Garrett Neiman

Basically, as long as I can remember, I've tried to live a life that's meaningful and aligned with values and so forth. So for me, the main way that manifested is entering the nonprofit sector. My sister is adopted from China. I raised money for her former orphanage when I was in high school. And then

Basically, as long as I can remember, I've tried to live a life that's meaningful and aligned with values and so forth. So for me, the main way that manifested is entering the nonprofit sector. My sister is adopted from China. I raised money for her former orphanage when I was in high school. And then

When I went to college at Stanford, I started College Spring, which is a national college access nonprofit, helping low-income students of color prepare for the SATs and become the first in their families to go to college. And, you know, we served about 20,000 students during my tenure, raised $15 million, got recognized by the Obama White House. So on the one hand, it was this big success.

When I went to college at Stanford, I started College Spring, which is a national college access nonprofit, helping low-income students of color prepare for the SATs and become the first in their families to go to college. And, you know, we served about 20,000 students during my tenure, raised $15 million, got recognized by the Obama White House. So on the one hand, it was this big success.

But on the other hand, that decade of work really helped me see how Programs like ours, frankly, were really ill-equipped to address the deep systemic barriers that students of color and high poverty communities faced. And so I've been on a journey since to really try to understand the root causes of inequality, how they can be addressed. And also, you know, what is my role in the work?

But on the other hand, that decade of work really helped me see how Programs like ours, frankly, were really ill-equipped to address the deep systemic barriers that students of color and high poverty communities faced. And so I've been on a journey since to really try to understand the root causes of inequality, how they can be addressed. And also, you know, what is my role in the work?

as a white man, and particularly in a straight, able-bodied white man who grew up in a wealthy family and attended private schools, that I think there's a real desire among many people who share my background to contribute. But I think there's really, particularly in this moment, a lack of clarity about what that role can look like.

as a white man, and particularly in a straight, able-bodied white man who grew up in a wealthy family and attended private schools, that I think there's a real desire among many people who share my background to contribute. But I think there's really, particularly in this moment, a lack of clarity about what that role can look like.

Unearned advantage is simply a way of saying that, you know, those of us who have advantaged identity markers, like growing up in a wealthy family or growing up white, growing up male and so forth, that does lead to some unearned advantages in our lives. And compounding unearned advantage is a way of talking about how

Unearned advantage is simply a way of saying that, you know, those of us who have advantaged identity markers, like growing up in a wealthy family or growing up white, growing up male and so forth, that does lead to some unearned advantages in our lives. And compounding unearned advantage is a way of talking about how

when those show up sequentially through our experiences, it's a way that those advantages actually compound. You know, that there's studies that show that white teachers believe white students are higher potential. There's evidence now that parents Google more often, is my son gifted than is my daughter gifted?

when those show up sequentially through our experiences, it's a way that those advantages actually compound. You know, that there's studies that show that white teachers believe white students are higher potential. There's evidence now that parents Google more often, is my son gifted than is my daughter gifted?

And certainly, you know, if you go to school in an affluent community, teachers have more time to advocate for their students. In affluent families, parents have more time to advocate for their children. You know, so there's all these ways where these seemingly subtle compounding under an advantage is really a way of talking to folks who understand how compound interest works.

And certainly, you know, if you go to school in an affluent community, teachers have more time to advocate for their students. In affluent families, parents have more time to advocate for their children. You know, so there's all these ways where these seemingly subtle compounding under an advantage is really a way of talking to folks who understand how compound interest works.

You know, that if a slightly higher annual return adds up to a lot exponentially over time, the same thing can be true for our identity based under an advantages that seemingly small under an advantages can really shift trajectories and produce large societal disparities.

You know, that if a slightly higher annual return adds up to a lot exponentially over time, the same thing can be true for our identity based under an advantages that seemingly small under an advantages can really shift trajectories and produce large societal disparities.

Yeah, it's a really good question. And I think in a certain sense, there isn't a problem. And I think in particular, it's very rational, the way that our society is currently structured, that in high inequality societies, there's a real hunger to want to cling to whatever rung you're on.

Yeah, it's a really good question. And I think in a certain sense, there isn't a problem. And I think in particular, it's very rational, the way that our society is currently structured, that in high inequality societies, there's a real hunger to want to cling to whatever rung you're on.

Like that if you imagine just sort of a ladder, you know, that in a high inequality society, the gaps between the rungs are pretty large, that there's major differences in quality of life if you fall down a rung on the ladder. And In America, we don't have too much of a safety net. So if you're at the very bottom of that ladder and let go, you don't land in a safety net.

Like that if you imagine just sort of a ladder, you know, that in a high inequality society, the gaps between the rungs are pretty large, that there's major differences in quality of life if you fall down a rung on the ladder. And In America, we don't have too much of a safety net. So if you're at the very bottom of that ladder and let go, you don't land in a safety net.