“There was a time in my life where college, leadership, and long-term success did not feel close to my reality. Programs like PeerForward helped expand my mindset and show me what was possible.”
Kevin “KAYR” Robinson is a PeerForward Alum from the College Summit era. In honor of our organization’s 30th anniversary, we reached out to him to discuss his time as a Peer Leader and celebrate just how far he’s come. He completed his Workshop in 2000. “I went to Washington, DC, [for my Workshop]. It was my first time going somewhere by myself outside the city of Philadelphia,” he recalls fondly. “I wrote my essay comparing my life to a candle and went back to my community as a PeerForward leader, inspiring people and helping my peers.”
He went on to attend Bowdoin College on a presidential scholarship, a testament to his hard work and perseverance. From there, he worked on Wall Street and later graduated from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
KAYR is now a real estate investor who owns over 160 rental units in the Philadelphia area, the same community he grew up in. “I’m investing in real estate on a daily basis and changing people’s lives, [all] because of programs like PeerForward.”
His success doesn’t end with real estate investments; he is also a founder of KAYJAY Consulting. Through consulting work, he is able to use his expertise to help others grow and improve their own businesses. He also authored the USA TODAY best-selling memoir, Can’t Break Me.
KAYR’s journey reflects what we at PeerForward have been championing for the past 30 years: access is everything. Students everywhere have the potential for greatness, and too often they are limited only by circumstances out of their control. Through our program, we are knocking down those barriers and giving students the tools they need to succeed. The ability is already within them; we just unlock it.
You can help us in our efforts to close the access gap. “My PeerForward experience stayed with me for years and shaped who I am today,” KAYR affirms. “These summer workshops truly change lives. I hope you consider investing in the next generation.”
