SEATTLE \u2013 Inspired by the 250+ African-American men that showed up to greet South Shore PK-8 School students with high fives for its recent celebration of National African-American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID), Detroit-area nonprofit Real Life 101 announced that they will provide $10,000 scholarships to 10 graduating African-American male high school students that previously attended South Shore.
\nThe mission of Real Life 101 is to improve the negative statistics relative to African-American males in America by \u201cinvesting in education and not incarceration\u201d through providing college scholarships, computers and certified mentors to graduating seniors. The organization\u2019s executive director, Bryant George, says he became aware of South Shore\u2019s 2016 NAAPID celebration after searching online for \u201cBlack males programs in Seattle.\u201d \u201cI was completely impressed with how the community has united around the young people and how the community has given them a vision, and how they are serving as role models for the kids who might be considered to be at-risk by society\u2019s standards,\u201d said George.
\nScholarship guidelines include submission of an online application (not contingent on GPA) and a 1,000 word essay. Awards will be based on the strength of the student\u2019s essay. Real Life will provide the following:
\n\u00b7 $10,000 tuition scholarship (2- or 4-year college; payable at $2,000 annually for up to five years)
\n\u00b7 A new laptop computer (equipped with most update software packages) plus a computer backpack
\n\u00b7 Pairing with a certified Real Life Mentor
\nScholarship recipients will be selected in mid-March and award letters will be sent in late April. \u201cWhat\u2019s exciting for our community is that this event is touching others who feel compelled to reach out to us and our students are becoming the beneficiaries,\u201d South Shore principal Kristin DeWitte said. \u201cIt just goes to show that when we authentically engage with our community, great things happen. What started with letting our students know how precious they are to us has moved beyond our wildest dreams\u2014ten college scholarships, unbelievable!\u201d
\nThis is Real Life\u2019s first partnership in the Seattle area and the cross-state gesture has quickly stirred local interest in exploring how to build on it. Anita Koyier-Mwamba, NAAPID organizer and Seattle Public Schools employee, wonders about the local implications. \u201cIf one out of state entity can make this level of investment in Black children, think about the local implications this has for our region? We can and must leverage this opportunity to do more for our Black children, what a remarkable opportunity for them!\u201d said Koyier-Mwamba.
\nTo learn more about Real Life 101, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n