FirstStep AI is a support navigator that helps people move from “I need help” to “I know exactly what to do next.”
It guides students and community members through a simple, human-centered planning flow, then recommends practical resources based on their goals, urgency, barriers, location, and priorities.
FirstStep AI helps users find a realistic first step toward support such as:
- Scholarships and grants
- Emergency financial aid
- Tutoring and academic support
- Internships and career opportunities
- Resume and interview prep
- Skill-building programs
- Mentorship and advising
- Free community services
The app does not decide eligibility, guarantee outcomes, or replace human advisors. It suggests next steps, explains tradeoffs, and helps users prepare to ask for support.
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Guided opportunity planner
Users answer a short sequence of questions about what they need, how soon they need help, what barriers they face, and what kind of support they prefer. -
Ranked resource recommendations
Resources are scored by fit, urgency, barriers solved, location, application burden, beginner-friendliness, flexibility, and long-term value. -
Friction-aware decision support
Recommendations include a friction index so users can understand whether a resource may be easy or difficult to access. -
No-dead-ends planning
The results page provides a best first step, backup option, and longer-term opportunity. -
Copyable outreach messages
Users can generate or copy a short message to send when asking for help. -
Human-centered safeguards
The app reminds users that eligibility should be verified directly and that human advisors remain important. -
Community resource map
Local resources can be shown on a map using Google Maps. -
English and Spanish support
The interface includes multilingual labels and result strings.
- Frontend: React 18 + Vite
- Backend: Express
- AI provider: Anthropic Claude API
- Maps: Google Maps API via
@react-google-maps/api - Styling: CSS
- License: MIT