The 1895 Project

08/31/2026

Congratulations to all the finalists! 💚

A huge shout out to our Co-founder & President, Latasha Varnadoe, for being a finalist in the Excellence in Nonprofit category!! We are so proud of you! 💚

08/29/2026

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Anita Mason to The 1895 Project’s Advisory Board!

Anita Mason is a woman of grace, poise, and purpose, carrying forward a legacy of excellence passed down through generations of her family. A former Elite Model discovered by Bethann Hardison in 1988, she built a career that took her across the fashion and entertainment industry.

In 2008, Anita founded The Mason Agency, an image consulting firm serving high-profile clients worldwide. Her deep expertise in model and talent development led her to found 6 A.M. Models , a boutique agency known for scouting and placing diverse talent with top agencies globally. In 2020, she launched 6 A.M. Entertainment, expanding her reach into film and television production.

Beyond talent management, Anita is a true entrepreneur, owning a medspa and serving as Wine Proprietor of Mercy Cellars, a legacy she’s building for her grandchildren. Most recently, she’s stepped into the role of playwright, executive producer, and director, co-writing “Queen Broken,” set to debut at the L.A. Film School in fall 2027.

Anita lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is passionate about inspiring others to pursue lives of purpose through entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Welcome to the team, Anita! 💛

08/27/2026

🎉 Exciting News! Fisk University will be joining us virtually at our Annual HBCU College Fair on September 15th! 💛

Founded in 1866, just after the Civil War ended, Fisk is the oldest university in Nashville and became one of the first HBCUs to earn accreditation from a major education group, in 1930.

A few fun facts about Fisk:

🎵 The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers toured the U.S. and Europe in the 1870s to raise money for the school, performing for figures like Ulysses S. Grant and Queen Victoria, and their tours helped fund Jubilee Hall, now a National Historic Landmark.

✊🏾 Fisk's alumni list reads like a civil rights and arts hall of fame, including W.E.B. Du Bois (co-founder of the NAACP), poet Nikki Giovanni, and Congressman John Lewis.

🏛️ In 1953, Fisk became the first HBCU to receive a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society.

📈 Today, Fisk is recognized as a top performer in social mobility among HBCUs, giving students a strong return on their education.

👉 Students pre-register here: https://forms.gle/DXZfE7pZEXj8sPyW6

Mark your calendars for September 15th! 🗓️

08/26/2026

🎉 Exciting News! Fort Valley State University (FVSU) will be joining us at our Annual HBCU College Fair on September 15th! 🐾💛

Founded in 1895, the same year our organization draws its name from! FVSU has grown into Georgia's only 1890 land-grant university, a designation that reflects its deep roots in agriculture, research, and access to federal support for its students and programs.

A few fun facts about FVSU:

🌾 As a land-grant institution, FVSU offers unique hands-on opportunities in agriculture, STEM, and research not found at every university.

🏅 FVSU alum Catherine Hardy won an Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter relay at the 1952 Helsinki Games.

✊🏾 Civil rights icon Julian Bond, co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and longtime NAACP chairman, spent part of his childhood on FVSU's campus, where his father served as president.

🌳 FVSU's campus spans 1,365 acres, making it one of the largest public university campuses in Georgia.

🔬 The university's biology and chemistry departments send more African-American students into medical and dental programs than any other school in the Georgia state system.

👉 Students — Pre-register to be entered into a raffle drawing! Register here: https://forms.gle/e6Y3pMtELmWZj28YA

Come meet FVSU representatives and learn more about what makes this HBCU so special! Mark your calendars for September 15th! 🗓️

08/21/2026

🏛️ Community Partner Spotlight: The Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs 🏛️

We’re proud to have the NE Commission on African American Affairs (NCAAA) as a Community Partner for the 4th Annual HBCU College Fair, and we want to make sure our community knows they exist!

Established by the Nebraska Legislature in 2020, NCAAA works to improve the social, economic, and political status of African Americans across the state through legislation, advocacy, education, and community engagement. The Commission advises state government on issues affecting Black Nebraskans and partners with organizations like ours to expand opportunities in education, housing, and employment.

If you didn’t know Nebraska had a Commission dedicated to advancing these issues on behalf of our community, now you do! 💙

Thank you, NCAAA, for standing with us as we open doors to HBCU education for Lincoln students. Learn more about their work at ncaaa.nebraska.gov.

📅 Join us for the 4th Annual HBCU College Fair, September 15, 2026, 5-7 PM, Lincoln High School’s Johnson Gymnasium.

08/21/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Our Co-Founder and President! 🎉

We are overjoyed to celebrate Latasha Varnadoe , who has been named a finalist for the Excellence in Nonprofit category at the 2026 Inspire Lincoln : Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards, Presented by UBT - Union Bank & Trust !

Latasha’s vision and heart are the foundation of everything we do at The 1895 Project. Her dedication to youth development, college access, and global education has changed lives, and this recognition reflects the impact of her leadership.

None of this would be possible without our incredible board and everyone who supports our mission. This recognition belongs to all of you too.

We are proud to celebrate her and even prouder to do this work alongside her every day.

Congratulations, Tash! This one is well deserved. 👏🏾

08/19/2026

08/18/2026

Today is National Nonprofit Day, and we're taking a moment to celebrate the work happening across the sector, including our own.

At The 1895 Project, we exist because our young people deserve access, tradition, and a global view of what's possible for them. Debutante traditions that build confidence. College access that opens doors. Global education that expands the world they see themselves in.

To every nonprofit doing the work today and every day, we see you and we're proud to stand alongside you.

To our board, our families, our sponsors, and our supporters: thank you for making this mission possible.