ABSTRACT
Roxanna Harlow offers a narrative of following the traditional academic pipeline before carving out her own career path. She describes her journey from being a classically trained sociologist to being the founder and executive director of a non-profit organization designed to serve the needs of low-income and minority youth. She walks readers through the emotional and physical labor that went into building a program that eventually served hundreds of under-resourced adolescents. Reflecting upon a series of brave acts, Roxanna shares her financial hardships, the judgment she received from family members, and the uncertainty she experienced when deciding to start a new career. She further offers tips for other women of color academics on how to leverage their academic training in the world of social entrepreneurship. Roxanna’s story emphasizes the importance of redefining professional success in a way that is consistent with personal goals, even when it conflicts with traditional expectations. Her decision to “answer the call” has left her soul “whole and fulfilled.”
