- The problem that oftentimes exists
in predominantly underrepresented communities
is young people don't know
that they have an opportunity
to fulfill their goals and their dreams.
- A lot of these students are working jobs,
they've got family commitments.
They're just getting stretched
in all kinds of different ways.
- As a first generation college student,
I really wanted to make my parents proud.
- I used to always walk past this place
and wonder if it could be me or not.
- So in 2007, the Travelers EDGE program
was the brainchild of our leaders.
- Travelers' promise is to take care of their customers,
take care of the community
and take care of each other.
And with this program, it's just so rich for them
to have thought way ahead of the rest.
- Our Travelers EDGE scholars are brilliant,
funny, innovative, hungry.
They have what it takes to lead.
- They said, "If you really do want to go to college,
you can take advantage of this opportunity,
the EDGE program.
It's a little tough."
And I said, "I'll do what it takes.
- We can talk about how we show up in our communities,
the EDGE program is walking that walk.
- We've had over 500 scholars
that have received support through the EDGE program,
and in fact this last year,
over 70% converted to become Travelers employees.
- The program has grown over the 15 years.
You see the success
and you see that, hey, this really does work.
- I knew it was a once in a lifetime chance
when I saw that the support
that the program would give me would be so massive,
from financial to skills
to be a professional in the workplace.
- I was part of a group with other like-minded individuals,
the same goals, the same mindset,
the same drive to succeed.
- It kind of finally hit me.
Opportunities are there if you take it.
- It's opened up a different world for me.
- EDGE is very empowering.
A whole team of people fight alongside us.
- I was debt-free.
I was able to buy my first house.
- People see my strength and my talents.
- You begin to realize that you can also belong here.
- It's surreal that I have people
that are willing to advise me,
people that are willing to mentor me,
people that want me to succeed.
- They see dreams, they recognize the dreams.
They want dreams to come to life.
(upbeat music)