Youth Action Next Generation event

Posted by on February 06, 2012

AN EMPOWERING AFTERNOON NETWORKING EVENT BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

Youth Action (YA) today announces a festive and inspiring college and high school student networking event and college day entitled, “The A-List: Next Generation,” which will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Bodek Lounge located on 3417 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 from 12-4pm. This A-List will bring together Philadelphia college students of color with local high school students of color for an extraordinary afternoon of mentorship on getting into and excelling in college. The concept for the program  was inspired by Youth Action college members who became intensely interested in working to develop the next generation of student of color leaders on college campuses. Youth Action recognizes that high school students of color need mentors other than adults to spirit their preparation for successful entrance into college and while in college. This event is also free of cost.

The event, set to kick off at 12:00pm sharp, will feature fantastic keynote speeches, performances, interactive panels, a student-led college fair, captivating performances by local collegiate music and dance talent. The atmosphere will be decorative, festive, and electrifying.  Attendees will be treated to relaxed background music, photography, delicious food, exciting networking activities between high school and college students and more. The setting will be perfect for high school students to engage in one-on-one conversation about college life, share ideas and experiences on academic and career preparation, exchange contact information for mentorship, and to develop relationships with Black college students who attend different colleges and universities in the Greater Philadelphia area.

By the end of the event, high school students will not only have personal contacts of college students that can support their college ambitions, but also support their life’s endeavors. At the beginning of the event, high school students who have preregistered for the event will immediately be connected with their already assigned college mentor for the day. Each college student mentor will work closely with their assigned high school mentee throughout the day by sharing each others’ unique life stories. Then mentors will converse/advise their mentees about life goals, their academic and extracurricular interests, challenges of being a student of color in college, and talking about the college admissions process and life in college. Student participants will be assigned to one hour student panels directed by Black college students on selecting a major and going through the financial aid process, college application process, and college student life. High School students are asked to preregister for the event at http://www.youthactionteam.org.

“I am very excited to work with Youth Action in creating this college day program” says University of Pennsylvania Wharton Undergraduate and A-List Program Director Christina Hardison.  “This will be [The A-List] a fantastic way for high school students to interact with college students and we hope that they can walk away from our event both informed and connected.”

The event is primarily in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Black Student League and other local student of color organizations.

Event Details:

What: Youth Action presents, “The A-List: Next Generation,” a festive and inspiring intercollegiate student-led college day for students of color.

When: Saturday, February, 25th, 2012, 12:00-4:00 PM

Where: The Bodek Lounge, campus of the University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce Street, Phila., PA 19104

Who: This event is open to all Greater Philadelphia high school students of  color and college students of color who currently attend colleges and universities in the Greater Philadelphia area

Why: (1) To provide Greater Philadelphia high school students of color with a college student mentor who can serve as an additional resource for them to learn more about the college application process and excelling while in college (2) to build better working and mentoring relationships between local college students of color and high school students of color in the city of Philadelphia.

The event is free of charge. Be on time! To RSVP to this event, visit http://www.youthactionteam.org or email Program Director Christina Hardison at chardi@wharton.upenn.edu.

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Please direct all press inquiries to:

Gabriella Jackson
Youth Action
215-595-3749
gjackson@youthactionteam.org

About Youth Action

Founded by young alumni of the Tavis Smiley Foundation in 2003, Youth Action is a youth-led Philadelphia community development organization operated solely by high school and college students that works to empower young African Americans to become socially, economically, and civically aware. We believe that through organizing innovative youth captivating service events, we can challenge our peers to become agents of social change in their communities.