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START NOWSTART NOW is an initiative of The Hord Foundation to provide educational support and enrichment to K-12 students and their families. The need for the program grew out of the Foundation's awareness--through its scholarship program--that many Black students who wanted to go to college were not prepared for that experience. In addition to the awarding of financial assistance to area Black students, the foundation began to develop strategies that assist middle and high school students to be successful during their schooling career. START NOW recognizes the special support needs of Black students and families and develops outreach efforts to engage them. The activities attract participation from all ethnic groups. No participant is denied access or information based on race or ethnicity. The program's strategies include, but are not limited to:
- Expanding the web of support for social and academic development for students and their families
- Collaborating with schools around developing non-school based support for students needing additional assistance in math, reading, writing and technology skills
- Helping students develop the skills necessary to improve their academic performance, e.g. effectively using the school and public library, asking teaching faculty for assistance when needed, promoting ones own interest and seeking assistance in advancing those interests, standardized test-taking, etc.
- Considering going to college and career options in the elementary and middle grades
- Introducing students to other Black people who are experiencing the dream they desire for themselves
- Assisting students who have not inherited college educated parents with the skills required to make the decisions associated with initial college entry
- Assisting students with college-entry paper work, e.g. applications, letters of support, essays, financial applications and seeking outside scholarships
- Exposing students to greater civic and social participation through field trips, seminars, leadership development, mentoring
- Supporting college tours and visits
The Hord Foundation partners with area schools and other community-based organizations to offer these services and opportunities to students and their families. Some of the activities are actually carried out by other organizations with Hord Foundation support; other activities are sponsored by the Foundation independently. Activities are offered based on the needs and interests of students and families and the resources of the Foundation and collaborating organizations. Collaborating organizations include: Western Connecticut State University, Greater Danbury area Churches, The Greater Danbury Chapter of the NAACP, The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Danbury Chapter, Concerned Black Men of Danbury, the Carter L. Marshall Lodge, the Prince Hall Lodge of Free Masons, the Danbury Teachers' Association, The Hispanic Cultural Society, the Danbury Housing Authority, Jenny Bryant Temple, the Danbury Public School System (and other school systems serving Black students), Danbury Public Library,
Harambee Youth Organization
, and private businesses and individuals.
The various initiatives associated with the Start Now program are delivered in a manner that permits the Foundation and its collaborators to meet the flexible needs of the community it serves. Some activities such as seminars about how to apply to college, or using the resources of the library are community-wide open access events. Other activities such as completing college application seminars may be restricted to juniors and seniors in high school. When necessary, support (including financial) is given to an individual student to meet a cost that the family cannot afford, but that clearly benefits the student, such as the family share in getting the student to a performance or competition for which the student has qualified.
The Board of Directors of The Hord Foundation or the Executive Board of the Hord Foundation approves all decisions regarding funding an initiative.
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