Photo: Katie Currid

Nolan Cook and Will Shafer have a lot in common. They both grew up in Weston, Missouri, a rural town with a population of just under 1,800 people. They’re both 18 years old and about to graduate from high school. And they've both been shaped by living and working on farms and by families who value education and set them up for success.

Yet these two classmates, who’ve known each other since they were young boys, are heading in two very different directions after graduation—both in terms of where they’re going to college and the reasons why.

Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of One Million Degrees, leads an organization committed to boosting college completion rates and accelerating community college students' economic mobility.

Sohoni's own journey from classroom educator to transformative leader underscores his dedication to unlocking every student’s potential. In this interview, he shares his perspective on effective strategies for fostering equitable opportunities for all learners and how policymakers can continue to invest in college completion.

Rosanna Jackson, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, knows firsthand the stigma of childhood trauma and the consequences of not talking about one's pain. 

Ultimately, that silence can be lethal, Jackson says. Now an adult who has dedicated her life to helping her tribal members be more resilient, Jackson is leading the effort to create the nation’s first suicide helpline staffed by and designed for Native youth.