Through education, service, and example, Cintia is building a new legacy founded on empowerment, visibility, and the power of never giving up.

When Cintia D. Brookins walked across the stage at Oakland Community College’s 2019 commencement, she was six months pregnant with her daughter. That moment — a milestone reached thanks to sweat and sacrifice — captures the spirit of her journey. A Detroit native, mother of two, and first-generation college student, Cintia has overcome extraordinary challenges to pursue her dream of becoming a dental hygienist.

Cintia’s path to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry was anything but linear. She grew up in a home shaped by instability and exposure to trauma. Even as a child, Cintia knew that it was up to her to build the life she wanted for herself. By 16, she was working at a fast-food restaurant during a national recession, saving for her first car. Her early adulthood brought profound losses, financial hardships, pregnancy, and a series of career pivots. Yet at every juncture, Cintia chose persistence over defeat.

Over the years, Cintia explored a variety of career pursuits. She excelled in the culinary arts and launched her own baking business. She also served as a financial counselor at Wayne Metro Community Action Agency. At home, Cintia and her spouse were building a safe, stable place for their children to grow up. As a couple married for eight years, they are breaking generational cycles together. In 2023, she returned to school full-time to complete her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, a field where she plans to make preventative care more accessible in underserved communities.

Cintia makes success a daily practice, from her early mornings studying on campus to late nights helping her children with their homework. Her life reflects her Detroit grit, spiritual grounding, and a deep commitment to giving back. “If I can do it, you can too,” she tells others. Through education, service, and example, Cintia is building a new legacy founded on empowerment, visibility, and the power of never giving up.

CEW+ celebrates Cintia’s hard-won success and names her a Jane and Bill Bloom Scholar.