“I just had to write to let you know that I toured the New Orleans school in Houston you all helped us start in partnership with KIPP academy twice this week and was blown away by how things have truly come together for the greater good of the students there.”

Ann Best,
Teach for America – Houston

2006 Grant History

Ronald Edmonds Learning Center - Middle School 113

The Foundation was proud to support the Center with a $17,000 grant to fund their Annual RELC Young Men’s and Young Women’s College Tours. Over the past six years the Center has taken over one hundred fifty boys and girls, ages 11-15, to tour and visit a number of historically black colleges and universities along the east coast. Evidence has shown that these tours, officially named the Ronald Edmonds Learning Center Annual Young Men’s College Tour and Young Women’s College Tour, have made a dramatic, positive impact on the current academic performance, emotional maturity, and educational aspirations of participating students.

The tours include visits to Morgan State University, Howard University, Howard Law School, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Fisk University, Tennessee State University and Meharry Medical School. We allow students from grades 6-8 to attend on a first come first serve basis. This year, their attention and efforts were focused on young men and young women who are seen as “at-risk” due to their academic performance or behavior. We recognize that many of these students and their families may not be in a position to afford this invaluable experience. Unlike other college tours we actually get to visit classrooms in session as many of the tours are led by former students of RELC. Students get to see dorm life, a college cafeteria, library, as well as converse with students from similar backgrounds that have achieved academic success.

Due to the current economic streamlining of the New York City Department of Education, they are forced to secure funding from outside sources in order to accomplish this goal. In previous years, the trip had been partially sponsored by private donors and a number of our faculty members. Contributions have provide a pathway by allowing our young women and men to see what lies ahead in regards to the many collegiate opportunities that will be afforded to them as they make their decisions in choosing and selecting the right college or university after high school.