Past Features

March 28, 2005 (Vol. 1, No. 5)

Bronx Institute's GEAR UP Program Honored for Work with Bronx Kids

APEX
The Bronx Institute is located in the APEX building.

The Latino College Expo will honor the Bronx Institute's GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) initiative with the Community-based Organization Award for its work in providing low income Bronx students with the academic support, skills and preparation needed to pursue and succeed in college. The ceremony will take place on April 16 at the New York City campus of Pace University.

Last July, ten students in the Institute's program caught the attention of Expo officials when they presented a workshop, entitled "Joining Theory and Practice," at the annual conference of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, held in Washington, DC. Each student spoke about his/her experience in the Institute's project-based summer programs. It was the only presentation at the conference that was organized and delivered by the GEAR UP students themselves.

"Here we had these very eloquent high school students making these comprehensive presentations, and I think it really impressed some of the people who attended the conference," says Naomi Barber, associate director of the Bronx Institute.

One audience member was so impressed that he recommended the Institute's GEAR UP program to the website created by the Washington Center for Best Practices, a distinction awarded to only six out of 300 GEAR UP programs nationally. The Center is a non-profit organization that highlights successful education programs.

The federally funded GEAR UP program motivates students to demand more of themselves as learners and leaders, and gives them the skills to pursue their passions. The Institute's GEAR UP program began in 1999 with 2,000 sixth-graders, who are now in the eleventh grade. The students receive tutoring and mentoring services, as well as Regents, SAT and ACT test preparation and workshops on financial planning.

"These academic strides coupled with college awareness send a powerful message to students: that higher education is important and possible for everyone regardless of socio-economic status, gender or ethnicity," says Barber.