Black Swan: Empowering Black Youth

We need YOUR help to raise funds for a new non-profit organization, The Black Swan Academy, aimed to empower black youth by restoring their PRIDE, identifying their PURPOSE through community service and helping them regonize their POWER.African American youth are not being efficiently engaged in their schools nor their communities, stifling the level of success they can reach and the positive social change they can spark in their communities. Whether the issue is the access to quality education, juvenile justice, or effective campaigns for HIV and AIDS testing and prevention programs much of the conversation is focused on, and disproportionately impact young, African Americans. Despite the centrality of African American youth in these debates, their perspectives and voices have generally been absent. African American youth have yet to recognize their value to theirs schools and communities.Programs/services: BSA focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive development of our youth. This is accomplished through the pathway of Civic Learning and Engagement; which allows students to develop a value of self, while uncovering their power to make a positive change in their communities. This uncovered pride and power will increase the level of student engagement in their schools and communities; in turn, increasing academic achievement and positive life outcomes. In September 2014, BSA will launch an innovative Civic Learning and Engagement program (out-of-school-time, year-round) at Anacostia High School, and Sousa Junior High in Southeast, DC. BSA will begin serving 7th-9th grade students, serving 60 students in the first year.