Google Investment Expands Last Mile Education Fund Grants to Include Men of Color in Tech

Historically marginalized communities face considerably higher costs and financial barriers to attend and persist through higher education, often taking on far greater debt. Additionally, Black, Latino, and Indigenous individuals make up a disproportionate percentage of low-income college students due to generational wealth disparities.

In 2021, only 15.4% of computer science bachelor’s degree recipients were from Black, Latino, and Indigenous groups. The U.S. Census Bureau indicates a shrinking trend in the number of Black or African American men in computing, who currently make up just 7% of the workforce. This underrepresentation inhibits growth and diversity of thought in critical innovation sectors like computing. By 2029, demand for tech workers is expected to increase by 19%.

Our mission lies in degree attainment for striving, low-income students in high-demand STEM disciplines. Students facing adverse financial conditions are often forced to slow down or even abandon their pursuit of a college degree after years of hard work and determination, which harms them, their families, and their communities. We identify students close to the finish line in their chosen field and provide just-in-time support for financial challenges beyond their control. 

Recently, we were awarded a $300,000 grant from Google to expand our support for low-income Black, Latino, and Indigenous male computing undergraduates, in addition to women and non-binary computing students. This investment aligns with our and Google’s shared goal to increase diversity in the tech and computing professions.

Our partnership with Google is already making an impact. Read about Fredrick Jaynes, one of Last Mile’s first male recipients of our Google grant.