Houston

A Better Chance – National *
Grades: 4-9
A Better Chance seeks to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. This is done by facilitating their entry into independent college preparatory schools. Through its network of member schools, A Better Chance is able to leverage an estimated $20+ million per year in financial aid for talented, economically disadvantaged youth of color. More than 96% of A Better Chance's graduates go on to college directly after high school, a majority entering our country's most selective colleges.

DREAM Program – Rice University
Grades: K-12
DREAM seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in STEM degree programs, particularly engineering. DREAM is structured on a foundation of long-term mentoring. Volunteer mentors (engineering students) and mentees (underrepresented, underserved K–12 students) carry out group design projects using commonly available materials to solve a series of tasks. High contact hours in small group settings are critical to the success of DREAM.

The Forge
All ages
The Forge for Families is holistically addressing the needs of our community and encouraging children & adults through children’s programming (educational & athletic), practical parent training, pre-marital and marital counseling, and economic development. Youth Educational Training addresses basic, yet fundamental needs for select youth. These include but are not limited to: literacy training, ESL, elocution training via dramas and debate, apprenticeships through corporate partnerships, Agoge camps that challenge participants physically and mentally while encouraging selfless-service.

STARTALK Chinese Program 
Grades: K-12
STARTALK will provide a rigorous and fun Chinese Student Enrichment Program at select districts and schools in the Houston area. Administered by Rice University Center for College Readiness and the Institute for Chinese Language Teaching, the classes offered will focus on language instruction and will allow students to explore the richness of Chinese culture through various activities in an interactive learning environment.

Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) 
Grades: 3-12
The Summer Engineering Experience for Kids program (SEEK) is the National Society of Black Engineers’ (NSBE) premiere solution to the underrepresentation of African American students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The free, three week program is a STEM pipeline designed to expose African American children to STEM fields as early as the third grade and through the twelfth grade. In addition, this exposure will be provided by utilizing NSBE members, who are young, Black, collegiate students, majoring in STEM fields.

Urban League of Houston
All ages
Education & Youth Development implements programs that embrace a “cradle-to-career” model, preparing youth to be self-sufficient adults, while supporting parental engagement throughout their educational development years. The Department provides: 1) early childhood learning applications for reading, pre-k through fourth grade; 2) academic and social development grades five through eight and, 3) college preparation and entrance grades nine through twelve. This educational support model for both children and parents is designed to expose, encourage and position the child to ultimately succeed academically at home and in a global environment.