How 1,000 Dreams Fund Is Rethinking Access in the Future of Work
By Christie Garton
Opportunity is often described as something that “knocks,” but in my experience, it rarely does.
Most of us learn that access isn’t evenly distributed, and that some doors never open unless someone shows you where they are. And knocking on that right door can take a lot of confidence too.
That understanding began for me in Kansas, where I grew up watching my grandmother pursue her Master’s degree in Education so she could be an even more effective educator at the Kansas State School for the Deaf. She’s the mother of my deaf aunt, and that is where her inspiration began. I watched her build interpreter training programs that were pioneering, and from that, I learned two things that would stay with me throughout my life: education can change everything, and service is a responsibility.
I carried those lessons into my time at the University of Kansas. By 19 years old, I launched my first nonprofit, Music Mentors. We paired college musicians with underserved youth who dreamed of pursuing music but lacked access to instruments, lessons or guidance. What began as a small effort became a lasting program that still exists today. It taught me that even modest interventions—one hour, one conversation, one mentor—can reshape someone’s sense of possibility.
As I moved through my own education, I encountered the barriers that so many students face. The best career-excellerating internships often require moving across the country or working unpaid. I was fortunate to complete two internships in Washington, DC, including one in my state senator’s office.
But I never forgot how financially out of reach those opportunities are for countless students.
That reality became even clearer when I earned a Rotary International scholarship to study for a full year at Sciences Po in Paris, building on my undergraduate degree in French. That experience was transformative, and it was only possible because someone funded it.
The mix of education, mentorship and access to opportunities, like internships, ultimately became the spark for starting 1,000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a nonprofit organization that I launched in 2016 for high potential students who lack access to those critical resources that power career dreams and help them come true.
My goal was simple: Build a model that creates the greatest impact by combining funding, mentorship and work-based learning. Almost a decade later, this model has proven effective across multiple industries, and it’s proving to be even more essential in today’s rapidly changing workforce.
With this winning formula, we’ve focused on creating flagship programs collaboratively with corporate partners to move the needle, including industry giants like Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, Riot Games, AWS and more.
One example is the New Face of Tech Scholarship with our partner, HARMAN/Samsung.
What began as a simple effort to help young women in STEAM has evolved into a comprehensive pipeline of support. Winners receive micro-grants, one-on-one mentorship with executives, access to industry networks, and opportunities that often lead to work opportunities.
Today, our organization has grown far beyond the original vision. We have awarded more than $1 million in funding, provided over 1,000 hours of mentorship, and supported women across 41 states and 10 countries. Our programs, all rooted in this three-tiered approach, now span several emerging industries, like AI, Web3, gaming, esports, healthcare and music.
However, as our impact grows, so does the urgency. The world of work is changing faster than traditional systems can keep up, and emerging industries are evolving in real time.
That’s why I created 1,000 Dreams Fund: to bridge the gap between incredible potential and opportunity and help students move forward with confidence, and I’m inspired daily by how our work continues to fuel the dreams, talent and leadership that the future economy depends on.
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