Story from 10,000 Degrees
Connecting students with HBCUs and other support for collegiate success…
The North Bay nonprofit 10,000 Degrees has launched a program dedicated to the success of Black students.
10,000 Degrees, an organization devoted to supporting low-income residents in the region through mentorships and scholarships, launched a campaign Jan. 29 designed to help Black students graduate from college.
According to a 10,000 Degrees news release, Black students in the U.S. enroll in college at comparable rates to other ethnicities but have significantly lower graduation rates.
“The disparity in college completion rates among Black students can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including being twice as likely as other students to have caregiving or full-time work responsibilities outside of school and arriving in college inadequately prepared by their high school,” the nonprofit said.
As part of the campaign, 10,000 Degrees took about 150 Bay Area students, including 50 from Napa County, to a Black college expo in Oakland on Saturday.
According to spokesperson Gus Nodal, the field trip was a way to “expose students to a wider variety of colleges/universities and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to attend college.”
The event brought together students and representatives from historically Black colleges and universities at the Oakland Marriott City Center. Day-of scholarships were offered, among other funding opportunities.
The nonprofit has also launched a college fund and internship program as a way to increase Black students’ engagement, success and mentorship opportunities.
The new program focuses on exposing minority students to college opportunities through targeted outreach, high school visits, transition help from high school to college, and providing tailored support to Black students preparing for internships or job interviews.
