Postsecondary education is a bridge to equity and economic opportunity that not only boosts individuals, but the communities in which they live. Black and Latino males, however, all too often fail to attain these benefits and, in fact, are losing ground faster than ever. Young Men of Talent (YMT) program will address this crisis head on.
Young Men of Talent (YMT) program aims to ensure males nationwide access and graduate from college prepared to enter the workforce. YMT scholars will be selected from Brilliant Pathways and other schools across the country.
Program Components
Paid summer internships in career fields of interest
Successful business and education leaders will hold regular virtual and in-person meetings with their students throughout the year. These mentors will also help students obtain paid summer internships in their fields of interest and guide them through training modules developed by Brilliant Pathways to ensure their success at college and prepare them for the workplace.
24/7 Mentoring Support
Near-peer mentors will be available to help guide students. These peer mentors will be trained by Brilliant Pathways and will work closely with college leaders, who will provide academic support, counseling, and other services as needed.
Academic Support
These advisors will meet with their advisees at least once monthly and will assign tutors as needed, provide research opportunities, and actively participate in the team that ensures all YMT students graduate.
Support from Top Leaders
A key to removing institutional obstacles for these students is the support and commitment of top leaders. To help make this happen, every YMT student will meet their school leaders, annually.
On The News
The Diversity Issue on College Campuses This Fall That May Surprise You
At universities nationwide, women greatly outnumber men, with huge ramifications for the economy and society. Philanthropy can help correct the imbalance. Colleges will confront a problematic diversity issue as students return to campus in the coming weeks, but not the one the Supreme Court recently made top of mind.
The Effect of Gender Disparities on Men
In 1972, when Title IX was passed to help improve gender equality on campus, men were 13% more likely to get an undergraduate degree than women. Today, it’s women who are 15% more likely to get a BA than men. That’s just one of the startling statistics revealing how millions of young men today are struggling to understand how or where they fit in. Correspondent Lee Cowan talks with Brookings Institution senior fellow Richard Reeves about his new initiative, the American Institute for Boys and Men; with students at the University of Vermont, where women make up 62% of this year’s freshman class; and with Kalamazoo Promise in Michigan, a scholarship program reaching out to young men who haven’t been taking advantage of the help being offered towards higher education.
