Help Young People Get on the Road to College!

Summary

Help make the dream of college a reality for disadvantaged youth and families. Support young people, ages 6-14, on college trips where they will learn about the many benefits of higher education.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

There are 8,000 children in the public housing developments we serve. The average income in our community is $22,000, and the majority of households are headed by single parents. Only 57% of residents have a high school diploma and of those just 9% have a college degree. Access to higher education is a gateway to opportunity and economic mobility for children in our community. Our goal is to expand college access by exposing children (and their parents) to college options at an early age.

How will this project solve this problem?

ERDA will host 4 college trips, bringing young children (ages 6-14) and their parent(s) to college campuses for tours, information sessions, educational and cultural activities, and the opportunity to meet current students from similar backgrounds.

Potential Long Term Impact

By providing resources for these families to overcome barriers to college access, this program will promote economic mobility in public housing communities.

Project Message

For children in low income communities, college is a gateway to opportunity and a life-line out of poverty. At ERDA, we aim to plant the college seed early – starting with children as young as 6.
- Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, President & Founder, ERDA

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources