARS

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John J.

Without the positive habits I learned from One Million Degrees I would have given up at college some time ago. OMD helped me to believe in myself and find the necessary resources to move forward in my studies. It also helped me to realize that I could network professionally with people who I wouldn’t have imagined.

Taylor K.

I am a grandmother returning to college. The support that I got from OMD was instrumental in building my confidence and it showed me that I could actually complete my associate’s degree and continue.

Benjamin B.

One Million Degrees gave me the​ self-confidence to go out and find a job. They helped my professional development (networking, resume, cover letter, interviewing), therefore my confidence.

John J.

I feel like I am part of a very special group of dreamers on a path to do great things.

Taylor K.

One Million Degrees has provided me with invaluable information and tips that have helped develop myself professionally, academically, and socially. I’ve learned important skills such as networking, time management, and organizational leadership through the workshops and spending time with those involved. I’ve learned many things from OMD and I am eternally grateful.

Benjamin B.

I feel OMD was really helpful for me because when I started college I did not know who to ask for advice since I was first generation to finish college in my family. I am very thankful for OMD.

John J.

I’m forever grateful for the knowledge and courage OMD has instilled in me, and I’m a better person for it.

Taylor K.

One Million Degrees prepared me for the interview process and provided organizational skills to prepare myself into continuing my education and setting higher goals

PROGRESS

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WHEN YOU GIVE TO OMD, YOU SUPPORT OUR VISION

OMD

CHANGES LIVES.

A future where all community college students are on a pathway to economic mobility. 

SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS

PROGRESS

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DRIVING CHANGE

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The OMD student support model changes the lives of the students we serve, as well as the educational systems we work within.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

OMD IS ROOTED
IN RESEARCH

We’ve pursued rigorous external research and evaluation of our program. To evaluate our impact, we embarked on a randomized control trial (RCT) study with the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab in 2017, finding that OMD Scholars are:

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WHAT WE ACHIEVED

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73%

More likely to earn a degree

70%

More likely to enroll
in community college

94%

More likely to persist from

the fall to spring semesters 

RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS 

EMPOWER FUTURES

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OMD IS GROWING

WE ARE SCALING

In Chicago to reach 3,000+ students by 2026 through our partnership with City Colleges of Chicago. 

WE ARE STRENGTHENING

Career exposure and job connections for scholars in partnership with employers and colleges. 

WE ARE EXPANDING

Nationally by sharing knowledge and piloting direct-to-institution support. 

GET INVOLVED
David Scherer

David Scherer

One Million Degrees Co-founder 

David is principal of Origin, co-chairs the Investment Committee, and oversees investment analysis, acquisition and asset management. He has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investing, finance, and asset management. In 2006, he co-founded One Million Degrees, which has raised $20 million to help low-income community college students graduate and successfully enter the workforce. David has served as the organization’s Board Chair for the past 12 years, as the organization has grown from 30 to 1,000 students served per year. He also serves as the President of the Harvard Club of Chicago and is on the Advisory Board of Invest for Kids.  

Rose Lizarraga

Rose Lizarraga

OMD CO-Founder & President & CEO, Lysa LLC

An award-winning documentary filmmaker and freelance writer, Rose’s career also includes 10 years spent developing new product and brand strategies as well as marketing and advertising campaigns at Leo Burnett, Foote, Cone & Belding, M&M/Mars and other small businesses.  More recently, she worked as a writer/editor for Modern Luxury Inc., publishers of magazines such as CS and Angeleno.  Rose graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with dual degrees in English and Political Science.  She is a founding member of the Daniel M. Kerrane, Jr. Foundation, former Board Vice President of the Fairy Godmother Foundation, and currently serves on the Chicago committee for Human Rights Watch.

Michael B Golden

Michael B. Golden

One Million Degrees Co-Founder 

A former national award-winning broadcast journalist, Michael Golden has also served as a political campaign manager and communications strategist for U.S. Presidential, Senate and Congressional races. Michael is a fellow at the British-American Project and the Open Society Institute. In 1999, Michael’s investigative and public affairs reporting for NBC earned him honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the AP, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2011, Michael co-founded Newsbound, Inc., a media and software company based in San Francisco, CA. He is also a co-founder of the Complete the Degree back-to-college initiative in Chicago, Illinois. Michael serves on the board of the ADL and on the governing board of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, as well as the Illinois Commission to Eliminate Poverty. He received his B.A. from Indiana University, and his M.S. in Public Services Management from DePaul University.