TWU College Trip

We believe allowing young people to touch, feel, and experience things creates opportunities. It creates vision. It creates hope and belief. So, this past Saturday, we all rolled out of bed early in order to visit the TWU College Preview Day.

Once there, Ms. Danielle (an alumni and our Americorps member who runs our Teen U program) gave us a personal tour of the campus. We saw how many computers are available to the students, saw the inside of a dorm room, and learned about financial aid.

Shannon is planning to attend TWU because it offers family housing and opportunities for students who are also moms. Since she will be having a baby in February, she is working to plan for all of the foreseeable obstacles. She is determined to finish her senior year and continue right on through college.

Thanks to all of the Mid-Teen U and Teen U students who woke up early, stuck with us as we trekked all over campus, and were able to pass the "pop quiz" I gave them at the end of the trip. :)

We have an awesome group of teens with so many possibilities ahead of them!

How to Apply to College: Steps in the Application Process

Fewer Low-Income Students Going to College

A recent report shows a decline in college enrollment and graduation of low-income students.

I know what a lot of people say..."Not everyone is college material." and "We need all kinds of workers...not just those who work at jobs with college degrees." and "People can make a better salary working some of the 'trade school' type jobs." And I agree with all of those statements.

However, I feel that every person deserves information and a choice. So, I feel a personal obligation to provide that information to the people in my network of friends and in the community where I live and work. If, equipped with the information, people choose something different than college, I'll completely support that decision.

So, the latest information out is that there are fewer low-income students going to college. Of course, when you add to that the graph I've attached at the top that shows income is directly related to education, this new report causes me great concern. I don't get the feeling that the drop in numbers of low-income people attending and graduating from college is leading to higher paying jobs for those who don't attend.

The other disturbing factor to me is my many conversations with young people who explain to me, "I can't go to college. My mom is a single mom and she can't afford it," or other misnomers that have led to low-income individuals moving on a path that doesn't involve college and usually ends them in dead-end jobs.

I understand that this report was based on 2004 numbers and that things may look different now--six years later with an economic downturn that has led even high-degreed college graduates to sit at home drawing unemployment. However, I would think an over-qualified, out-of-work executive would be much more likely to land any job (if they would be willing to take such a pay cut) over someone who was much less qualified and less skilled. Personally, I would rather be the one with the resume that demonstrates my education and experience.

To counter the myths out there about college, our Teen University at Roseland has begun doing College 101 classes. You can see the topics here...and feel free to let anyone in the Dallas area know about it. If they are willing to get there, we are willing to include them.

We went to college yesterday

This week at Teen U...

It was a very busy week at Teen U!

Tuesday-- The teens had a very special guest speaker, Mrs. Sharon Grigsby, from the Dallas Morning News. Mrs. Grigsby shared how she became interested in writing and editing for Newspapers, what it took for her to get there, and many other things. Thanks Mrs. Grigsby!

Wednesday-- The UTD Go Center Interns (Jamacah and Dranoel) turned the 2101 Building into a mock University and the students attended "Freshman Orientation". During the orientation, the teens learned about all the services that are offered on college campuses. The students really enjoyed the role-playing and having many of their questions about college answered.

Thursday-- The teens took a field trip to Dallas City Hall. When we arrived, we were greeted and introduced to the City Plan Commission. We had the opportunity to attend a briefing of some of the projects the Commission would be voting on later that afternoon. After the briefing, Commissioner Mike Davis gave the teens around City Hall. They really enjoyed learning about the different careers and services offered at City Hall but their absolute FAVORITE thing about City Hall was the Mayor's Office. Thanks Commissioner!!!

University of Central Dallas: Class of 2013

This week Teen U students’ lived the life of a college student by going through a mocked freshman orientation. My co-workers and I turned 2101 building into a real university. The students went to different places in the university to learn about housing, registering for classes, meal plans, student organizations, financial aid and much more.

The students were giving handouts and instructed to act like their characters. They had to use their Id number to check into the orientation. After they checked in, they were giving a map and their own agendas to learn more about University of Central Dallas. For example, La’kyra was from Plano, Texas and majoring in Education. She had to go to the student union because she wanted to be active in a lot of organizations and did not know where to begin. Next, she went to university housing to fill out a roommate compatibility form because she had to live on campus and did not have a roommate. La’kyra and the other students loved role-playing. They were excited to learn so much about college life.

~Jamacah~

" almost there''

This week we learned about college and all the things we go through to get ready our freshmen year. For example, we have to go to freshmen ordination and get things (information) on the services that are offered at your school.

by kadriana

*Dallas City Hall*

City hall: I learned so much from the trip we took to City Hall. I learned about all of the AW3SOME CAREERS that you can have there which are council members, mayors, commissioners (chair and vice chair) assistants to the mayors, etc. The field trip somewhat inspired me to become a mayor one day.. because of all of the things they get and perks, nice offices, etc.

College Workshop: I enjoyed the workshop and I also learned A LOT !!!!! I had some great volunteers set up a somewhat 'freshman orientation" that was pretty cool. I learned almost everything that I need to know about college including some things that probably most college students don't even know.



I have had a fun time ! :) by: Julian Randall

Memphis Civil Rights and College Trip

Our Civil Rights/College trip started at 10:00 p.m. on Friday evening. Eight charter buses full of 400+ teenagers and chaperones left City Hall to head to Memphis, TN for a whirlwind trip thanks to Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and staff.

The itinerary:

• LeMoyne-Owen College--tour and breakfast
• Stax museum
• National Civil Rights Museum
• Beale Street
• Mud Island for lunch
• Drive by the Clinton Library and Central High School
• Philander Smith College--tour and dinner

It was a crazy schedule. I admit, I wasn't real hopeful of accomplishing all of it. But, as you see in Shenandoah's video above, we were able to make it to every place on the trip...with a slight little adjustment of driving by Beale Street instead of stopping.

I'll write more later once I edit the other videos.

Nazareth Vidal--Moving in to greatness!

Nazareth Vidal is a go-getter! She called Thursday afternoon explaining she had a dilemma. Her school counselor had just given her a scholarship application and it was due in a couple of days. She had to have letters of recommendation and had to fill out the paperwork. Instead of throwing up her hands and saying, "That's not enough time!" Nazareth started making phone calls. By the time I called her back she had already gotten one letter of recommendation and needed one from a community member...which would be me. Despite having a ton of things to do, because she is so persistent and diligent, I took time to write the letter.

Nazareth will be graduating from Skyline high school this year. But she has no intention of taking a break. Nazareth had applied for the Bank of America internship as well as the AmeriCorps position. Nazareth likes making sure all of her bases are covered. She is always looking for a new experience and always wanting to step in to the best possible opportunity she can find. So, when she was chosen as one of the 10 people (out of 400 applicants!) for the Bank of America internship, she seized the opportunity.

Nazareth comes from an amazing family that pushes her and encourages her. As mentioned in the video above, her brother, Gustavo, was also awarded the Bank of America internship two years ago as well. I'm always very proud and humbled to be included in young peoples' successes. I'm always so impressed by young adults like Nazareth.

Congrats, Nazareth!

Veronica White--Bachelor's in Communication from UTA

I received a text at 9:00 on a Friday night explaining..."I'm graduating tomorrow at 4:00 and just got extra tickets. I'd like for you to come." Despite already having plans that might overlap, I wasn't going to miss a college graduation!

About six or seven years ago Veronica's sister lived in Turner Courts, about two doors down from our After-School Academy. Veronica was living with her mom in the Roseland scattered sites. Marva Epperson-Brown knew Veronica's mom and knew that Veronica was looking for a job. Knowing we were hiring, Marva sent Veronica to me. After interviewing and hiring her, we put her to work with the kids. Veronica continued working in our University of Values summer program as a teacher every summer until she graduated from high school.

Congratulations to you, Veronica! I am so happy for you and look forward to seeing what comes next!

Graduates--May 2010

Congratulations to our May 2010 Graduates!

• Nazareth Vidal--Skyline High School--will go to UT-Austin in the fall and is planning to major in Engineering, but is also interested in teaching. Nazareth was involved in our University of Values summer program as a student, volunteer, and teacher
• Michael Woodard--North Dallas High School--will go to SMU on a full-ride scholarship and is also planning on majoring in Engineering. Michael came to us as a Mayor Intern through Education is Freedom and came back this year for our Digital Connectors program
• Veronica White--UTA--graduated with a Bachelors degree in Communication. Veronica began when she was a teenager, working in our After-School and summer programs.
• Rachel Embry--Texas A & M-Commerce--graduated with a Master of Educational Technology-Library Science. Rachel was the coordinator of our After-School Academy for two years before returning to the classroom at Pearl C. Anderson middle school.

We had a party at my house to celebrate their amazing achievement. I realized I didn't even get the graduates on tape!...but you can see how everyone came together to help out. Look for great things from each one of them! 

As each one of them graduates, I'm sure I'll have more posts to show.

SMU...Here he comes!

I was sitting in our Parent Academy when Tameshia came up behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and said she needed to talk to me. Thinking the worst, I  walked to the back with her. Once we got to the back, she explained to me, "Michael just got a $200,000 scholarship!"

I was speechless! $200,000...to SMU! Oh my goodness!

I first met Michael a few years ago when the great people at Education is Freedom provided us with a summer intern. Michael helped us get things organized that summer. Michael attends North Dallas High School. This year, when we started our Digital Connectors program out of Roseland, we recruited from North Dallas. Though we hadn't seen Michael in a couple of years, he remembered us and was one of the first people to sign up.

Though we can't take credit for all of Michael's hard work and persistence in being involved in many different programs and writing and following through on college applications and such, we can say that Michael will be more prepared technologically when he finishes Digital Connectors in May.

By May, Michael will be equipped with a Cisco IT Essentials certification that will provide him with the skills and knowledge of rebuilding computers from scratch. He will know how to create a mobile app. He will have completed a leadership skills module as well as a financial literacy module...all of which will be extremely important in college--especially at such a competitive school like SMU...and especially as an engineering major!

When Tameshia told me, I immediately went downstairs to congratulate him and do a quick interview. He reads this blog so help me in congratulating him on his amazing achievement of receiving one of only four Dedman Scholarships offered each year at SMU!



CONGRATS & WAY TO GO, MICHAEL!!!

Working toward our future

I want to send out shines to Jazmine and Phantasia for taking time out of their Christmas break to attend the College Prep Day on Thursday, December 27. I am very proud of them for starting to prepare for college now, while still in middle school.

They did things like prepare a resume and learn what they need to start doing now to add to their resume. They worked on the computers to type up their resume. They practiced writing scholarship essays and learned how to mind map in order to make it easier. They really did a great job!

I would like to start doing a college prep day once a month on Saturdays. Who would be interested? If you are interested or you have a child that is interested, please comment here or call or talk to me when you see me.

Here are some pictures from the College Prep Day:

Jazmine compiling her resume:
Doesn't Phantasia look so pretty in this picture?
Ms. Cres helping everyone put their resumes on the computer:

Ms. Cres talking to the group about college expectations:

UT Arlington Field Trip

July23,2007 we went to the U.T.A College in at the big we went to the fitness center and we met a man named Mr.Darrell he took us in this huge exersize place so we went to one of the machie and talked about this screen that could show telvison while you exersize so we went on and talked about many diffrent muscles and sports . Then we went to the smaller one and it was kind of the same but smaller also we discovered a ball that you can do many exersizes only on one ball.So I learned many diffrent muscles.

Foot loose but College-bound!

The After-School Academy's Spring Break was full of events. I was able tag along on Thursday as they went to Texas A & M-Commerce.

Dr. Foote is in charge of the Education Department. She came and talked with us about college, read us a book, and then gave us squeezable lions (the Texas A & M-Commerce mascot) so that we could relieve our stress on the TAKS test.

We met Mr. Jerome, who runs the Rec center. The Rec center was really cool. We went on their basketball courts, ran around their indoor track, saw the huge rock wall, looked in the windows of the racquetball court, and then looked at their huge outdoor pool, sand volleyball courts, and basketball courts...all for college students! Mr. Jerome was so impressed with the way we listened and greeted him that he invited us back in to give us each a t-shirt!

We also met a campus police officer who gave us each a police badge tattoo that we could put on our arm.





Throughout our trip we were toured around by college students who used to be in our after-school and summer programs. Main is a Business major. He is a barber on the side, which helps him make money for college. Bridgette is an English major. She wants to teach English when she graduates. Keith is a Kinesiology major. Kinesiology has to do with sports. He is a football player for the Texas A & M-Commerce Lions. Jessica is an Education major. She has taught us in the summer before. She came to join us after her classes were over and before she went to work at the Boys & Girls Club.

Thanks to everyone who helped make our trip to Texas A & M-Commerce fun and educational!