FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25th, 2008
The Future of Tomorrow (FOT)
c/o Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
3214 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11208
Student Success Center on the Franklin K. Lane High School campus will improve college access for thousands of students.
BROOKLYN, NY – After two years of organizing, on Thursday, May 29th New York City’s second Student Success Center (SSC) will open its doors on the Franklin K. Lane High School (Lane) Campus. The center, which was initiated by youth-led organizing group Future of Tomorrow (FOT), will provide much needed resources for students to help them succeed in high school and enter college. The Centers were championed by student leaders in the Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC), a youth-led coalition of five non-profit organizations. The centers are modeled after a successful program in Philadelphia and include college advising, peer counseling, conflict resolution, youth leadership workshops and other programs. The initiative is a unique partnership between NYC high school students, the Department of Education and several prominent foundations, including Deutsche Bank and the Surdna Foundation. Youth organizing on the Lane campus was supported by several foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Lane SSC is the second such Center-the first was opened at the Bushwick HS Campus in Fall 2007 by Make the Road New York, a community-based organizing and service organization. The UYC is planning to roll out more SSCs in other NYC high schools. Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, a multi-service settlement house in East New York, will run the new center.
"There were so many times we got discouraged-like when at first we didn’t have the funding-but I was like, no-we’ll make this happen. It feels good to know that our voices were heard and that we made this happen at our school," says Denise Melendez, an FOT member and a junior at Lane. "Franklin K. Lane is phasing out, but the Success Center will be a place that all the students can go, like to bond and to get what they need so they can be ready for college. That’s why it’s so important that it’s happening now," adds Alejandro Ramos of FOT.
"Student Success Centers provide valuable support for high school students as they apply to college," Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said. "I am grateful when businesses and community partners come together with our schools to ensure that our students have the best possible chance to succeed."
WHEN: Thursday May 29th at 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Franklin K. Lane High School, 999 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. The event will be held at the Student Success Center, near the school’s cafeteria.
WHO: Students, parents, teachers, and education advocates.
WHY: High school student leadership played a key role promoting a unique public-private partnership to increase college resources.
VISUALS: Ribbon cutting ceremony. Student leaders of the SSC, school officials, foundation representatives, as well as UYC high school student leaders, will be available for interviews.