Los Angeles, California
Founded in 2003, College Match LA is a higher education access program that provides college counseling, SAT tutoring, college trips, mentorship, and an alumni network for high achieving, low-income students in inner city Los Angeles. Its college counselors work with each partner high school’s respective teachers and faculty, providing support for the college application process. After high school graduation, its students join the alumni network on Facebook, which provides internship and career opportunities.
Los Angeles, California
Founded in 1990, One Voice LA is a non profit organization that reaches out to families living at poverty levels in the Los Angeles community. Its Scholar Program provides professional college advising, counseling, SAT tutoring, and parent tutoring. In addition to that, One Voice LA also provides healthcare and insurance, transportation coverage, clothing and personal items, and emergency funds as needed. With its holistic approach towards higher education, this organization also observes the specific needs of its community by providing a Family Assistance Program, addressing both the needs of the students in the classroom and the issues that influence their educational opportunities.
Pomona, California
Founded in 2002, Bright Prospect is a community based organization that is focused on tackling the cycle of poverty in communities through education and access to higher education. Its Academy of Young Scholars program recruits students at the end of 9th grade, involving the student and their families in the college application process and emphasizes the importance of a college degree. Its staff members include community members who have graduated from college, program alumni, and local community leaders who have experience in the non-profit and community development world. Many of its program graduates re-join the program as mentors and full-time employees, continuing a cycle of academic excellence.
San Francisco, California
First Graduate is a community based organization with a 10-Year Growth Program that works with families, tutors, mentors, and partner organizations in providing the resources and support network for students who are the first in their family to attend college. Student recruitment for this program beings in the 7th grade in Everett Middle School and James Denmen Middle School, connecting these students with olders students to provide peer mentoring. Furthermore, its active Parent Association provides peer support, constant communication with parents, and various leadership building events.
Phoenix, Arizona
Founded in 1999, Be a Leader Foundation provides a college-focused program that culminates from mentorship and relationships with students starting from middle school. BALF’s mission includes a partnership consisting of educational institutions, corporations, community leaders, and parent involvement. Parents meet every month at the Roosevelt Elementary School District and receive information about their child’s education, methods of involvement, and political engagement.
Greater Chicago Area, Illinois
Founded in 2001, the Schuler Program provides mentoring and college counseling for first generation, low income students of color. SP has partnerships with local high schools and assists students and faculty through the college admissions program. Once students get into college, the organization’s College and Alumni Program provides guidance, networking, and professional development. This program’s success is also contingent with its family involvement program, which keeps parents involved and informed about the opportunities available for their child for college and beyond.
Chicago, Illinois
Founded in 1996, Chicago Scholars is a leadership development organization that mentors academically motivated, first generation college students from under-resourced communities. This organization has three parts, including College Access: Launch, College Persistence: Lift, and College to Careers: Lead. In addition the the college access materials, mentorship, and networking it provides, Chicago Scholars also reaches out to local Chicago community based organizations and provides a platform for its scholars to come back to their communities and continue a cycle of leadership and empowerment.
Baltimore, Maryland
Black Professional Men was founded in 1991 with the goal of providing social, educational, and political support for African-American communities, specifically for African-American men. This program empowers its youth by taking them to educational field trips centralized around African-American art, involving them in local community service, and expanding their political involvement through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Conference. For community involvement, BPM has a communications relations committee, economic development committee, health and family matters committee, and college development committee, all of which empower and provide leadership positions for its members in their respective communities. In addition, BPM also sponsors and works in tangent with the Rays of Hope Scholarship program, providing funds, college prep workshops, mentorships, and constant communication between BPM and its college scholars.
New York City, New York
Founded in 1982, Legal Outreach is an organization that empowers its youth starting from 8th grade through its legal educational program. By discussing the various legal issues plaguing their community, Legal Outreach empowers its youth to be aware and active by exercising and learning about their legal rights as well. It partners with local universities and colleges by having law students provide mentorship and support for its students’ mock trial practices. In 1989, this organization added a College Bound program, which provides SAT prep, afterschool and tutoring programs, and writing academies for its high school students.
Providence, Rhode Island
Founded in 2004, this College Visions helps students access higher education through one on one counseling, college knowledge workshops, campus visits, family engagement, and financial aid coaching. They have been very successful with their College Access and College Success program, in which they build relationships and support networks for the student starting junior year of high school up until post grad. College Visions also offers the CV Lab, which trains volunteers and educators in the Southern New England area interested in improving their college advising and admissions advocacy skills.