Q&A with Reality Changers

“We believe that SDSVP's where the power of business meets the passion of giving also defines the students of Reality Changers. These students, despite being low income, inner-city students, mean business and share your passion for giving, despite their humble circumstances and disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Christopher Yanov, Founder and Executive Director, Reality Changers

At First Friday in September, SDSVP Investee, Reality Changers spoke to Partners and guests about their great work in the community and new partnership with SDSVP. Christopher Yanov, Founder and Executive Director of Reality Changers shared how his organization is radically changing the lives of at-risk, inner city high schoolers into first generation college students:

First there's Jesse, a Reality Changers graduate whose family’s annual income was $7,000/year; upon high school graduation, he earned a $215,000 full ride scholarship to Harvard University where he is now starting his second year. We also learned about Arlene who sold flowers on the side of the road until the day she left for Chicago on a $200,000 scholarship to Northwestern University. And then there’s Ashley who grew up in one of San Diego's most dangerous neighborhoods where there has been 10 gang related homicides in the last 5 years; she got a $203,000 scholarship to Duke University. Impressive, right?

Last month, Reality Changers was in the news for a new agreement with San Diego State University - any student who meets the program requirements and makes good grades is guaranteed admission to SDSU. Their next goal...UCSD.

As you can see, Reality Changers is about results…ultimately changing the reality of teenagers in San Diego.

As a follow up to First Friday, we asked Chris some additional questions about working with Social Venture Partners:

How did you hear about SDSVP?

Reality Changers first heard about SDSVP through its success with past investees such as Second Chance and Junior Achievement.

Why did your organization want to work with SDSVP?

Reality Changers is one of the nation's leaders when it comes to running programs for first generation college students. However, as our programs grow, we must learn how to run a multi-million dollar organization takes much different skill sets - and that's why partnering with SDSVP will be so beneficial.

Has the experience so far met your expectations?

SDSVP warned us that we would be overwhelmed with planning meetings, but they have already challenged us to look at our clients and our markets in new ways and we are looking forward to the results that partnering with SDSVP will soon produce.

What areas are we assisting you in and how have we helped you?

SDSVP is not giving us the answers to big-picture and small-picture questions; in fact, they are helping us figure out just what those questions should be. More specifically, SDSVP is helping Reality Changers create a 3-year and 5-year plan that can be functional for the organization on an everyday basis.

What are your expectations for future years of partnership with SDSVP?

Reality Changers hopes that SDSVP will teach us how to reach more markets - from inner-city students to program partners to program funders who want to see more low-income youth become first generation college.