Competitive External Funding Portfolios: This co-sponsorship was intended to help a small group of rising scholars/professionals increase their awareness and national competitiveness regarding the plethora of prestigious scholarships and fellowships offered by colleges, universities, foundations, and industry. The two day interactive workshop focused on best practices related to documenting service and accomplishments and strategies to meet or exceed selection criteria. At stake are scholarships and fellowships totaling millions of dollars to cover skyrocketing cost of higher education. Approximately four dozen area students and their families were impacted.
My Brother’s Keeper Challenge (MBKC): The MBKC is one of President Obama’s initiatives to help empower black boys and young men of color. It is a year-round mentoring program for underserved boys and young men. Adult coaches meet with MBKC Fellows each month and provide programming that focus on respect, humility, self-efficacy, education, and careers. Over twenty households and forty boys were impacted.
After-School Youth Development: The L2CF supported two after-school youth development programs in the area. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Golden Triangle and Ms. Smith’s Educational Services provide safe and exciting learning environments for primarily underserved students, on site, students receive homework assistance, tutoring, and encouragement from trained staff and a host of volunteers. Combined, these programs serve several hundred students each day after school.
Father-Daughter Night Out: The L2CF co-sponsored a new faith-based initiative in Dumas, Arkansas that was designed to encourage fathers to be actively engaged in their daughters’ lives and to show them how they should be treated. The night-out included dinner, a program, and an awards ceremony. Nearly two dozen father-daughter pairs participated.
Hidden Figures Dialogue: The L2CF co-sponsored the viewing of the Hidden Figures movie and dialogue session. Mr. Shawn Gardner of 2NOT1.org led this discussion. Twenty-four youth participated in these events.