Helping Beautiful CHILDREN UNITE

Our Story

ProjectHBCU was founded in 2021 by Kemryn Lawrence to help Black students overcome systemic barriers and access higher education. Too often, Black youth are forced into the School-to-Prison Pipeline (S2PP) instead of being guided through the K-12 to Higher Education Pipeline. Zero-tolerance policies, excessive suspensions, and academic neglect disproportionately push Black students toward the criminal justice system, cutting off their access to opportunity. Kemryn knows this reality firsthand—she couldn’t read until the fourth grade and attended 13 different public schools, constantly navigating a system that wasn’t built for her success. Yet, with the support of mentors and programs, she defied the odds, earning both her Bachelor’s and Master degrees from Clark Atlanta University. As SGA President and a U.S. White House HBCU Scholar, she saw firsthand how education could be a tool of liberation, and she founded ProjectHBCU to ensure other students had the same opportunities.

What began as a pilot program at Living School High School in New Orleans has now grown into a lifeline for over 90 students across four states. ProjectHBCU is more than a college access program—it’s a movement dedicated to building leaders, challenging systemic inequities, and ensuring that Black students thrive in higher education and beyond. Kemryn’s journey—accumulating over $300,000 in scholarships, fellowships, and internships—proves that when students are given the resources and support they deserve, they can excel despite the obstacles before them. At ProjectHBCU, we are rewriting the narrative, one student at a time, making sure no one is left behind. Education should be a bridge, not a barrier, and we are here to make that a reality. Join us in creating a future where Black students aren’t just surviving, but thriving.