#PraiseTheYouth
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”
-Aristotle
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”
-Aristotle
Our Blueprint to Success
- It’s interest, not intellect - It’s our responsibilities as educators to ensure that our students are engaged with any information we expect them to retain and apply.
- Cultivate Faculties - Every student on the planet has access to six amazing mental faculties that can be strengthened to create their dream life: will, reason, imagination, perception, memory, and intuition.
- Develop Mindfulness - Our students will learn to transmute their emotions, as well as gain awareness on their connection to a broader world around them.
- Life-long learners - The frequency in which our students explore and learn on their own will assure the trajectory of their life continues to slope upward.
- Self-awareness - Understanding who they are, how they learn, and what they want out of life are questions our students answer with clarity.
Why we do what we do
Low-income, minority students are failing to graduate from college primarily due to 1 of 3 reasons.
- Finances - According to a recent study from 2014, the lowest family income quartile would need to spend 82% of their earnings on college expenses. Therefore, students are forced to enroll part-time, or work jobs with a full-time class schedule.
- Inclusion - There is a strong feeling of not belonging, due to many low-income, minority students not being exposed to other cultures prior to college. This results in a struggle to find emotional support, seek academic help, and/or connect with others.
- College Readiness - Often times, this demographic is a first generation college student. Not only do many of them reside from poorly resourced and academically struggling high schools, they lack awareness on how to navigate through college effectively.
We have created a comprehensive success program that addresses each area and prepares our students for life, as well as post-secondary education.
How We Do It
Beyond the books
We understand that the solution requires more than just academic readiness, more than financial support. We know the solution lies in a comprehensive and creative approach to EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, and PREPARATION FOR LIFE ALTOGETHER.
Empowerment
Students are taught to take their own personal journey of self-discovery, reflect on old behaviors and beliefs, and learn the power of their minds. We use personal development workshops and transcendental meditation techniques to meet the social-emotional needs of every student and simultaneously build their awareness. We also feed our students minds and bodies with nutrient-dense, healthy meals.
Students are taught to take their own personal journey of self-discovery, reflect on old behaviors and beliefs, and learn the power of their minds. We use personal development workshops and transcendental meditation techniques to meet the social-emotional needs of every student and simultaneously build their awareness. We also feed our students minds and bodies with nutrient-dense, healthy meals.
Inclusion
College should not be the first time our young people are exposed to other ethnicities and cultures. We intentionally create opportunities for our scholars to immerse themselves in cultures counter to their environments. We provide consistent community service opportunities throughout the year for students to volunteer with organizations in the Chicagoland area.
College should not be the first time our young people are exposed to other ethnicities and cultures. We intentionally create opportunities for our scholars to immerse themselves in cultures counter to their environments. We provide consistent community service opportunities throughout the year for students to volunteer with organizations in the Chicagoland area.
Financial Literacy
Our young men learn wealth principles through real estate. Students learn the significance of mortgages, appreciation, investing, and more. There is also a component of hands-on learning with the renovation of homes. Their sweat-equity is translated into equity in AGGF-owned deals, which will be saved for their college funds.
Our young men learn wealth principles through real estate. Students learn the significance of mortgages, appreciation, investing, and more. There is also a component of hands-on learning with the renovation of homes. Their sweat-equity is translated into equity in AGGF-owned deals, which will be saved for their college funds.
Navigation
College success is not completely contingent upon academic readiness or financial support. Our students gain the confidence and awareness to find the support and resources they need..before they’re thrust into the environment. Students are frequently exposed to college campuses, connected to university counselors, and introduced to campus resources.
College success is not completely contingent upon academic readiness or financial support. Our students gain the confidence and awareness to find the support and resources they need..before they’re thrust into the environment. Students are frequently exposed to college campuses, connected to university counselors, and introduced to campus resources.
The foundation of all aggf programs is...
Social emotional learningWe have built a personal development curriculum that improves awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, enhance the quality of life and contribute to the realization of our youth dreams and aspirations. Along with Restorative Justice practices.
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ExperiencesWe immerse our youth in environments and sub-cultures that are not typical to their circumstances. Thus, causing them to grow and expand their minds to what they can accomplish in life.
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Community ServiceWe use community service to expose our youth to the various way that they can give, build compassion for others, and inspire them to help others.
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