Providing elite-level, in-school college counseling services to students in Greater Birmingham. 

VIDAL Access was founded in 2019 with a simple belief: a student's future should not be determined by their zip code, family income, or access to private resources.

​

For decades, families with financial means have been able to hire private college consultants to guide students through every aspect of the admissions process—from college selection and essay writing to financial aid and scholarship applications. Meanwhile, students in many low-income communities often receive only limited college advising due to overwhelming counselor caseloads and competing responsibilities.

​

VIDAL was created to bridge that gap.

​

Named in honor of Vida Beverly, the late grandmother of founder Lance Beverly, VIDAL Access was established to provide low-income students with the same level of individualized support often available only to affluent families. What began as a small college access initiative has since grown into one of Alabama's leading college access and persistence organizations.

​

Since its founding, VIDAL has served more than 25,000 students across Alabama through a combination of in-school consulting, college readiness programming, persistence support, and experiential learning opportunities. The organization's work has spanned Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Leeds, and numerous other communities throughout the state.

Along the way, VIDAL students have earned admission to some of the nation's most selective colleges and universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Cornell, Brown, and many others. Students have also earned prestigious scholarship opportunities through programs such as QuestBridge, Gates, Dell, Heisman Foundation, and Coca-Cola Scholars.

​

As the organization matured, its mission expanded beyond college admissions. While helping students reach college remains central to VIDAL's work, the organization now also invests in college persistence initiatives designed to help first-generation and low-income students succeed after enrollment.

​

Among VIDAL's signature programs is the Dream Initiative, an immersive experience that combines travel, career exposure, and individualized advising. Through the program, students have visited institutions and organizations such as Google, the New York Stock Exchange, The New York Times, Howard University, and the White House, gaining exposure to educational and professional opportunities far beyond their local communities.

​

Today, VIDAL Access continues to partner with schools, districts, foundations, and community organizations across Alabama to ensure that every student—regardless of circumstance—has access to the guidance, opportunities, and support necessary to pursue a meaningful future.

​

​

VIDAL BY THE NUMBERS​

​

• 25,000+ Students Served

• $1,000,000+ Secured in Grant Funding

• 6+ Years Serving Alabama Students

• 20+ Partner Schools & Organizations

• Acceptances to 200+ Colleges & Universities

• Programming performed in Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Leeds, Harpersville, and Beyond

• College Access + Persistence Support