The HBCU Rising

A Campus-Public Schools Literacy and STEM Mentoring Initiative®

The HBCU Rising, a collaboration between the National CARES Mentoring Movement and Clark Atlanta University, is currently being demonstrated in Atlanta. An innovative group-mentoring initiative, the program works to close the achievement gap between African American students in underfunded middle schools and their peers in highly resourced communities by increasing reading comprehension, STEM competencies, critical thinking, communication and social skills. Our goal is to increase the interest and competency of middle school students in the STEM disciplines while affording them a fun way to learn as they aim toward college. In this unique two-tiered model, the college students mentor the middle schoolers and are in turn mentored by professionals working in STEM careers. This provides opportunities for the older students to shadow their mentors in industry, possibly secure internships, and increase their interest in the ever-growing and well-paying STEM arenas.