All posts in College Access

This event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 2:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. Eastern time.
Join two leading experts, Oscar A. Barbarin III, Hertz Endowed Chair in Psychology, Tulane, and Aisha Ray, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at the Erikson Institute, for an in-depth look at preparing teachers to foster social and emotional development in children, with a focus on supporting African-American boys to do well in the early years of school. They’ll explain how by holistically addressing the needs of African-American male students, we can close the achievement gap between them and other groups of students.

To register for this event click here.

Presenters:

Oscar A. Barbarin III, Hertz Endowed Chair in Psychology, Tulane

Aisha Ray, Rochelle Zell Dean’s Chair, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Erikson Institute

Moderator:

Nirvi Shah, staff writer, Education Week

Despite the push for more diversity on college campuses, low-income students are still underrepresented in higher education. To meet the nation’s goal of improving college completion, more supports are needed to help those students get into college. Yet college-going students from disadvantaged backgrounds face barriers—from understanding the application process, to filling out financial-aid forms, to covering fees. Learn about how the landscape has changed for low-income students and what policies could help improve access, and hear about innovative programs that are successfully walking students through the transition from high school to college.

Presenters: Jennifer Engle, director of higher education practice and policy, The Education Trust, Washington and Traci Kirtley, director of programming and evaluation, Admission Possible National, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Moderator: Caralee Adams, contributing writer, Education Week

This event is scheduled for Wednesday, August 17, 2011, 2:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. Eastern time.

To register for this event please click here

Last month, the Education Trust-West (ETW) commissioned Unlocking Doors and Expanding Opportunity: Moving Beyond the Limiting Reality of College and Career Readiness in California High Schools, a detailed report examining the college and career readiness of graduating seniors in the California public school system.  In this report, ETW highlights how African American and Latino students are being shuffled through  high school and graduating without taking courses that makes them either U.C. eligible or immediately career ready.  To address this issue, ETW suggests that high schools become open to the idea of instructing students with college and career tracks as a focus, otherwise known as “Linked Learning.”

Why is Linked Learning considered a malleable solution?  According to the report, African Americans and Latinos account for “60 percent of the state’s public school population.”  However, the matriculation of black and brown students from public high schools is far worst than any other racial group.  With only 60 % of this combined group actually graduating high school and only 25 % of those having completed their A-G requirements, the overall number of black and brown students eligible to apply to U.C./CSU institutions is rather small.  As a result, majority of these students are transitioning out of high school and into community colleges, entry level jobs, or a stagnant mindset of not knowing what to do next.

It is unjust to allow our black and brown students to graduate high school ill-prepared for a future.  Schools need to identify early which students are on this path and intervene so college can become an option for these students.  Moreover, considering that the state of California is a leader in environmental and energy technology, it should be a priority to ensure that the state’s largest population of students in the public school system are graduating college ready and are prepared for careers in the Green and STEM sectors, even if it as the entry level.

photo source: http://api.ning.com/files/-EQIXCnQUtVdGR5-Ta7IDgvLvBi-3sWE-KZIlGDsSY-

According to most Bay Area public school’s calendars, students have just about  a month and half left to enjoy their summer break before the 2011- 2012 school year begins. While I was in school, summer break was one of the most anticipated points of the year (behind winter break of course).  In high school, most of my summers were dedicated to traveling across the country playing in various basketball tournaments and participating in basketball camps.  Even though basketball monopolized my summer vacation, I still found time to engage in other activities such as summer school and educational enrichment programs. I would like to thank my mom for that!

Similar to how dedicating hours upon hours in hot gyms developed my skills as an athlete and prepared me for the following  season, taking higher level math courses and SAT prep courses during the summer prepared me academically for the next school year.  As a result, I started the school year with a great sense of confidence in my abilities and was able to stay ahead of the curve and excel in classes that I probably would have struggled in otherwise.  Each summer, including college, remained tied to two things: preparing myself academically for the next year and athletically for the next season. I never really considered my summer as a break or a vacation, but rather a time for preparation.

The value of having two months to improve, get introduced, or become proficient in an area of study is immeasurable.  I highly encourage students to get involved in a summer program if they are not currently participating in one.  I also encourage parents to actively seek out academic summer programs in their community for their children.  For a list of academic summer camps happening in the Bay Area please click here.  And as always, check out our online database, www.collegeboundbros.org,  for summer and school year programs . Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Thanks for the congrats and support following the recent SF Chronicle profile as a 2011 Changemaker (Nonprofits Work for Social Justice, Not for Credit, July 3). I wanted to make sure that we recognize certain community partners, so I sent the following note to the Chronicle:

“I am honored to be included the company of the fantastic Bay Area leaders considered to be  ‘Making A Difference.’ But of course we don’t accomplish anything singlehandedly. Out of respect to the Foundation’s benefactors and community partners, I’d like to clarify a few points.

The Kapor Foundation annually makes $2 million in grants to nonprofits working in one of these three issue areas: a democratic green economy, civic engagement, and the College Bound Brotherhood, which was the focus of the Chronicle profile (we also make another $2.2 million in grants for math and science education, workplace inclusion, and larger equity work).

David Thomas, the graduate mentioned in the article, is a participant in the Young Scholars Program, one of the 15 organizations which the Kapor Foundation has supported through the College Bound Brotherhood grantmaking. It is through their hard work that students like David get the preparation they need to succeed in college.

All of our work would not be possible without the support and guidance of Mitch and Freada Kapor, who are entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and activists. I am grateful to them, our staff, and our larger nonprofit community partners; together, we’re working for equality and justice for all.”

(Above photo by Lacy Atkins, SF Chronicle. See the entire Changemakers 2011 video here. Thanks to Ms. Regina Jackson and the summer staff of the East Oakland Youth Development Center, where the photos were taken.)

This past Wednesday at the Oakland Museum, the College Bound Brotherhood hosted its Graduation Celebration, the culminating event for the program.  Over 250 people cheered and congratulated 65 African-American male high school graduates, all of whom are enrolling in college in the fall.  The event kicked off with a drumming precession, led by the Dijaly Kunda Kouyate Traditional West African Ensemble, which set the tone for a moving celebration.

Seniors from the Brotherhood Leadership Advisory Council, Anthony McCree (Oakland Technical High School), Danny McLane (Richmond High School), David Thomas (St. Mary’s College High School), and Sidy Fall (Mission High School), highlighted the graduating class of 2011 by sharing their stories and accomplishments.  Jahsiri Asabi-Shakir, a Bentley School graduate who is enrolling in Morehouse next fall, delivered an inspiring and powerful spoken-word performance entitled “Skintone“.  Lloyd Pierce, Assistant Coach of the Golden State Warriors and a Bay Area native, was the evening’s keynote speaker. In a very intimate and passionate conversation with the graduates, Pierce stressed the importance of college, responsibility, manhood, and having the right “swag”.

Pierce then joined me in the presenting of kente stoles to each of the college bound graduates.  Each young man came on stage and announced who they were, where they graduated from, and where they were going to college.  To see so many young black men proudly yell out colleges – from UCs to Ivy Leagues to HBCUs – was inspiring. Events like this one should keep us motivated to do the work that we do.  There is so much potential in our black boys, and as a community we have to help them see it, believe it, and seize it.

People, I have to say that if you’re in the house for the College Bound Brotherhood Graduation Celebration this Wednesday at the Oakland Museum, you’re in store for a beautiful evening! We’re building on the past celebration and on the momentum from this year’s Brotherhood activities. The event is close to being sold out, though! Click here for last minute registration!

Hope  you can join us at this free event! Please spread the word to any and all graduating African American young men in the Bay Area who are heading to college in the fall. We want to celebrate their achievements! To register, click here.