AccessLink wins Rep. Rick Larsen’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s Second District

When asked what inspired the creation of AccessLink, the student said, “My inspiration to create AccessLink comes from my personal experiences growing up in Everett and attending an under-resourced school as a low-income student on free and reduced lunch. Over the past 16 years, I’ve noticed significant inequalities in resource access, especially in education and community support. Participating in numerous academic enrichment programs, I was struck by the overwhelming number of students from affluent areas compared to the low participation from students in low-income or rural areas. This disparity isn’t due to a lack of talent or interest, but often stems from limited visibility and accessibility to resources —whether educational, legal, or health-related—that many students in these communities desperately need.

Attending an underfunded school, I’ve also witnessed how deeply harmful stereotypes can be. Our school is often unfairly labeled ‘ghetto‚’ by students from wealthier schools, who mock the conditions we face. However, these labels couldn’t be further from the truth. Every day, I see incredible students with brilliant minds and ambitious goals; students who would thrive with the same opportunities and resources available in more affluent areas. The real challenge isn’t a lack of capability; it’s the barriers created by generational wealth gaps and unequal access to vital resources that many of my peers face.

This awareness pushed me to develop AccessLink as a way to help close these gaps. I believe that access to healthcare, legal assistance, food banks, and other essential services shouldn’t be privileges, but basic rights that everyone should have. My goal with this app is to make these resources easily available to underserved communities, allowing individuals to navigate crucial services with ease, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. By providing local information, access to crucial hotlines, and even ways to get involved with local nonprofits or fundraisers, I hope to create a tool that empowers individuals and brings communities closer to equal opportunity.”