Maya was born and raised in Flint. She graduated from Carman-Ainsworth High School in 2019, then went on to attend the University of Michigan-Flint, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Science, majoring in psychology.

“My original goal was not to complete my undergraduate studies at UM-Flint,” says Jefferson. “I was always on campus when I was in high school for the Committed to Excellence and Opportunities (CEO) Pre-College program, so I always wanted to just go away for college.”

As an adult, Maya leaned deeply into her community, but everything shifted when she interned with Genesee Health Systems. There, she found that she could make a significant impact in her community.

“My internship showed me that there was an actual route I could take to help kids in my community that look like me, and have lived through experiences as me” says Maya. “My internship also opened my eyes to the professional opportunities right here in my own backyard.”

Maya’s passion for social work and supporting students grew into a deep commitment to her city, as she realized she could focus her efforts on giving back to the very community she calls home.

“I want to make that impact here in Flint,” says Maya. “My plan was to graduate and move out of state, but it didn’t feel right to do that [social work] outside of my community, first.”

Today, Maya works for Michigan Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or MI GEAR UP, at the UM-Flint. In her role, she supports students at Beecher and Hamady High Schools to help with postsecondary access, impact, and achievement.

In her free time, Maya enjoys exploring fun things to do in the community. She loves visiting Elle Jae Essentials on University Avenue, where you can create your own body butter, perfumes, and candles. She hangs out at Tenacity Brewing and gets tacos from Vehicle City Tacos – she recommends the Wallflower vegan taco. On the second Friday of the month, she checks out Flint ARTWALK to support our local artists. She even heads out of the city to For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum to hang out in the butterfly garden.

Although she has an already established life in Flint & Genesee, she is looking forward to new possibilities each day.

“I can see myself doing a lot more volunteer work and exploring the organizations we have here,” says Maya. “When I was a part of the Flinterns program, we toured organizations focused on supporting behavioral health and visited the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Carriage Town Ministries. I’d love to go back and support those places and the work they’re doing for Flint folks.”

Now that she has completed her undergraduate degree, Maya is looking to the future – getting a master’s degree in social work and finding more ways to give back. In the meantime, she’s enjoying life at home in Flint!

“What ultimately keeps me around is the community,” says Maya. “There is so much – the enrichment, culture, professional opportunities, and people are what keep me in Flint.”