High Aspirations Incorporated

HIGH ASPIRATIONS CURRENTLY PROVIDES SERVICES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES AGES 8-18 WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES. WE SUPPORT THEM SOCIALLY EMOTIONALLY, ACADEMICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

HIGH ASPIRATIONS UTILIZES INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING TO HELP YOUNG MEN STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH AND REALIZE THEIR DREAMS. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH A 7:1 RATIO OF MENTEES TO MENTORS, ALLOWING FOR CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT THROUGH TEAMING. HA'S PROGRAMS STRENGTHEN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. EVERY YOUNG MAN WHO ENTERS THE PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN FIVE-STEP PLAN DESIGNED TO RAISE GRADES, INCREASE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS. MENTEES ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN HA PROGRAMS AND ARE EVALUATED BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED ACTION PLANS. THE CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC AREA SERVED IS KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI'S URBAN CORE. CURRENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES OVER 72 PARTNERSHIPS: CHESS CLUB: TEACHES CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, STRATEGY, AND PATIENCE: WEEKLY SESSIONS AND TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. LEADERSHIP/ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING: INTERACTIVE SPEAKERS SERIES ON LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS, WRITING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND RACIAL AND ETHNIC PRIDE THAT BUILDS ON A FOUNDATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY. HA'S OLYMPICS: COMPETITION THAT ENGAGES ALL PARTICIPANTS, PARENTS, AND MENTORS IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIES. TEAMS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN FOUR KEY AREAS: ACADEMICS, HA ACTIVITIES, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. PRE-COLLEGIATE PROGRAM: YOUNG MEN EXPLORE OPTIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, TOUR COLLEGES, STUDY FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS, DISCUSS COLLEGE LIFE, AND IF APPROPRIATE, ENGAGE IN REMEDIAL CLASSES. COMMUNITY SERVICE: MENTEES DONATE THEIR TIME TO VARIOUS GROUPS, CREATING POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING GOOD CITIZENS, AND APPRECIATING THE VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACES. LEGALLY INFORMED: OUR YOUNG MEN INTERACT WITH THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, LAWYERS, AND JUDGES TO LEARN THEIR RIGHTS AS WELL AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, BUILDING UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING ON THE RIGHT TRACK. HIGH ASPIRATIONS LAWN SERVICE (HALS): DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS, OUR HALS MENTEES LEARN HOW TO RUN THEIR OWN BUSINESS, CUTTING GRASS AND RECEIVING PAYCHECKS. HIGH ASPIRATIONS IS LED BY ITS FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, HENRY WASH AND OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, BRIAN THOMAS. WE ALSO HAVE A FULL-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AS WELL AS TWO PART-TIME INTERNS WHO ARE GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM. HIGH ASPIRATIONS REMAINS COMMITTED TO BEST AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, STRATEGIES, AND APPROACHES, IN ORDER TO EVOLVE CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH UPDATED AND ENHANCED PROGRAMS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF KANSAS CITY'S AT-RISK, BLACK MALE YOUTH. OUTREACH AND COLLABORATION, NOW GROWN TO 75+ DIVERSE, MULTI-SECTOR PARTNERS, REMAINS ESSENTIAL TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND MENTORS. THE MENTORING CAMPUS AT 803 EAST 27TH STREET, IN THE HEART OF THE LONGFELLOW NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE URBAN CORE AND IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT THROUGH AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, YOUTH FRIENDLY ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN REWARDS THROUGH A STATE-OF-THE-ART MEDIA ROOM WITH POSITIVE LIFESTYLE COMPONENTS, RAISED BED GARDENS, SMALL TRACK AND OPEN AIR-PAVILION. 2022 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: -STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND UP METRICS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGEMENT IN PROGRAM EVALUATION AND METRICS. -SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED STAGE 2 OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE INTENTION AND GOAL OF INCREASING TO 70 MENTEES, 10 MENTORS, 10 VOLUNTEERS, 1 PROGRAM SPECIALIST AND 1 INTERN. YOUTH WITH MENTORS HAVE AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF GOING TO COLLEGE, BETTER ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL, ADVANCED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVED SELF-ESTEEM AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO ABUSE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL OR ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS TO INCLUDE KPRS/KPRT RADIO SHOW, KEISHA CANDY APPLES, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, KC CURRENT, NOTHING BUNDT CAKES, ENGAGE SOUTH KC, PARK UNIVERSITY, K-STATE, KANSAS CITY CHAMBER AND MANY OTHERS. HIGH ASPIRATIONS (HA) CHANGES THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG MEN WE SERVE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WITH OUR ALL-AFRICAN AMERICAN MENTORING PROGRAM IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. ON AVERAGE, HA'S MENTEES IMPROVE THEIR GPAS BY 17%. AFTER COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL, OUR YOUNG MEN GO TO COLLEGE, THE MILITARY, PURSUE A TRADE OR GET A JOB. HA HAS RETAINED 99.1% OF MENTEES SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE MENTORING CENTER. IN 2022, HA HAD THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES WITH THEIR 147 MENTEES: * GPA AVERAGE OF 2.8 * 100% GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL * 100% WENT ON TO COLLEGE OR ARE COLLEGE BOUND 100% OF OUR JOB AGED YOUNG MEN ARE EMPLOYED 87% RETENTION OF MENTEES 48 WEEKS OF DIVERSIFIED PROGRAMMING EACH YOUNG MAN IS EXPECTED TO EVALUATE HIS OWN PROGRESS, BASED ON HIS FIVE-STEP ACTION PLAN. WITH OUR PROGRAM SPECIALIST, THEY REVIEW REPORT CARDS, WEEKLY MENTEE TRACKERS, AND ATTENDANCE AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION LOGS. SURVEYS MEASURE SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT, ATTITUDES ABOUT RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOLWORK. HIGH ASPIRATIONS OPERATES UNDER THE CORE VALUES OF QUALITY, CHALLENGE AND LOVE. YOUTH ARE EXPOSED TO LEADERSHIP THAT PROVIDES SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT AND SUPPORT. IN 2022 HIGH ASPIRATIONS HANDED OUT 145 BIBLES AND THE YOUNG MEN PRAY BEFORE AND AFTER SESSIONS