Year Up offers a one-year training program with paid internship and support and has been recognized for supporting achievement among Black learners.¹⁷⁸

Boston, Massachusetts

Complete College America created a network of community colleges to align academic programs with workforce needs for Black learners. Participating colleges will share expertise and receive technical assistance focused on workforce alignment, basic needs, and other key topics.¹⁷⁷

Indianapolis, Indiana

California Funders for Boys and Men of Coloraligns leading philanthropic entities with the goal of improving opportunities for Black, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American young men in the San Francisco and Los Angeles communities. The network offers programming and legislative advocacy to remove structural barriers.¹⁷¹

Sacramento, California

Take Off: Institutional Innovations for College Men of Color is a project of the University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center. The philanthropic-supported project supports 12 community colleges nationwide to bolster initiatives advancing the success of Black learners and men of color.¹⁷⁰

Los Angeles, California

Regional partnerships in the Seattle area focus on advancing Black learner success through data-driven strategies and support from middle school through postsecondary education. In the same region, a Black and Brown Summit, sponsored by community partners, is an annual event designed to empower and motivate Black and Brown young men in high school to excel in academics and strive for excellence.¹⁶⁸

Seattle, Washington

The National Black Justice Coalition is a civil rights organization with a focus on education that is working to end discrimination against Black LGBTQ+ individuals.¹⁶⁷

Washington, D.C

Under the Achieve Atlanta initiative, higher education institutions and college access partners support Atlanta Public Schools to provide district-wide college advising to all juniors and seniors.¹⁶⁶

Atlanta, Georgia

The National Cares Mentoring Movement seeks to transform the lives of impoverished Black children through a national network of volunteer mentors. An example is the collaboration between higher education and community partners in New York City.¹⁶⁵

New York, New York

The African American Trade Association promotes trade, commerce, economic development, and well-being through education, collaboration, and lucrative partnerships that advance opportunities for Black communities.¹⁵⁸

Denver, Colorado

The Albuquerque African American Chamber of Commerce focuses on education, advocacy, mentorship, and networking to promote Black- owned businesses.¹⁵⁷

Albuquerque, New Mexico

NAACP partnered with Google to expand a high school program preparing students for tech fields. 155 Additionally, Grow with Google supports HBCUs to encourage Black learners to pursue technology fields.¹⁵⁶

Baltimore, Maryland

The Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative established a new framework for community leaders, researchers, policymakers, practitioners and philanthropists to advance solutions to build Black wealth in the region.¹⁵⁰

Atlanta, Georgia

OneTen seeks to create 1 million jobs in 10 years to unlock opportunities for Black learners and workers. Employers and community partners provide support, training, and hiring to close gaps in the Black talent pipeline.¹⁴⁹

Washington, D.C

The Scholarship Academy supports Black learners in Georgia, New York, and Washington D.C., helping students from low-wealth backgrounds navigate financial aid and access scholarships.¹⁴⁷

Atlanta, Georgia

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering offers $3 million in scholarships to underrepresented minorities pursuing engineering.¹⁴⁵

Additionally, the Executive Leadership Council seeks to expand Black executives and offers scholarships to Black learners.¹⁴⁶

Alexandria, Virginia

Washington has:

• A need-based grant entitlement program that covers short-term credentials and degrees, serves low- and middle income students, and provides generous award amounts.⁶⁴

• Invested $22 million to create community partnerships supporting underrepresented students to expand enrollment and credential completion.73 In addition, the state established a permanent legislative committee the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee to recommend strategies to state education agencies and develop policy reforms.⁷⁴

• Enacted legislation creating a permanent faculty professional development program focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism. In addition, the Washington community college system created a college faculty consortium that is working to change teaching and writing assessments to be free of negative racial biases.⁹⁸

• A large technology employers that supported a tax for businesses that rely on employees with advanced degrees to partially fund the statewide guaranteed financial aid program.¹⁴⁸

Olympia, Washington