Fund II Foundation Selected NAF Academies in Seven School Districts to Receive the African American Youth STEM Initiative Grant
(January 23, 2020 – New York, NY) NAF is pleased to announce the African American Youth STEM Initiative, a grant to NAF, made possible by the Fund II Foundation. District recipients of this grant were selected based on their compelling plans to expand opportunities in STEM to their African American student population in their NAF academies. The seven selected school districts submitted proposals designed to improve academy quality and strengthen corporate, post-secondary, and community engagement to offer more internship opportunities to African American students. The selected districts have committed to increasing the number of African American students achieving NAFTrack Certification, NAF’s industry-recognized accreditation which signals to employers that individuals are uniquely qualified.
The African American Youth STEM Initiative was created to address the cascading effects of low high school graduation rates and the lack of college and career readiness resources for young people in the United States. Although high school graduation rates reached record highs in 2016, equity is not being achieved through traditional approaches. For nearly 40 years, NAF has worked with education, business, and community leaders to transform the high school experience, increase graduation rates, and prepare all young people to be future ready. In 2018, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated, which is higher than the national graduation rate of 84.6%.
Over three years, NAF, with the support of the Fund II Foundation, will award up to $225,000 to support efforts to prepare more diverse students for successful futures in STEM careers in the following districts:
- Broward County Public Schools (Florida)
- Dallas Independent School District (Texas)
- Detroit Public Schools (Michigan)
- District of Columbia Public Schools (Washington, DC)
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools (Florida)
- Milwaukee Public Schools (Wisconsin)
- Orange County Public Schools (Florida)
“We are grateful for the continued dedication to NAF academies from the Fund II Foundation,” said JD Hoye, Chief Executive Officer of NAF. “This grant will help NAF in supporting schools to cultivate the most effective future-ready programming that starts with thoughtful, culturally responsive practices, and creates a path to career success for African American students interested in STEM.”
“NAF is improving STEM educational access in the very communities that Fund II Foundation seeks to support and transform,” said Linda Wilson, Executive Director, Fund II Foundation. “Improved educational outcomes and career path promotion are essential for true health, wealth and well-being for students and families — particularly for youth who have been historically overlooked and underserved. We proudly support NAF as they break down barriers and advance our youth in meaningful directions.”
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About NAF:
NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that high school students are college, career, and future ready.
NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, work-based learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2019-20 school year, over 112,000 students attended 620 NAF academies across 37 states, including DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In 2019, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 86% of graduates planning to go to college. For more information, please visit: https://naf.org/
About the Fund II Foundation:
Fund II Foundation makes grants to 501 (c)3 public charities in five areas: 1) preserving the cultural richness of the African American experience; 2) safeguarding human dignity by giving voice to the voiceless and promoting human rights; 3) conserving the environment, promoting the benefits of the great outdoors to people of all ages and backgrounds; 4) affording music education to nourish both talent and the soul; and 5) sustaining the American values of entrepreneurship, empowerment, and innovation. For more information, visit: fund2foundation.org.