I AM CULTURED INC

I AM C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prepares young people of color to become global citizens through the power of travel, global learning, personalized mentorship, and enrichment workshops. Our mission is to make cultural exposure and leadership development accessible to all by offering low to no-cost experiences that expand students’ worldviews and opportunities.

Our Story

I AM C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. began in Brooklyn, New York, with a vision to make global education accessible to every student. While we started and continue to meet in Brooklyn, our reach extends across all five boroughs and Long Island, and we have engaged students from Pennsylvania, Florida, and North Carolina. 

Our work is driven by the belief that travel changes lives. Many young people of color grow up without the chance to see the world, even though global experiences build confidence, cultural awareness, and career readiness. Nationally, less than six percent of students who study abroad are Black, and even fewer come from low-income backgrounds. We exist to change that.

Through our programs, students receive passports, exposure, and access, often for the very first time. Many participants board a plane without their parents for the first time through I AM C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D., and that moment becomes a defining step toward confidence and independence.

Each student is paired with a mentor who guides them through their personal and professional journey, helping connect their global experiences to real-world goals. Our enrichment workshops strengthen both life and leadership skills, covering topics such as financial literacy, mental wellness, college and career readiness, and community engagement.

Our approach is grounded in our five pillars: Identity, Enrichment, Community, Global Citizenship, and Change Agent. These pillars guide every experience, helping students embrace who they are, explore the world around them, and lead with purpose.

What makes our model distinct is accessibility. We intentionally keep our programs low to no cost, removing financial barriers that often limit opportunities for students of color. Whether it is providing passports, securing flights, or connecting students to mentors, every gift helps ensure that cost is never the reason a young person cannot see the world.

From our home base in Brooklyn to destinations across the globe, I AM C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. continues to help students discover who they are, where they come from, how they can lead and what it means to be C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. (Confident.Unique.Leading.Tenacious.Unstoppable.Regal.Educated.Daring)