The Challenge
For generations, Bronx youth have faced a wide variety of challenges, exacerbated by underinvestment in education and workforce development, and youth development. When JobsFirst NYC helped to launch the BON…
17.7%
of young adults in the Bronx were without a high school diploma, not in school, and not working
33%
of young adults in the Bronx with a high school diploma did not have a postsecondary credential and were not in school
23%
of young adults in the Bronx that had a postsecondary credential were not working
Approach
The BON’s Theory of Change is that by helping young people find their purpose and providing holistic supports through a networked approach with structural partnerships between CBOs and college leadership, the BON will increase student engagement and retention, ultimately fostering degree completion and the start of family-sustaining careers.
The BON achieves this goal through three strategic objectives:
- Invest in postsecondary education success through remediation and support services.
- Improve university systems to improve student outcomes.
- Promote career success by offering services that focus on students’ job readiness, soft skills, and connections to employment opportunities.
BON partners work together with CUNY college leadership to promote and advance campus initiatives that support the educational success of their students. This allows the network to inform institutional policy, which addresses four major challenges that disproportionately affect our young adult population who aspire to community college: 1) building college-level academic skills, 2) building tenacity, self-direction and adaptability within a college context, 3) navigating complex processes to apply for admission, register for classes, select a major, and access financial aid, and 4) receive support and encouragement to persist and graduate with an Associate’s degree, or transfer to a Bachelor’s degree program.
Impact
The BON’s collaboration with community colleges has resulted in a new set of policies at the college level. This includes working with various institutions’ administrative staff to offer individualized support for BON students, developing a strategy that connects more Bronx residents to college pathways, and cutting tuition costs for BON students.
68%
Percent of Enrollees Retained for a Third Semester in College
$150,000
in College Tuition Savings for Students through BON
5510
Students Served
$5.7M+
Funds Raised & Leveraged
Our Partners
