Legal Outreach Inc

LEGAL OUTREACH'S MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY OF STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY BY USING INTENSIVE LEGAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AS TOOLS FOR FOSTERING VISION, DEVELOPING ACADEMIC SKILLS, AND ENHANCING CONFIDENCE AS WE FACILITATE THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.

IN 2020-21, LEGAL OUTREACH SERVED 387 STUDENTS WHICH INCLUDED 44 COLLEGE STUDENTS (FRESHMEN), 236 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND 107 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE 44 COLLEGE FRESHMEN WERE ENROLLED IN 31 COLLEGES. THE 236 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM, AND THE 107 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (GRADUATING 8TH GRADERS) PARTICIPATED IN THE SUMMER LAW INSTITUTE. WITH REGARD TO COLLEGE BOUND, WE FINISHED THE YEAR WITH 213 STUDENTS ENROLLED (46 SENIORS, 58 JUNIORS, 55 SOPHOMORES, AND 54 FRESHMEN) (90% ONE YEAR RETENTION). WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED ALL ELEMENTS OF THE MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM INCLUDING THE: 1) ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER; 2) STUDY AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM; 3) MENTORING PROGRAM; 4) CONSTITUTIONAL LAW DEBATE PROGRAM; 5) PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM; 6) SATURDAY WRITING PROGRAM; 7) COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM, 8) TRANSITION TO COLLEGE PROGRAM, 9) COLLEGE SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR OUR COLLEGE FRESHMEN. SUMMER COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAMS, ALL OF WHICH WERE DONE VIRTUALLY, INCLUDED 10) SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR RISING 10TH GRADE STUDENTS; 11) SAT PREP PROGRAM FOR RISING 11TH GRADERS; AND 12) COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM AND COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY CLASS FOR RISING 12TH GRADERS. IN ADDITION, DURING THE SUMMER OF 2021, WE SERVED 107 RISING 9TH GRADERS, 96 OF WHOM COMPLETED THE FIVE-WEEK VIRTUAL PROGRAM AND 60 OF WHOM JOINED THE 2021-22 COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM.IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, LEGAL OUTREACH EXPANDED ITS MISSION BY ADDING A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MODULE TO THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM. IN THAT LIGHT, A NEW PROGRAM CALLED THE "CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE" PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING STUDENT LED PROJECTS FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING PEOPLE IN POOR OR URBAN COMMUNITIES.DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, ALL OF THE PROGRAMS SITED ABOVE WERE IMPLEMENTED VIRTUALLY WITH ZOOM SERVING AS THE PRIMARILY PLATFORM OF ENGAGEMENT.AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ENGAGED PHILLIBER RESEARCH ASSOCIATES TO CONDUCT AN EXTENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM. AMONG THE MOST RELEVANT STATISTICS FOR MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM WERE STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROGRAMS' USEFULNESS. STUDENTS PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING AVERAGE RATINGS WITH REGARD TO THE VALUE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM: (1) KEEPING ON TRACK TO COLLEGE (94%) (2) PREPARING TO COMPETE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL (92%), (3) IMPROVING ACADEMIC SKILLS (81%), (4) DOING WELL IN SCHOOL (81%). EACH OF THESE RATINGS IS WELL ABOVE OUR PROJECTION OF 70%. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, 95% OF THE STUDENTS SERVED CAME FROM MINORITY GROUPS AND 84% RECEIVED FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH AT SCHOOL