For many students, the journey through higher education is defined by more than lectures, exams, and deadlines. It is a season shaped by uncertainty, growth, and the quiet search for belonging. It is a search for mentors, for community, and for the reassurance that they are not walking alone.
During Black History Month, these themes take on added resonance. The month invites reflection not only on history, but on legacy — on the lives that continue to influence generations. Among those enduring figures stands Venerable Pierre Toussaint, whose example of faith, excellence, and service continues to guide young leaders today through the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program.
The Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program, a leadership and scholarship initiative in partnership with Catholic Charities of New York, supports a growing community of more than 90 scholars during the 2025–26 academic year, attending over 70 different colleges and universities across the country, including Fordham, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, Howard, Xavier U. of LA, and Yale. Through financial assistance, mentorship, spiritual formation, and leadership development, scholars are prepared for lives of impact in fields ranging from education and healthcare to ministry and public service.
Many are the first in their families to attend college, united by a shared commitment not only to personal success, but to becoming men and women for others. What began in 1983, has since grown into a lasting community, with more than 300 scholars now part of the program’s alumni network. Over its 40-plus year history, the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program/Education Fund has provided over $1 million in financial support, to young adult leaders of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, from over 50 different parishes throughout the Archdiocese of New York.
A Legacy Rooted in Faith and Charity
Pierre Toussaint’s life remains one of the most compelling stories in the history of the Church in New York.
Born in Haiti and brought to the city as an enslaved young man in the late 18th century, Pierre Toussaint would later become one of New York’s most respected hairdressers, admired not only for his exceptional skill but for his warmth, dignity, faith, and integrity. Though he achieved financial success, his legacy was never defined by wealth.
“I think often about the great legacy left to us by our namesake, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, how his life connects to my ministry with Catholic Charities of New York, and what his life continues to teach us about ‘Catholic Charity,” said Brother Tyrone Davis, C.F.C., Director of the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program and Director of Community Outreach and Leadership Development at Catholic Charities of New York.
“Pierre’s great legacy was not in the great wealth that he acquired for himself nor in the excellence with which he exercised his craft, but rather in his humble, faith filled, committed service to his neighbors — in other words, his ‘Catholic charity’ to anyone in need,” shared Brother Tyrone.
Pierre Toussaint dedicated his life to serving others — caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, welcoming the stranger, supporting the Church, and extending compassion without distinction. It is this spirit of faith-filled service that continues to anchor the Scholars Program that bears his name.
Founded in 1983 by members of the Black Catholic community of the Archdiocese of New York, the initiative began as a one-time scholarship program designed to recognize and encourage the achievements of Black Catholic students preparing to enter college. Over time, however, the vision expanded in response to the evolving needs of young people navigating higher education and the communities from which they came.
More Than a Scholarship
What began as financial assistance grew into something far more holistic — a Scholars Program grounded in mentorship, leadership formation, spiritual grounding, and community building.
“Over the years since then, the program continued in its development and evolution, to becoming a ‘Scholars Program’ rather than a scholarship program — shifting the primary focus away from a check and onto the person — the scholar,” Brother Tyrone explained.
Today, the program’s guiding pillars reflect Pierre Toussaint’s own example: excellence in academics and life pursuits, active involvement in the faith community, and a deep commitment to serving others. For scholars navigating the complexities of college and professional development, these principles are not abstract ideals but lived experiences.
“Receiving a Pierre Toussaint Scholarship and being a Pierre Toussaint scholar are more than just about financial support,” said Malaika Dewes, a graduate scholar currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. “Spiritually, the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program connects me to a legacy of faith, service, resilience and my Haitian culture reflected in the life of Venerable Pierre Toussaint himself.”
The support scholars receive extends well beyond tuition assistance. It is found in mentorship, professional exposure, shared retreats, and the formation of a network that often becomes a vital source of stability and encouragement.
“As part of the application process, I went through an interview with Ms. Leah Dixon, the Associate Director and Senior Advisor,” shared Allison Leung, a Biology undergraduate student at Loyola Maryland University. “I just remember thinking: ‘I want to be just like her.’ Since being in the program, Ms. Dixon has been such a strong mentor in my life, whether she knows it or not.”
“Being a Pierre Toussaint Scholar has helped me recognize that there is a community of college students like me,” said Joshua Vien Johnson, a Civil Engineering undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame. “It’s a means by which I know that I am not alone, that I belong.”
Together, their reflections capture the heart of the Scholars Program, where mentorship inspires possibility and community fosters a deep sense of belonging.
More Than a Scholarship
What began as financial assistance grew into something far more holistic — a Scholars Program grounded in mentorship, leadership formation, spiritual grounding, and community building.
“Over the years since then, the program continued in its development and evolution, to becoming a ‘Scholars Program’ rather than a scholarship program — shifting the primary focus away from a check and onto the person — the scholar,” Brother Tyrone explained.
Today, the program’s guiding pillars reflect Pierre Toussaint’s own example: excellence in academics and life pursuits, active involvement in the faith community, and a deep commitment to serving others. For scholars navigating the complexities of college and professional development, these principles are not abstract ideals but lived experiences.
“Receiving a Pierre Toussaint Scholarship and being a Pierre Toussaint scholar are more than just about financial support,” said Malaika Dewes, a graduate scholar currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. “Spiritually, the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program connects me to a legacy of faith, service, resilience and my Haitian culture reflected in the life of Venerable Pierre Toussaint himself.”
The support scholars receive extends well beyond tuition assistance. It is found in mentorship, professional exposure, shared retreats, and the formation of a network that often becomes a vital source of stability and encouragement.
“As part of the application process, I went through an interview with Ms. Leah Dixon, the Associate Director and Senior Advisor,” shared Allison Leung, a Biology undergraduate student at Loyola Maryland University. “I just remember thinking: ‘I want to be just like her.’ Since being in the program, Ms. Dixon has been such a strong mentor in my life, whether she knows it or not.”
“Being a Pierre Toussaint Scholar has helped me recognize that there is a community of college students like me,” said Joshua Vien Johnson, a Civil Engineering undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame. “It’s a means by which I know that I am not alone, that I belong.”
Together, their reflections capture the heart of the Scholars Program, where mentorship inspires possibility and community fosters a deep sense of belonging.
Formation, Belonging, and Leadership
Belonging, for many scholars, becomes one of the program’s most profound gifts. College can amplify doubt as easily as ambition, particularly in environments where students may feel underrepresented. The Scholars Program intentionally creates pathways into spaces that can often feel distant or inaccessible, offering scholars not only opportunity but affirmation.
“As an undergraduate, I was nervous and unsure of how I could ever fit into spaces with seasoned professionals,” shared Malaika Dewes. “Thanks to the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program, I was able to attend professional gatherings with ease. That experience sparked a confidence and ambition within me — it showed me that I belonged in these professional spaces.”
These opportunities often become moments of transformation, reshaping self-perception and reinforcing the belief that representation matters.
The program’s impact, however, is not limited to academic or professional development. It also affirms scholars’ voices, identities, and leadership.
“The Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program creates a safe, celebratory, and holistic developmental space for young people, especially young people of color,” said Dr. Tiffani L. Hinds, Board Member of the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program. “It intentionally seeks the perspectives of young people, ensuring that they are central to decision-making within the program and beyond.”
Through partnerships with Catholic Charities of New York and generous supporters — including the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, SOMOS Community Health, and the Black and Indian Mission Fund— the program continues to expand, particularly in fields such as healthcare, social work, engineering, and public service.
Yet its most enduring impact cannot be measured solely in financial assistance or academic outcomes. It is found in confidence gained, networks formed, identities strengthened, and young leaders who come to understand their education not simply as personal advancement but as vocation.
“The goals I’ve set for myself are guided by the phrase attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola: ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’ — For the Greater Glory of God,” said Joshua Vien Johnson. “I know that none of this is possible without God, and I remain faithful in my trust in Christ when stress, struggle, and adversity strike.”
In the lives of scholars, in the communities that support them, and in programs like the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program, Pierre Toussaint’s legacy continues to resonate. His memory is not simply remembered. It is lived through a new generation of leaders formed by faith, excellence, and service.
