Organization: MEMPHIS CHALLENGE INC
Mission: THE PURPOSE OF MEMPHIS CHALLENGE IS TO MATCH GIFTED, BUT UNDER-REPRESENTED MEMPHIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF COLOR WITH TOP-TIER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP OFFERINGS OFFERED BY PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Activities: THE JR. MEMPHIS AND MEMPHIS CHALLENGE PROGRAM PROVIDES UNDER REPRESENTED HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS OF COLOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS THAT WILL AID THEM THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND. MEMPHIS CHALLENGE OFFERS MONTHLY WORKSHOPS FOR 9TH, 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM COUNTY, CHARTER, AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. EACH WORKSHOP SERVES TO BUILD A FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS AND LAYERS THE STUDENTS WITH SELF CONFIDENCE AND MOTIVATION TO SUCCEED. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 500 MEMPHIS CHALLENGE ALUMNI WHO NOW SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS ATTORNEYS, EDUCATORS, PHYSICIANS, DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVES, AND ENTREPRENEURS (55 PERSONS BENEFITED).
THE 9/10 MOVEMENT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE RIGORS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMICS AND HOW TO CONNECT THE DOTS OF LIFE, EDUCATION, CAREER AND ASPIRATIONS. IN 2018, THERE WERE TWO MODULES WHERE WE ACHIEVED THESE GOALS. THE FIRST ONE WAS THE BOOT CAMP WHERE THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SETTING AND REACHING GOALS. THE PROGRAM EXPOSED STUDENTS TO COACHING FOR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND BUILD GROUP COHESIVENESS BY MEMPHIS CHALLENGE ALUMNI. THE OTHER PROGRAM WAS TO HELP STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENTS BY EXPOSING THEM TO CIVIC LEADERS AND GREAT CITIZENS FROM AROUND THE REGION (45 PERSONS BENEFITED).
SOLE (SUMMER ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE) IS A VIRTUAL MATH ACADEMY THAT IS OFFERED FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 DURING THE SUMMER TO COMBAT SUMMER SLIDE (LEARNING LOSS). SOLE IS POWERED THRU ALEK SOFTWARE. MEMPHIS CHALLENGE OFFERS WEEKLY PARENT UPDATES AND IS BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH) ENTHUSIASTS (155 PERSONS BENEFITED).
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Youth Development