Exceptional Minds, Extraordinary Futures

The cofounder of Thrive Scholars details a proven method for supporting exceptional low-income students—and shares stories of extraordinary young people already achieving their dreams. With forewords by Miles Corwin, bestselling author of And Still We Rise, and Drew Martin, Thrive Scholars CEO. 

After an inspiring encounter with gifted high-school students in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, James and Trisha London left with a mission. Determined to support these brilliant young people, the Londons created the nonprofit that would eventually become Thrive Scholars, a national organization dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for high-achieving, low-income students. 

In Exceptional Minds, Extraordinary Futures, James London shares interviews with graduates of the Thrive program—exploring their incredible successes—as he shows how what started as an effort to support a few remarkable high schoolers became a calling to address the systemic challenges that keep America's brightest minds from reaching their full potentials. 

Over twenty five years, James London discovered evidence-based, scalable ways to provide the support necessary to ensure that all of America's brightest young people can lead the lives they desire and ensure our nation and economy can benefit from their efforts, capacities, and intelligence. 

Today, more than 90 percent of Thrive Scholars students attend top colleges, and nearly two thousand Thrive alums have gone on to careers in medicine, law, engineering, academia, and other top fields. With the supports described in these pages, they not only enroll at top colleges, but persist in their chosen majors, attain high GPAs at prestigious institutions, and go on to secure jobs that propel them and their families toward economic mobility.

More than just the story of one innovative program, Exceptional Minds, Extraordinary Futures is a call for educational reform, and guidebook for school administrators, nonprofit and business leaders, and teachers. There is a wealth of talent in communities across America. We can unlock it, if we give every student the chance to thrive.