Scholarship Criteria

JOIN US NOW

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Your Generosity is Appreciated.

S.A.F.E. Diversity Communities

Safe Diversity's 3-Pillar Scholarship

Our nonprofit organization offers a three-pillar scholarship that is based on the belief that “It Takes a Village, Love and Compassion to Support These Amazing Students”. Our mission is to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality within our communities, and we recognize that we are safer, stronger, and better when we work together towards this goal. By providing financial support and resources to high school students with disabilities, we empower them to pursue their academic goals and reach their full potential.

SAFE Diversity Scholarship Program Coordinators

Zenova Williams

Scholarship Program Coordinator

Pam Foote

Asst. Scholarship Program Coordinator

S.A.F.E. Diversity Communities

The Family Scholarship Criteria

The 3-Pillar Diversity, Inclusion & Equality for All Scholarship was founded in 2017 by Zenova Williams, SAFE Diversity Scholarship Program Coordinator, and Mr. Bryan Glines, Co-Founder and Diversity Manager for CenterPoint Energy.
The Barbara Jordan Endeavors Ambassadors Scholarship was founded in 2000 by The Scott Family and Rose Mary McGowan, sister of the late Barbara Jordan for high school students with unique abilities.
The Georgia Harris Jenkins Memorial Education Scholarship was founded in 2021 by Yuroba Harris and the scholarship program partnered with the SAFE Diversity scholarship program for high school and college students. However, all students must show their college enrollment verification to receive their checks.
We also have other scholarships named after some of our amazing sponsors and community partners.
The 3-Pillar scholarship applicant interview, and essay deadline will be on May 31st of each year. No Exceptions. Second, all students must complete their summer criteria to be eligible for any of the scholarships. All scholarship announcements will be the first Saturday, in August of each year, during our Community Outreach Mental Health and Wellness Workshop. The SCHOLARSHIP CHECK PRESENTATION will be at 11:00am to 1:00pm at 505 Sam Houston Parkway East Lobby area, Houston, Texas 77060. All students must be present to receive their scholarship check or contact the Scholarship Program Coordinator.
Very important: Students and parents, please check our website each month for events and location updates.

Souvenir Booklet Front Page Winner

The student who attends the most Community Outreach Workshops, events, and participates in the program by writing their 200-word essay correctly and creating their art that will be honored with the “Student Excellence Award ”. Their picture will be on the front cover of the SAFE Diversity Souvenir Booklet each year.
Student must attend 3 out of 4 Fall Community Outreach Mental Health and Wellness Workshops, Events and Activities
Student must attend 3 out of 4 Spring Community Outreach Mental Health and Wellness workshops, Events and Activities. April is Mandatory.
Student must Attend 2 out of 3 Summer Community Outreach Mental Health and Wellness Workshops, Events and Activities
The 3-Pillar Scholarship applicant “MUST” contact and interview a corporation or a small business in reference to their 3-Pillars for Diversity, Inclusion and their Mental Health Training. Student will write a 200-word essay about their findings, to be turned in by May 1st of each year.
The 3-Pillar Topics:

Workforce Diversity
Supplier Diversity
Community Relation

Building Relationships

Our Mentor Youth Program

The Scholarship Coordinators, Zenova Williams and Pam Foote, must be able to build relationships with the scholarship applicants, parents, and family members. We have a monthly zoom meeting on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm to update our students and their parents.
We provide mentorship for our at-risk youth and all our youth. We have one-on-one meetings for those who need or want a caring, loving honest Professional Adult. There will be a Community Leader or a responsible adult in their lives that will help improve the well-being of the student. Our mentor leaders can serve as a role model that will support the student academically, socially, mentally, emotionally, and provide financial guidance or any assistance to help them rebuild their lives in any crisis. It is very important that the SAFE Diversity Team build relationships with our students, their parents and other family members to help create a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
We have partnered with the Houston Police Dept., TSU Police Dept. Chief, Houston Fire Dept First Responders, Community partners, The Club House, NAMI, Normal to Be Fit and Ashley Jadine Foundation to help change lives for our amazing youth and let them know that they are not alone.

Complete Application By Student And Parent

All students and parents must sign an application online or in-person to make sure they understand our scholarship criteria.
AU students and parents will be sent an email with a link for our monthly Community Outreach Mental Health & Wellness Workshop meeting via zoom. Students and parents, “MUST” open all emails. The email eblast will inform the scholarship coordinator if the students and parents have opened the email.
Students must type 200-word essays and art projects each month. The essay and art must be emailed to safediversity@gmail.com on or before their assigned deadline at 5 PM. to win any of the prizes. Exceptions will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If a student is unable to attend monthly Community Outreach Mental Health & Wellness Workshops, Events and Activities, they MUST email the Scholarship Coordinator to let them know who will be attending in their place.

All Essays and Art Criteria:

Student name on their 200-word essay and art correctly
Student headshot on essay, not art
Name of student high school on essay and art
Student email and phone number on essay and art
A picture of youth and parents holding art/essay scanned on essay
Essay and art MUST be sent to safe diversity email: safediversity@gmail.com before the 5PM deadline.
Winners for each month will do a one-minute video to thank sponsors and Safe Diversity
Scholarship applicants, Ambassadors, and parents MUST open all emails and e-blasts.
We would like to ask all students, parents, and family members to prompt the SAFE Diversity Scholarship Program on any and all Social Media they may have. Please tag Safe Diversity in any pictures you post. #STAYSAFE

Mandatory

Community Outreach Mental Health & Wellness Info

The 3-Pillar Diversity, Inclusion, Equality for All $1,000.00 or $500.00 scholarship recipients will be announced in May, of each year.
The Barbara Jordan Endeavors Ambassador Scholarships $250.00 or $500.00 recipients will be announced in May, of each year.
The Georgia Harris Jenkins Memorial Education Scholarship recipients will be announced in May of each year.
However, the scholarships check presentations will be on the first Saturday in August of each year after the students have completed their summer criteria at our Community Outreach Mental Health & Wellness events.
However, the summer scholarship criteria meetings each year is Mandatory at the August event.
Scholarship Recipients and their parents will be invited and recognized at the Blue Carpet Scholarship Awards Gala as a recipient but will not receive their scholarship checks until the summer criteria is completed in August.
Each student and their family of 4 will be sponsored a dinner by one of the Community Partners for May of each year. However, the family is responsible to pick up their lunch before the Gala starts. The Scholarship Coordinators will let you know who the sponsors are for you to choose from.

Best Decorated Table Contest

The student and parents will have to take a picture of their decorated table with the family sitting at the table. SAFE Diversity and Georgia Harris Jenkins will provide each family with a blue tablecloth for the event. The Best Decorated Table will receive a $100.00 cash prize.
But the student MUST take a picture of the family dressed up as if they were attending the Blue Carpet Scholarship Awards Gala.
We advised the family to dress in blue attire.
Students or parents will send the picture to SAFE Diversity Communities email: safediversity@gmail.com by midnight on the date of the Gala, in order to be eligible for the cash prize.

END OF YEAR REQUIREMENTS

All Scholarship Recipients have until August 1, of each year, to submit their college enrollment paperwork to SAFE Diversity Communities and Georgia Harris Jenkins Memorial Educational Scholarship, where they will be attending college in the fall. The Barbara Jordan Endeavors Ambassadors Scholarship recipients do not have to submit enrollment papers.

If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Zenova Williams or Ms. Pam Foote via email at safediversity@gmail.com and include them in the subject line “Scholarship Questions”

S.A.F.E. DIVERSITY COMMUNITIES IS HONEST DEDICATED PREPARED

Some Testimonials

Scholarship Recipients

Thanks to the SAFE Diversity Communities scholarship, I was able to attend college and pursue my dreams of becoming a nurse. Without this support, I wouldn't be where I am today. Thank you so much for making a difference in my life!

As a student with a disability, I faced many challenges in high school, but with the help of the SAFE Diversity Communities scholarship, I was able to overcome these obstacles and continue my education.

Receiving the SAFE Diversity Communities scholarship not only provided me with financial support for college, but also gave me the confidence and motivation to pursue my passions and achieve my goals. I am now studying to become a teacher, and I know that my success would not have been possible without the support of this wonderful nonprofit.

SAFE Diversity Communities taught me how to embrace my unique abilities and use them to inspire others. As a Disability Advocate, I now have the skills and knowledge to help other students like me achieve their full potential and reach their goals.

Thanks to SAFE Diversity Communities, I learned how to manage my mental health and succeed academically despite my disabilities. The resources and support they provided me with helped me gain confidence and overcome the challenges I faced.