Dwaneti A. Brooks, EdD, BCBA, NYSLBA is the founder and CEO of The Ivy League Bound Project, Inc. Dwaneti has been an educator in New York City for 17 years. Dwaneti has a MAEd in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Phoenix; a MSEd in Early Childhood (Birth-K)/ Childhood (grades 1-6)/ Special Education (birth - grade 6) from Mercy College; a EdD in Educational Leadership/Curriculum and Instruction from University of Phoenix and a Board Certified Behavioral Analysis Certification from Touro University. Being the only child of parents who highly valued faith, education and community activism those values are the core of her foundation. Her affinity to help children who struggle to succeed academically and her role as an engaging educator who has a love of education and a desire to utilize it as empowerment tool led her to start this organization. Dwaneti is drawn to the philosophy of using engagement to educate and empower as a result of her research on the low college enrollment rates of high school students living in low socio-economic areas of New York City. Dwaneti's research formed five major themes. The theme that she reflects upon the most is "out of school experiences make college enrollment unsuccessful". Driven by the quote "education is the most powerful tool we can use to change the world" (Nelson Mandela), Dwaneti believes the impact out of school experiences has on the college aspirations of students living in low socio-economic areas can be alleviated. She concludes, when students are engaged in programs that help educate them and their families, they WILL be empowered to succeed academically!