In the face of the pandemic, many have suspended education and the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, the Heckscher Foundation for Children, and the Ichigo Foundation awarded fourteen grants aimed at developing projects to return students to continue their education.
Bold Solutions to Re-engage is an initiative supported by partners such as the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, the Heckscher Foundation for Children, and the Ichigo Foundation. These organizations have been working for a long time over the past few years to develop ways to help students who have had to drop out of school because of COVID-19. The main contribution of this partnership has been granted to fourteen projects totaling two million dollars.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the world experienced significant upheavals that affected all areas of society. One of the areas most affected by the disease has been education; as Cass Conrad, executive director of the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, says, “the last few years have been very challenging for young people in New York City, with many questioning colleges is the right path for them” (“11 CUNY projects,” 2022). So many students have had to suspend their studies and leave colleges due to multiple circumstances, among which might have been the loss of financial ability to continue their education or the inability to attend an institution and study remotely.
The City University of New York (CUNY) received a grant to implement eleven programs, the main objective of which is drawing young people back to school. Thus, the programs for Borough of Manhattan Community College, College of Staten Island, Lehman College, and Kingsborough Community College aim to bring back students who have had to leave the educational institution by providing financial and organizational assistance (“Thrive and succeed in college,” 2022). LaGuardia Community College’s program offers two months of free tuition, while Medgar Evers College focuses on semester-long paid internship programs.
Other programs that have received implementation grants are the CUNY School of Professional Studies and Hostos Community College, aiming to develop a two-month “gap year” program and a twelve-week culinary health education program. Queensborough Community College will create an open house to introduce the institution, the Epic Theatre Ensemble program will help students become aware of their future goals, and the Pursuit Transformation Company will develop specialized software training. In this way, these programs will make it easier and more efficient for students to pursue the education they need.
Educational initiatives for students have been carefully selected to ensure the most successful outcomes of the programs. For example, a primary criterion for selecting those to award grants focused on developing and helping active, talented, and resilient young people achieve their educational goals. Another aspect was a requirement for post-secondary education or career training programs.
Bold Solutions to Re-engage is a unique and positive initiative that has become a lifeline for many students in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. The grants, which have been awarded to 14 specialized programs, will give young people the opportunity to achieve their educational goals and fulfill their dreams. The value of these projects also gives awareness of the importance of taking further measures that will support and assist talented students.
References
11 CUNY projects selected for grants to help students who paused education during pandemic to return to school. (2022). CUNY. Web.
Thrive and succeed in college. (2022). The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation. Web.