THE ORGANIZATION
The National Black College Alliance (NBCA) is an extended network of college students, alumni, and community members who are committed to mentoring the next generation of community leaders in Boston. Founded in 2000 by Boston-area Black college students and alumni, NBCA has worked in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan particularly around Grove Hall and Dudley Square, to create positive role models and support for urban Black youth, counteracting negative stereotypes as well as the realities of gangs, drugs, and violence affecting many urban communities. Our two main strategies are to support college access and success for students of color particularly those experiencing intergenerational poverty, and to promote community and civic engagement and community-based leadership in Boston's Black neighborhoods through our Greatest MINDS Civic Program. The NBCA believes in the importance of educational opportunities and of social connections that promote success for both individuals and communities.
THE IMPACT
Since 2000, the National Black College Alliance has provided a “space of community opportunities” and a “safe haven” for youth. Many young people, parents, and community members have viewed our program as a place where students can receive one-on-one mentoring, crucial information on post-secondary education and college success, and meet college-age students and college alumni as role models in our communities.
From 2000 – 2012, the NBCA has impacted the community through the following statistics in the area of our college, careers, and community service programming:
Over 10,000 high school students and college students from the Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan neighborhoods received crucial information on how to apply, attend, and graduate from college through our high school programs, college fairs, and community engagement programming.
Over 1,000 high school students received their first job experience through the National Black College Alliance Summer Employment Program. Students had apprenticeships with community-based organizations in the Boston area as well. The program was located at Roxbury Community College for several summers. Special thanks to the City of Boston’s Youth Fund, Boston Private Industry Council, AMCS Summer Works, and the Boston Empowerment Zone (Boston Connects, Inc.) During the summer months, our program was run out of the Reggie Lewis Center and Roxbury Community College.
Over 500 high school students attended the weeklong Historically Black College Tour visiting the following schools: Howard University in Washington DC, Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, Hampton University in Hampton, VA, and many others.
Over 1,000 individuals ages 20 to 80 years old participated in the GREATEST MINDS Civic Engagement initiative. This Initiative provided leadership development workshops, seminars, and conferences in the areas: Education, Voting, Crime Prevention, Entrepreneurship, Arts and Nightlife, and Networking. From 2000 – 2012, the NBCA has impacted the community in the area of civic engagement, leadership, and community programming:
Over 800 alumni and community members from Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan served as one-on-one mentors to countless high school students and college students in the National Black College Alliance program. The success of our mentoring program is credited that many of the young people enjoyed having a mentor of color from their same neighborhoods.
Over 250 alumni participated in the Next Generation Program preparing Boston’s young leaders ages 20 to 40 to become active to get involved as a volunteer or a board members within their communities.