The >3 Project, a program designed to increase male representation in early childhood education through mentorship and networking.

Robert has conceptualized The >3 Project as a response to the stark reality that less than 3% of early childhood educators are men, with men of color representing less than 1% of the workforce. His program would create a structured mentorship network pairing high school juniors and seniors with current male ECE professionals, featuring periodic meetings and immersive shadowing opportunities over 6-9 months that focus on shared storytelling, skill development, and encouraging young men to see themselves as nurturers and caregivers. Through the Promise Sandbox Award, he envisions demonstrating that this crucial work is rewarding for men while gathering foundational data on whether direct mentorship from male role models can successfully inspire young men to pursue ECE careers. As a Georgetown University faculty member, he sees this pilot as the foundation for rigorous future research that could create a sustainable pipeline of male educators and change agents, ultimately transforming the demographics of a field that desperately needs diverse representation.

As one of the less than 1% of men of color in early childhood education, Robert has spent 13 years in the field as what he describes as "a unicorn"—always the only one or one of very few—and through conversations with others in this small group, he became acutely aware of how their impact is both needed and underrepresented. His own experiences of isolation and being highlighted in uncomfortable ways, despite finding the work rewarding, inspired him to seek change after realizing there was a growing body of research showing the unique benefits men bring to early childhood development, including serving as role models, challenging gender stereotypes, and improving academic and social-emotional outcomes.