Deon Jones, SPA/BA '14, speaks at the 2014 GradNation Summit

Deon T. Jones, SPA/BA '14 and 2013 Harry Truman Scholar, delivered a moving speech on education at the 2014 Building a GradNation Summit. The summit was held from April 27 to 29 in downtown Washington, DC, and was sponsored by America's Promise Alliance (APA), founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell to reduce the high school dropout rate. 

Packed with great content, a host of luminous speakers, and interactive labs, the GradNation Summit is the annual focal point of a campaign dedicated to empowering young Americans to ready themselves for college and adulthood.

Jones is the national spokesman for the Campaign for Youth Justice and a member of the APA's board of directors. His speech at the GradNation Summit combined lessons from his own personal background with a hopeful vision for youth hoping to achieve success. "No child is too far gone," he told the audience, asking them to "tap into that percentage of kids that need you."

Jones' entire speech is available to view below.