Onward and Upward
is the newest initiative of Omicron Eta Lambda; it is aimed to help males to develop assets necessary to make healthy life choices, set realistic goals, act with determination and ultimately build vibrant successful lives for themselves through direct contact and relationships with caring and positive adult role models. Onward and Upward is made up of a group of Alpha Brothers that subscribes to the W.E.B. Dubois theory that it will take the 10 percent of enlightened African Americans to reach out to the rest of our race and provide the leadership needed for us to fully obtain and reach our goals. Onward and Upward Brothers will support and be paired with a selected group of African American males from an Elementary School in Washington, DC.
Young people who face adversity in and around their neighborhoods and communities often look at the world as an unfriendly and even hostile environment. Many drop out of school. While such a lifestyle accounts for the devaluing of a person, it is just as weakening and costly to the community. Onward and Upward will hope to engage the students to gain a better self-image by establishing a solid foundation of knowledge in everyday interactions.
Is elementary school too soon to begin the conversation about dropping out of school and graduating from high school? Absolutely not… Students don't drop out of school for any one reason. It's usually a complicated mix, including individual traits, home life as well as school and neighborhood characteristics. But many researchers believe children exhibit clear warning signs early on that can help identify those at risk of dropping out. The main predictors are often shorthanded using the "ABCs" - attendance, behavior, and course performance. The outbursts and other behavioral problems make it difficult for teachers, and students who get in trouble often wind up in the principal's office. Each trip to the principal means an average of 45 minutes out of class, and if a student gets suspended, it's even longer. This sets up a cycle where students fall even further behind, leading right into the third warning sign of dropping out: doing poorly in course work.
Onward and Upward will focus on the positives that are related to school. The Mentors will share real life success stories of the benefits from have a well rounder life, that starts will a quality education and staying in school and getting a high school diploma. High school graduates make an average of $8,000 more a year nationally than high school dropouts, according to a report released Monday by the Alliance for Excellent Education.
A press release quoted alliance president Bob Wise as saying "diplomas mean dollars."
“Graduating more students from high school prepared for college is good for the individual in terms of higher earnings, but it also benefits the nation in terms of increased tax revenue, additional spending on homes and automobiles, job creation, and a more robust economic growth,” Wise was quoted as saying. The earnings varied by state most high school dropouts see the result of their decision to leave school very clearly in the slimness of their wallets. The average annual income for a high school dropout in 2009 was $19,540, compared to $27,380 for a high school graduate, a difference of $7,840.
Sessions
Onward and Upward sessions are held nine times per year in conjunction with the schools Community Nights and would be offered for the boys in fifth grade. The students gain reinforcement on:
- Social skills
- Table Manners
- Meeting, greeting, and introductions to others
- Telephone manners
- Sportsmanship
- Friendship etiquette
- Poise, posture, sitting and standing
- Presentation skills [how to tie a tie: traditional and bow, etc.]
- How to become an even more popular, self-assured, and self-confident, young person!
To further reinforce the gains from each session Onward and Upward may spend an additional two to three hours a month outside of the school day sessions with the students working on the prior session’s topics: on outings such as movies, museums, parks, sporting events, and libraries.
An Onward and Upward representative will present the program’s mission and objectives during the School’s Back to School Night [September 2012] as well as introduce themselves to the parents and students.
Schedule (tentative)
September 1: All mentors names that have been screened and approved will be forwarded to school administration
Thursday, October 3rd
Thursday, October 24th
Thursday, October 14th
Thursday, December 5th
[Sessions run from 6:00 - 8:00pm]
Requirements
Mentee
- Male Student - 5th Grade
- Parental Agreement
- Commitment for 1 year
- Signed Onward and Upward agreement
Mentor
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Complete DCPS background check, fingerprinting, and TB test
- Commit to meeting 2 to 3 hours a month in school session with the mentee for 1 year
- Commit to at least two out of school session with their assigned mentee during the school year
Contact
Micheal Grier, Educational Activities Chair
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter
www.ohlalpha1906.com/onward-and-upward
