Twenty years ago, John Vatterott, Terry Mehan, Tom Nolan, and others championed the idea for a nonprofit organization aimed at propelling historically underserved middle school students into high school and onto college and career success. Rooted in the belief that education was the most enduring path to economic stability and that a strong school was the bedrock of a vibrant neighborhood, Access launched with 15 eighth graders inside a single South City middle school. Last years, Access served 391 students in 3 middle schools, 42 area high schools—including 22 private, college-preparatory schools—and 58 colleges and post-secondary institutions across the country.