NPEA Conference Young Men of Color Project Jacqueline Rushing Founder and CEO Young Scholars Program

Young Men of Color Project A Partnership Young Scholars Program Rising Scholars In –School Pull out Program Institutional College and University Partnerships

Why is Rising Scholars needed?

Young Men at-Promise NOT at-Risk

NPEA Conference Young Men of Color Project Corrina Grijalva High School Counselor West Contra Costa Unified

Importance of learning to work with Young Men of Color  Student trust  Student connectedness  Be a direct source of support to bridge the gap between home and school  To be a direct support in these young men’s education and success  Helping others in the school staff community understand the importance of working with these young men

Weekly Meetings  Personal check-ins  weekly rating  Peak and Valley  Identifying personal fears, strengths, and goals  Using a curriculum designed to work with Young Men of Color for successful college matriculation.  Teaching successful study and planning skills to help continue their high school academic success  Curriculum Assignments Teach the Young Men to advocate for themselves

Importance of the Rising Scholars for the young men  An opportunity to share with other young men of color the trials and tribulations they each face  A chance to surround themselves with other young men that come from similar back ground and are attempting to reach similar goals  The ability to feel connected to an institution they may not otherwise have knowledge of or trust

My Personal Experience  Honored to work with such a great groupd of young men  Privileged to see them daily; a group of young men that would typically not visit the counseling offices  Inspired by watching these young men grow into and recognize their greatness and shatter stereotypes at the same time  Encouraged to continue my work and use what I am learning through the program and the young men in it to expand it to the other young men of color I work with in my job

NPEA Conference Young Men of Color Project Sharon Cruz-McKinney Director of Community Relations and Outreach University of La Verne

“We are happy about this partnership as it provides another outreach to students through the Young Scholars Program. We believe these students are a very good fit with the University’s mission and the diversity of its student population,” Shabahang said. Blueprint For Developing A Successful Cohort Step 1: Make sure that diversity and inclusivity are top priority at your institution. Step 2: Recruit your cohort. Work directly with YSP to identify students that would be a good fit for your institution. Step 3: Have a presence in YSP events such as Help a Brother Go To College and/or host YSP on campus. Step 4. Provide support for Cohort once enrolled at your institution. Step 5: Identify “champions” in every area of the institution that will actually keep track of the Cohort every step of the way.

We Are the Champions! We Do the Best We Can…With What We Have…From Where We Are Housing Faculty Advisors Admissions Financial Aid Mentors Athletics Career Services Student Organiza- tions Academic Support Services Student Life Multicultura l Services

Young Scholars University of La Verne

Young Scholars Weigh In… Their smiles tell the story ! “Every time I speak with you about La Verne, the school feels a little closer to home. Now after visiting the school I feel as if the University could be home next year. Thank you so much for making me feel so welcomed at the University of La Verne.” “ ULV is definitely one of my favorite private universities” “We are truly thankful for receiving us at University of La Verne. The Rising Scholars enjoyed the La Verne community and some of us are looking to apply!” “Thanks for letting us come to your school and get a real life college experience. I felt like a student at La Verne and I feel like this school will help me develop into a great young man.” Thank you for the amazing day you showed us. It was a side of La Verne I did not expect to see. I hope to be as successful as the students on campus

If you are a high school counselor, college or community organization administrator, your students can apply to the colleges in the project and take advantage of the support systems at the Partner Institutions to help them gain a college degree. If you are a Post Secondary Institution who wants to increase the recruitment, retention and movement towards degree attainment of Young Men of Color and you are willing to take institutional accountability and responsibility for YMC Academic Success your Institution can join the partnership with YSP for the Young Men of Color Project. How You Can Become Involved In the Project

More info on the Project  Benefits of the Project  Increase in School Attendance  Significant Decrease in disciplinary referrals and suspension (almost non-existent)  Increase in the number of Young Men of Color taking the SAT and/or ACT  Increase in parent participation and requirements for Parents  Increase in the number of YMC graduating from high school  Increase in the Rising Scholars applying to college and who are on track to matriculate  Challenges of the Project  Funding from sources other than the school district  Retention of Counselors; especially those who believe in the project  Having scholars conform to the rules and believing they will benefit in the long run

Contact Info  Young Scholars Program website: Presenters: Jacqueline Rushing: Corrina Grijalva: Sharon Cruz-McKinney: