We plan several signature events to punctuate the year, which also triples as community, family engagement and visibility opportunities:
Fall College & Career Festival:
Early in the school year, we host a combined College Fair and Career Expo at a college. Middle schoolers (and their parents) meet representatives from local colleges and, as well as professionals from fields like tech, arts, law enforcement, etc. This energizes students with goals for the year and connects families to resources. It also publicly launches our partnership, drawing press and community leaders to see our work firsthand.
Virtual Reality College Fair
is an innovative event designed to provide students with an immersive and interactive experience to explore various colleges and universities.
Winter STEAM Expo
Mid-year, students showcase projects from their first semester clubs. This is an evening event where the gym or auditorium becomes a gallery of student work – science experiments, art pieces, robots, etc., with students stationed to explain their creations to guests. It builds presentation skills and celebrates academic enrichment.
Youth Leadership Summit
Toward the end of the year, our Youth Chambers help organize a conference-style event where students lead. They might present the outcomes of their community projects, run workshops for peers (e.g. a 7th grader teaching 6th graders how to start a community garden as they did), and invite younger students from feeder elementary schools to inspire them. This elevates student voice on a public platform and reinforces that age is no barrier to leadership.
HS Ready 101 & Graduation
A special workshop series and ceremony for our 8th graders as they finish middle school. Coaches, many of whom just a few years ago made their own high school choices, will guide 8th graders through “High School 101” – what to expect in high school, dealing with new independence, and staying on track for college. We then hold a small graduation celebration where each 8th grader is honored (and perhaps paired with a coach or older student for continued mentorship into 9th grade informally). We invite high school representatives to welcome them. This ensures a continuum of support as they transition.
Each of these events are carefully evaluated and documented. They not only serve students but also allow us to engage stakeholders (e.g. funders, school officials) by inviting them to see our program in action and the quality outcomes it produces.