Our Story

Difference Makers is a college-readiness program for high school students in the NYC Department of Education Community Schools initiative taught by professors at St. John’s University. Students in the program are learning valuable leadership skills as they study and respond to social issues in the community and partner with active not-for-profit organizations.  Our students are becoming leaders and are entering and finishing college. Our research shows 98 percent of DMs are persisting towards college degree completion. DMs have received 627 Certificates of Completion since 2016 and St. John's pledges a $1,000/year scholarship for attending the university right after college.