Dear Friends,

During 2011, faith and individual donors like you contributed $12,964 to the Alabama Poverty Project. That means we are nearly 75 percent of the way to our 2011 goal of $17,500. Thank you!

We are immensely grateful to partners like you.  You inspire us and constantly remind us that, together, we have the power to end poverty and hunger in Alabama.

We hope that you had a chance to join us at one of our programs this year.  The highlights included:

• The  Blueprints College Access Initiative, which worked with 246 students at seven high schools across Alabama. Blueprints increases college access by supporting families in college and career planning, financial aid literacy, and ACT preparation.  Thank you for helping equip students to pursue their college dreams.

• Celebrating the publication of APP Co-Founder  Wayne Flynt‘s memoir, Keeping the Faith: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives.  Wayne challenges and inspires us to keep fighting for a more just Alabama. Thank you for helping us keep his flame going.

•  Alabama Possible Community Conversations, which bring together Alabamians to talk about our aspirations for our communities, the barriers we face in achieving those aspirations, and what actions individuals, leaders, and communities can take in turning possibilities into reality. Thank you for helping us listen to the dreams of everyday Alabamians.

• July’s  Tornado Recovery Workshop and September’s  Lifetime of Learning Conference, which brought together students, educators, and community partners to talk about poverty and long-term tornado recovery. Thank you for ensuring that the structural causes of poverty are addressed in rebuilding efforts.

We have just 5 more days to raise $4,536.   Please ensure that we have the resources to continue our work together by making a contribution today.

Thank you,

Kristina Scott

Executive Director

Alabama Poverty Project

Hannah, Kristina and Nicole at the Blueprints table in NCAN’s Best Practices Gallery

Here’s a guest post from Blueprints founder Nicole Bohannon:

Earlier this month, Kristina, Hannah, and I had the opportunity to attend the National College Access Network’s (NCAN) annual conference in St. Louis to share experiences from Blueprints College Access Initiative and learn from other college access providers around the nation.

From breakout sessions sharing best practices for assessment and sustainability to inspiring plenary sessions and networking opportunities, the conference provided for an incredible time of learning and growth that will undoubtedly prove valuable as we work to deepen the relationships with our Blueprints partners and their communities.

During the conference, we also had the privilege of presenting Blueprints at NCAN’s Best Practices Gallery, which focused on best practices in helping diverse student groups access and success in college. We were thrilled to share information about what Blueprints is doing in Alabama with over 600 conference attendees.

One of the most important things we learned was the power of state and local college access networks.  These networks work to get more 21^st century students into and through college, and by leveraging their collective impact they are able to create large-scale social change for student success. Alabama does not currently have a college access network, and that is something we aim to change over the next year.

The NCAN conference was a wonderful learning opportunity, but even more so, a motivator to see the ground we must make up in college attainment in the state of Alabama. Increasing college access is vital to fighting poverty in Alabama, and we couldn’t do it without your help.

Want to learn more about best practices to increase college access?  Some of the conference sessions are posted in the virtual conference section here, and many of the presentation handouts are available here.

Want to get involved with Blueprints? Here’s how:

• Organize college visits with local high school students: email Hannah Selles to get started.
• Become a mentor: connect with Blueprints programs currently underway in Tuscaloosa (at the University of Alabama), Marion (through Judson College), Montevallo (at the University of Montevallo) and Birmingham (with UAB).
• Help cover the costs of materials and staffing with your financial gift.
  

Hannah, Kristina and I recently attended the David Mathews Center’s “Making Community Decisions About Alabama’s Dropout Situation” at Auburn University Montgomery.

I learned that high school dropouts earn $10,000 less a year than high school graduates and $1,000,000 less over a lifetime than those with a bachelors degree.

And 75 percent of all state prison inmates dropped out of high school.

Hannah was there to present our Blueprints College Access Initiative along with our partner University of Montevallo Service-Learning Coordinator Dr. Hollie Cost, and I visited with other community-based programs targeting educational attainment.

Two words stood out throughout the day: engagement and innovation.

Most programs engage others to keep kids in schools. What surprised me was that they all do it differently.

• Some engage students by helping and inspiring them to graduate and go to college, like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County.
• Others engage parents and equip them to help their child, like First Teachers@home.
• Many engage schools and inspire them to become something better, like Winterboro High School.
• Still others engage entire communities and hold everyone accountable for their public schools, like the Montgomery Education Foundation.

Innovation was also a common theme. The problems facing our schools are not simple, so we must be creative and adapt to a new generation of students.

But for a moment, I doubted if all of this work actually made a difference.

Then Keynote Speaker Dr. Tommy Bice told us that Alabama had the nation’s fourth largest gain in graduation rates between 2002-2008.

This stuff does work.

Blueprints creates a college-positive culture and increases college access by supporting families in college and career planning. It is structured as a service-learning partnership between college students and local high school students. College mentors lead students through a multi-week in-class curriculum to explore career planning, paying for college, preparing to apply and choosing a school.

Above: Students from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham celebrated their Blueprints graduation with a focused campus tour to UAB.

“Three of my students are aspiring doctors now!” said Mrs. Hollis-Davis (pictured above, center). She said she believes Blueprints inspired them to aim high, and she hopes we can continue our partnership next year.

“Blueprints taught me things I didn’t even know about college and financial aid,” said mentor J.T. Moore, a UAB student who has struggled himself to get to college. “I can really relate to these kids.”

One of his students, Jermaine, was the Blueprints valedictorian. He earned the most points for his Blueprints portfolio by completing extra-curricular assignments with the help of his teachers, parents and mentors, and he’s been thinking about career options. “I thought I wanted to be a rapper, but now I also want to be a lawyer,” he said.

Another Woodlawn student, Tiara, wants to be a pediatrician. “Blueprints taught me about a lot of ways to get money to help pay for college!” she said. “My graddad always wanted me to go to UAB, and now I’m really thinking about it.”

Above: Students from Central High School in Tuscaloosa visited the University of Alabama campus with UA student mentors.

Blueprints is a service-learning program. College student mentors reflect on their service experiences through in-class learning and discussion about poverty, opportunity and education.

Lindsey Weiner, a University of Alabama Honors College student, said that the service-learning coursework added meaning to her service experience. “We watched ‘Waiting for Superman’ and talked about education in the classroom. It allowed me to reflect on the challenges facing our students and teachers today.”

Above: Students from Francis-Marion High School toured Alabama State University.

Francis-Marion’s counselor, Mr. McCaa, told us that Blueprints is an important addition to students’ classroom experience, and that getting students to visit a college campus is especially important. Her students were excited about college after spending a day at ASU, where they experienced a Greek Week step show, toured new buildings and visited the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture.

“I’m going to college, for real!” affirmed Francis-Marion junior Jennifer, who says she wants to be a criminal justice and forensics major after watching CSI and Bones. “I wasn’t excited before, but after today, I really think I could do this.”

Another student, Derrick, said he was thinking about going to art school after a Blueprints mentor encouraged his interest in drawing.

Above: Montevallo High School freshmen completed Blueprints and celebrated their graduation on a campus visit to the University of Montevallo.

Christina Morris (pictured above) from Montevallo High School won Blueprints Valedictorian and read her essay about how Blueprints helped her believe that her dream could become reality.

“From the time I was ten years old, it has always been my lifelong dream to become a doctor. At the time, I had no clue where to turn to get the resources I would need to achieve my goal.” Christina said that leadership from teachers and mentors helped her start thinking early about how to achieve her goal.

“You miss 100 percent of the chances you don’t take,” Montevallo mentor Patrick shared with his students, admitting that he knows he could have done better and worked harder in high school. “You don’t want to look back on your life when you get to be my age and ask yourself ‘what if.’”

We were thrilled to offer Blueprints to over 100 Montevallo High School freshman this year for the very first time! As Blueprints continues to grow, we hope to reach even more students at our partner schools.

Thank you to all of our generous donors, community partners, Higher Education partners, schools and teachers who made this year of Blueprints possible!

Blueprints receives foundational support from the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, Walmart Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation and BBVA Compass Foundation.

Increasing college access is vital to fighting poverty in Alabama, and we couldn’t do it without your help. Donate now to help keep Blueprints going strong for another year.

Posted by Robyn Hyden

WHO: Students and families at Francis Marion High School

WHAT: Help filling out FAFSA forms and information on ACT test preparation

WHERE: Lottie’s Restaurant

207 Washington Street

Marion, AL 36756

DATE: Thursday, March 31, 2011

TIME: 6 – 7:30 p.m.

MARION – The Alabama Poverty Project’s Blueprints College Access Initiative, Judson College, Teach for America and Sowing Seeds of Hope next Thursday will bring assistance on applying for college and financial aid to students and families at Francis Marion High School.

Presenters from Judson College will explain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and provide assistance on completing the FAFSA form.  Information about ACT college admissions test preparation will also be available.  Representatives from Blueprints, Judson College Office of Financial Aid and Teach for America will be available to answer questions.

About the Blueprints College Access Initiative:

Blueprints is an eight-week college access program for high school students. Sessions cover topics from financial aid and financial literacy to career assessments, resume building, interview skills and choosing the right college or university. Blueprints creates opportunities for both students and families to engage in the college application process, builds a college-positive culture, provides opportunities for high school students to visit college campuses and equips high school graduates for post-graduation success.

Posted by Robyn Hyden

We talk a lot about how our Blueprints initiative increases college access for low-wealth communities.

Now we want to show you by introducing you to people involved in Blueprints. Students like Justin, an aspiring meteorologist, are learning how they can plan for the future, prepare for graduation, go to college and pursue their dreams.

Watch the video to hear from Justin and other students participating in Blueprints at one high school in Birmingham:

Want to help create a college-positive culture for students in your community?

• Find our Resources on education, mentoring and college access.
• Join in Partnership with the Alabama Poverty Project.
• Give now to help us continue our college access work with students like Justin.

Thank you for your continued support!

Posted by Robyn Hyden

We recently reported on two studies about education: one shows that Alabama lags behind in higher educational attainment, and another shows that by 2018, nearly two-thirds of new jobs will require some form of higher education.

The story is much more positive for college graduates. Only 3.4 percent of Alabamians with a college degree live in poverty, and college graduates bring over $1 million in spending power back to their communities.

Father Alex connected with us at our Lifetime of Learning Conference and at our recent Alabama Possible Summit. “I see our college prep and workforce development programs as part of our response to poverty,” he says. Read more about Father Alex here.

How does the Alabama Poverty Project promote educational attainment?

• Our Higher Education Alliance increases college access in low-wealth communities, promotes student retention and engages students in partnerships with local communities.
• Our Blueprints College Access Initiative connects college mentors with high school students in low-wealth communities to promote educational attainment.
• Our partners promote Service-Learning to engage college students in community service and partnerships with low-wealth communities.

Your gift makes a big difference. As the year ends, we are still facing a budget shortfall of $3,447. Can you give?

Your tax-deductible gift will enable us to continue our work mobilizing Alabamians to eliminate poverty.

Thank you for your continued support. With your help and partnership, it is possible to end poverty in Alabama.

We know that increased college completion is vital to reducing poverty in Alabama. According to the Center for Education and the Workforce:

• by 2018, nearly two-thirds of jobs in this state will require some form of higher education
• over the next 10 years, new jobs in Alabama requiring post-secondary education will increase by an estimated 132,000, while other jobs will increase by only 89,000
• currently, 55 percent of all jobs in Alabama require some form of post-secondary education’

Want to know more? Listen to the discussion below, and ask yourself: how can I increase the potential for Alabama students to get a higher education?

Complete College America from Spotlight on Vimeo.

Posted by Robyn Hyden

Father Alex Steinmiller is someone who knows about relational ministries, because he sees them transforming students every day. He is a founding organizer and president of Holy Family Cristo Rey High School in Ensley, Birmingham.

As a part of the Passionist order of the Catholic church, Father Alex is called to serve those living in poverty. He grew up in downtown Chicago, and he can still remember the day he first felt called to be a priest. “A Passionist missionary came to speak to our class and said people can be changed by the love of Christ on the cross. I had never heard that before.” This idea changed his life.

After he was ordained in 1970, Father Alex went to Detroit to work with young gang members. He saw white flight happen right before his eyes, and whole neighborhoods were abandoned by the middle class. “I realized that the best way to help at-risk youths is to relate them with a high-achieving peer. I didn’t have one class in the seminary that prepared me for this,” he laughs. Those years of experience “walking the streets of Detroit,” he says, convinced him that relationships could transform lives.

Working now with youth in Ensley, Father Alex sees this model in action every day. “Since 2007, every single one of our graduates has been accepted to college,” he brags. This is especially notable given their neighborhood, their household income, and the education levels of their parents. So what is Cristo Rey doing that other programs could replicate?

Cristo Rey is “the school that works” – literally. Like all 24 Cristo Rey schools across the country, they employ all of their 174 students in corporate internships. Students work 1-2 days a week to earn a portion of their tuition. They compensate for time spent outside the classroom by going to school for extended days the remainder of the week (8 am – 3:30 pm) and for a longer school year. This program gives the students the opportunity to both afford a private education and to get valuable work and mentorship experiences in high school.

“Jobs really make the most difference. Students get to form adult relationships, and to get that affirmation from adults. I hear them say all the time ‘I can do this, Father.’ That’s such a great breakthrough.”

Students and faculty pose in front of the Honor Society wall.

Applicants must have a combined household income of less than $38,000/year, and the school offers significant financial aid through the work-study program. Students must also meet nine other requirements before starting at the high school, including an interview with both the student and parents, an essay submission, teacher recommendations, and placement testing. “We accept students who are up to two years behind grade level if we believe they have potential,” he says. Holy Family ultimately hopes to sponsor up to 300 students with corporate internships, but they need more support from local businesses to make that happen.

Father Alex connected with APP through our 2010 Lifetime of Learning conference and the Alabama Possible summit, where he shared resources and experiences with others fighting poverty through education and ministry.

How can you bring relational ministries to your community?

• visit the Alabama Possible Summit event page to learn more about bringing relational ministries to your community
• read more about Mentoring and Youth Development in our web resources
• contact Scott Meinberg about opportunities to partner with Holy Family for corporate internships.

Posted by Robyn Hyden

Namely, we rank below the national average in higher educational attainment. 68.4 percent of working-age Alabama adults have no college degree. 8 percent have a 2-year associate’s degree, while 24 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

This means that we’re less competitive with neighboring states for economic development, and our workers are less equipped for the future job market. According to a recent study by the Center for Education and the Workforce, Help Wanted: Projections on Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018:

• by 2018, nearly two-thirds of jobs will require some form of higher education
• over the next 10 years, new jobs in Alabama requiring post-secondary education will increase by an estimated 132,000, while other jobs will increase by only 89,000
• currently, 55 percent of all jobs in Alabama require some form of post-secondary training

As we have said before, low educational attainment hampers our ability to attract economic development. We also know that college graduates bring over $1 million in spending power (PDF) back to their home communities.

A college degree is one of the fastest routes for an individual to move out of poverty into the middle class – and a strong, stable middle class benefits us all.

What is the good news?

1. Our Higher Education Alliance and other K-12 and college programs are using innovative programming to educate our children and increase access to higher education. We talked about some of these initiatives at our recent Lifetime of Learning Conference.
2. Our state gubernatorial candidates are publicly debating the role of the state in college access and funding for higher education, which means that people are starting to pay attention.

What can you do? Stay informed. Stay engaged. Help create a college-positive culture in your community (see page 12 of our annual report). And advocate for increased access to higher education through financial aid, mentoring programs, and improved college preparation.

Posted by Robyn Hyden