Investing in My Future Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides programs to help Black children understand the value of an education and prepare them to be community leaders, will celebrate its 11th annual Senior Recognition Night on Thursday, May 12. The event, titled “Unmasking My Real Potential” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Des Moines. Dr. Angela Franklin, president and CEO of Des Moines University, is the scheduled keynote speaker for the event which will celebrate 15 high school seniors who have participated in Investing in My Future programs, and their accomplishments. The students also have been able to apply for scholarships, which will be announced on May 12. The Rev. Rob Johnson, a community activist, entrepreneur and faith leader, will be the emcee. Musical entertainment will be provided by Sharane Calister, a top 12 finalist on season 14 of The Voice. Tickets and sponsorship information can be found on the Investing in My Future website. Investing in My Future, co-founded in 2010 by Mary Wells and Syeta Glanton, addresses disparities in college enrollment rates between Black youth and white youth in the Des Moines area. Students who don’t complete high school are more likely to fall into poverty, statistics show. Investing in My Future works to inspire students by exposing them to college campuses and meeting faculty and students who look like them.