Let Me Introduce You To Maia!

Donors like you helped Maia find her voice, her purpose, and her place. See what you made possible.

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Let me tell you about the OGs. The inaugural cohort. The founding mentees. No matter what the world calls them, to me—as the proud TCI mama bear—Lidiya, Ezi, Helen, Mika, Sydney, and Maia will always be my babies. These are the girls who believed in The Collective Identity when it was just a hope and a dream. Before we had a name on the map. Before we had a room at USC. Before we were officially recognized. They showed up anyway, with open hearts and unwavering trust.They helped turn the TCI vision into a reality. Without them, TCI would still be just a dream. Many of you have been following our journey since the very beginning, back in 2020 and 2021, when the world was on lockdown. I was emailing you, sharing my vision, fueled by faith, grit, and a whole lot of prayer. Over the past few years, I’ve given you glimpses into our work. I’ve highlighted our girls’ wins, their milestones, their magic. But do you really know them? Have I painted a full picture of who these young women truly are? Well, today, I want to pull back the curtain. and I want to introduce you to the girl I call, Slick. Let me introduce you to Maia. Maia came to us as a freshman. Not yet a full USC student. She was part of the Pathways program, living like a Trojan, taking classes at a community college, and working toward her transfer. And let me tell you, life didn’t roll out a red carpet. Life was lifing when Maia got to L.A. She faced roommates who didn’t understand her, micro-aggressions wrapped in privilege, and the isolating weight of not knowing where she belonged. A USC student, living in USC student housing, access to the campus, but who is not quite a USC student. But she never gave up. She thugged it out. She kept her GPA high. And she got into USC. The interviews came in. Sometimes it went all the way to the final round. Sometimes it came down to Maia and one other candidate. And then came the words: “We went with someone else.” It was heartbreaking. Maia was frustrated. And honestly? So were we. And through it all, she showed up for TCI. Every confab. Every outing. Every conversation. At first, she was quiet. Soft-spoken but grounded and intentional. She let TCI become her safe space. By sophomore year, we watched her bloom. That’s when she truly became “Slick.” This soft-spoken girl revealed herself to be sharp, quick-witted, and a strategic thinker. She didn’t just speak up; she spoke truth. She made us laugh. She made us listen. She was and still is clever, quick, or smooth with it. So I call  her "Slick.” By Junior year, she had goals. Big ones. Her top priority? Land an internship. Her mentor, Adriane, PHR an HR Director, helped her craft a stellar resume that made us all say, “Yes, girl!” We wanted to call every hiring manager and ask, “Why?” We wanted feedback, anything to help Maia land her dream internship. We wanted this for her because we saw how hard she was trying. But instead, we did what we do best: we surrounded her. We ran mock interviews. We shared our own stories of rejection. We reminded her that “no” isn’t the end it’s often just redirection. We helped her understand that what she was experiencing wasn’t failure; it was part of the process. And then it happened! Maia landed a paid internship with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation as a Marketing Intern in Web Design!! This is a role that sits perfectly at the intersection of her creativity, tech skills, and passion for making the world better. And let’s be clear, Maia earned it. Through her determination, grit, and persistence, she kept showing up even when the doors didn’t open right away. But at TCI, we don’t just hope our girls make it. We help clear the path. Our incredible facilitator, Ebony, who once worked at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, picked up the phone and called a former colleague who still works there and made sure that she knew there was a TCI girl in the building!   Ebony also introduced Maia to her goddaughter, who is also interning at AHF this summer as well. Because that’s what we do at TCI. We don’t just help girls get in the door we try to make sure they feel safe, seen, and supported once they’re inside. We build community wherever and whenever we can. Maia’s First Week! Her first assignment was to review the organization’s websites and present her feedback. If you know Maia, you know she dove in headfirst—eager, focused, and ready to make an impact. She has been developing user personas in Figma and updating content through WordPress to bring her ideas to life. Next week, she will take it a step further by presenting her proposed website improvements directly to the organization’s stakeholders. Remember your first desk? Your own extension? That feeling of arrival? Well that’s what Maia felt! She showed up dressed for success, wearing pieces that she picked up from the TCI Boutique. Maia’s first week was everything she dreamed of and more! They welcomed our girl with open arms, complete with a thoughtful welcome package waiting on her desk. And here’s the best part: her office is just a stone’s throw away from her mentor Adriane’s office. They connect over lunch, and Maia feels grounded, knowing someone she trusts is within walking distance. And we at TCI? We feel just as grounded, knowing she’s surrounded by people who love her, believe in her, and are invested in her growth and success. Maia’s Year-End Highlights Maia’s Junior year wasn’t just about landing her dream internship though that alone was a major milestone. Her hard work paid off in a multitude of ways, each one a testament to her drive, resilience, and leadership. She made the Dean’s List. She was accepted into the prestigious Integrated Design, Business, and Technology program at the Iovine and Young Academy, where she’ll earn both a Bachelor’s and a Master of Science in just one additional year. She became Co-President of the TCI Student Board. And  she led the charge that officially recognized TCI as a USC student organization cementing our presence on campus for years to come. Maia didn’t just succeed. She soared. The once quiet girl is now walking into her senior year like a force of nature to be reckoned with. This is why we mentor. This is why we don’t quit, on them or on this work. Because when you invest in Black girls, when you uplift them, encourage them, and give them the tools to try, fail, and rise again, they do extraordinary things. Maia’s story is one of many. But it’s also a reminder. When you invest in a girl, you’re investing in your community. Donate today. Help us continue the work. Help us build futures. If you’ve ever said, “I wish I had something like this at their age,” and you believe in the power of mentorship—now is the time to turn that wish into action. Give what you can. Give because you believe in equity. Give because you believe in the brilliance of Black girls. Give because a program like TCI didn’t exist for you—but it does for them, and it’s making all the difference. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us keep showing up—for Maia, and for the next girl who’s just waiting to bloom. Make a Difference Today! View email in browser update your preferences or unsubscribe