"We make a living by what we get,we make a life by what we give."
-Sir Winston Churchill
"We make a living by what we get,we make a life by what we give."
-Sir Winston Churchill
CHALLENGE
Children and youth in historically underserved communities continue to face significant economic and educational barriers. Recent U.S. Census data show that Black and Hispanic children experience poverty at disproportionately higher rates than their White peers, with approximately one in four Black children and one in five Hispanic children living below the federal poverty line. Poverty remains closely linked to educational attainment, workforce participation, and long-term economic mobility.
Educational disparities also persist. Data from the U.S. Department of Education's Civil Rights Data Collection continue to show that Black students experience exclusionary discipline, including suspensions and expulsions, at significantly higher rates than other student groups. These disparities contribute to lost instructional time, lower academic engagement, and increased risk of school disengagement.
Many young people in communities such as Harlem encounter interconnected challenges, including concentrated poverty, unequal access to educational opportunities, workforce barriers, and limited exposure to career pathways. These factors can contribute to disconnection from school and employment opportunities during critical developmental years.
While graduation rates have improved nationally over the past decade, significant achievement and opportunity gaps remain for many Black and Latino students, particularly in urban communities. Expanding access to meaningful educational experiences, workforce development, mentorship, and career exploration remains essential to improving long-term outcomes for youth.
OPPORTUNITY
Project Brownstone, Inc. sees an opportunity for its services based on the following:
- This is a community-based response to the lack of exposure to opportunities available to underserved youths in the community.
- To correct the internal dialogue that hinders growth
- We present an opportunity for conversations amongst urban youths to find context
- We create an opportunity to live outside of the realm of possibility
- We present the opportunity for underserved youths to change their mentality, in turn, their lives
- Compelling bodies of research show parent involvement & community engagement make a broad difference
- We can offer holistic ways to increase college enrollment and completion rates
- Peer-to-peer involvement and internships provide training and experience.
PROJECTS
Project Brownstone offers the following:
Textbook Stipend Project assists 10 underserved Harlem high school graduates transition to full-time college/university studies.
The program will extend Project Brownstone's influence and guidance, plus provide much-needed financial assistance for kids that cannot afford to purchase textbooks, which can hinder academic progress.
The Literacy Project is a way to further engage students of the Textbook Stipend Project to bring literacy to underachieving students in grades K-3rd by reading to them. This is a way to plant the seeds that we hope will help to create a college-going culture. This is a great way to teach students about community engagement.
Video Project: "The Impact of Knowledge," is a compilation of live testimonials to emphasize the value of access and knowledge about the past - and how it informs the present and the future.