Featured Charity: Higher Achievement
In this week's Featured Charity interview, find out how Higher Achievement’s rigorous afterschool and summer academic program is closing the opportunity gap for more than 700 middle school youth in at-risk communities each year.
What does your organization do and how are you different from other groups with similar missions?
Higher Achievement is rigorous. From 5th through 8th grade, Higher Achievement scholars spend 650 hours a year learning an advanced curriculum that is aligned to state standards. This commitment is in addition to attending school for the standard 900 hours a year. Higher Achievement’s year-round program is grounded in research. It combines high expectations with high support — demanding academic work plus mentoring, skill-building, individual student achievement plans, and personal encouragement.
In October 2011, Higher Achievement became one of the first organizations focused on out-of-school time that can offer proven results with the release of a groundbreaking longitudinal, independent evaluation showing that the intensive year-round program had a significant impact on youth's standardized test scores.
Where is your organization located?
Higher Achievement DC Metro has six Centers locally (in Wards 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8) and one Center in Alexandria, VA. In addition to our local work, we also have affiliates in Baltimore and Richmond, with plans to launch Pittsburgh this summer. Our headquarters are in downtown, DC.
How has your organization responded to the economic crisis?
Higher Achievement works in communities in which students are 10 times more likely to drop out of high school than are their peers in more affluent communities. We give middle scho
ol students from these at-risk communities critical opportunities at a critical time. Higher Achievement intervenes right before the transition to middle school, lowering the risk of failure at the time when this risk typically increases. Our comprehensive program gives students the tools, training, and support they need to view education — both a high school diploma and a postsecondary degree — as a valuable, essential, attainable goal.
Is there a time during the year when you need more help than usual?
During the school year we rely on lots of volunteers to make our work possible!
How Can I help?
Higher Achievement is now accepting applications for mentors and study hall aides for the 2011-2012 school year (late September - early May).
Higher Achievement produces results because of the organization's corps of volunteer mentors. Higher Achievement mentors are role models with varied backgrounds. Some grew up in the same communities as the scholars they mentor; others grew up in more affluent communities. Some live in the city; others commute from the suburbs.
Together, these mentors build a rich community that exposes Higher Achievement scholars to new perspectives and many forms of support. Our mentors, in turn, are rewarded with the experience of making a dramatic and clear impact on the lives of young people — and they are connected with a network of hundreds of professionals who are similarly invested in their communities.
If I make a donation today, how much of an impact will that donation have?
When it comes to providing quality services to our scholars, every dollar makes a difference.
- $21 provides a one-hour mentoring session to one scholar
- $50 provides one Afterschool Academy elective class to 10 scholars
- $105 provides one week of Afterschool Academy to one scholar
- $280 provides one week of Summer Academy to one scholar
What one thing do you wish more people knew about your organization’s work?
One common misconception is that Higher Achievement “creams,” only targeting the highest performing students in the neighborhoods we serve. In fact, the GPAs of incoming Higher Achievement scholars follow a strong bell curve with the majority earning average grades. The commonality among all scholars is motivation and commitment: the desire to apply oneself, work hard, and take advantage of all the opportunities Higher Achievement has to offer.
What can a company (of any size) do to help your organization?
Higher Achievement has many corporate partners, each playing a critical role in the support and enrichme
nt of our program. Our approach to partnership is one of mutual benefit and deep engagement. The ideal relationship involves financial support, skilled volunteerism and strategic advice. For example, DC law firm Mayer Brown is a loyal sponsor of Higher Achievement’s GoingPlaces! Gala. In addition, scholars attend an annual field trip to the firm and participate in a mock trial prepared and lead by partners and associates. Scholars learn about professions in law, refine their critical thinking and presentation skills and have meaningful interactions with firm employees. Finally, a partner at the firm serves on the Higher Achievement President’s Council, acting as a valued advisor to our Executive Director.
What makes your organization successful and what advice would you share with other charities out there?
What makes Higher Achievement successful is our model that relies on deep engagement from a variety of stakeholders in the community. From volunteer mentors, corporate partners and local government, to parents, schools and other CBOs. The more wide spread investment and involvement in your program, the more sustainable your model becomes. This leads to a permanent presence in your city and provides the consistency and reliability needed to truly make an impact.
Do you have any upcoming special events?
The Literary Love Poetry Performance:
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
7:30 PM at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Join us to hear our scholar poets recite their award winning love poems!
Want to learn more about Higher Achievement?
Web Site: www.higherachievement.org
Phone: 202-375-7709 (Cara Leidy, Director of Donor Relations)
Mailing Address: 317 8th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
CFC#: 33770
E-mail: cleidy@higherachievement.org
https://www.facebook.com/higherachieve
#HigherAchieve
http://feeds.feedburner.com/HigherAchievement
http://www.youtube.com/higherachievevideo
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