The Chosen Few: HBCU Tour
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Greetings,
I am Cleopatra R. Watson, Postsecondary Liaison for TEAM Englewood high school-Chicago Public Schools. For nearly ten years, I have dedicated my life to exposing the inner city youth to college awareness and exposure opportunities nation wide. In 2011, I earned my Masters from the University of Illinois at Chicago-Jane Addams College of Social Work. In addition to my primary role, I teach a OneGoal cohort of juniors college preparation. As I lay the foundation and framework in place for their next steps, I am constantly thinking opportunistically on how to advance my students.
In the Fall of 2014, my Postsecondary Leadership Team (PLT) took our students to the annual Siemens Historically Black College/University (HBCU) fair. TEAM Englewood was awarded slightly over 1 million dollars in scholarships from various institutions. Particularly, Benedict College provided our students with an overwhelming amount $954,000 dollars in scholarships to be precise. Unfortunately, the likelihood of my students accepting scholarship offers sight unseen is rare. Strategically, I began to think of how I could tangentially connect my students to institutions that showed us the money!
Instinctively, I developed an HBCU tour entitled: "The Chosen Few." One my students said to me, "Ms. Watson, why do you call us the chosen few?" I replied, unfortunately, only a few students can go on this trip, but the few that were chosen is an excellent choice. We will be traveling to South Carolina, through Atlanta deep into Florida. For years, I have pioneered college tours, but nothing like this one and I need your help!
Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the nation and we're constantly trying to overcome budget crisis. Ultimately, my goal is to raise $20,000 dollars to cover the cost of our bus, lodging and some meals. 100% of my students receive free lunch, which speaks to our challenges of monies available to fund exposure opportunities. With your help, together we can light the postsecondary pathways to success for 40 of my students including: seniors, juniors, and a few sophomores.
The liberty to be innovative and creative while successfully driving postsecondary initiatives, I attribute to the supportive leadership of Principal Rodney Bly, Assistant Principal Akima White and members of my Postsecondary Leadership Team. I believe in my heart, I was sent to TEAM Englewood to save lives and improve our college-going culture. If we work together to raise funds, not only will I be in the position to provide exposure, ultimately, send my students to 4-year institutions and anticipate graduations in the years to come.
Flowers do bloom in the Englewood community. Please join me in my quest to provide to my students collegiate access and exposure opportunities.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Cleopatra R. Watson, MSW
I am Cleopatra R. Watson, Postsecondary Liaison for TEAM Englewood high school-Chicago Public Schools. For nearly ten years, I have dedicated my life to exposing the inner city youth to college awareness and exposure opportunities nation wide. In 2011, I earned my Masters from the University of Illinois at Chicago-Jane Addams College of Social Work. In addition to my primary role, I teach a OneGoal cohort of juniors college preparation. As I lay the foundation and framework in place for their next steps, I am constantly thinking opportunistically on how to advance my students.
In the Fall of 2014, my Postsecondary Leadership Team (PLT) took our students to the annual Siemens Historically Black College/University (HBCU) fair. TEAM Englewood was awarded slightly over 1 million dollars in scholarships from various institutions. Particularly, Benedict College provided our students with an overwhelming amount $954,000 dollars in scholarships to be precise. Unfortunately, the likelihood of my students accepting scholarship offers sight unseen is rare. Strategically, I began to think of how I could tangentially connect my students to institutions that showed us the money!
Instinctively, I developed an HBCU tour entitled: "The Chosen Few." One my students said to me, "Ms. Watson, why do you call us the chosen few?" I replied, unfortunately, only a few students can go on this trip, but the few that were chosen is an excellent choice. We will be traveling to South Carolina, through Atlanta deep into Florida. For years, I have pioneered college tours, but nothing like this one and I need your help!
Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the nation and we're constantly trying to overcome budget crisis. Ultimately, my goal is to raise $20,000 dollars to cover the cost of our bus, lodging and some meals. 100% of my students receive free lunch, which speaks to our challenges of monies available to fund exposure opportunities. With your help, together we can light the postsecondary pathways to success for 40 of my students including: seniors, juniors, and a few sophomores.
The liberty to be innovative and creative while successfully driving postsecondary initiatives, I attribute to the supportive leadership of Principal Rodney Bly, Assistant Principal Akima White and members of my Postsecondary Leadership Team. I believe in my heart, I was sent to TEAM Englewood to save lives and improve our college-going culture. If we work together to raise funds, not only will I be in the position to provide exposure, ultimately, send my students to 4-year institutions and anticipate graduations in the years to come.
Flowers do bloom in the Englewood community. Please join me in my quest to provide to my students collegiate access and exposure opportunities.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Cleopatra R. Watson, MSW
Organizer
Cleopatra R. Watson
Organizer
Chicago, IL
