Onward We Learn

Onward We Learn advisory:each year the organization recruits a new class of students from middle school grades (6th through 8th) and provides them with ongoing services through their first year of college. Services include personalized support from 29 advisors who operate in 37 middle schools and high schools and at the state's three public colleges. We also provide over 60 innovative out-of-school programs to meet students' academic, social and emotional development, career education, and college readiness needs. Onward We Learn advisors are a diverse group of young professionals who understand the challenges that young people in disadvantage communities face, since many of them are alumni or come from the communities that We serve.

Onward challenge academic & adventure program: middle school is often the time when students from under-resourced communities begin to fall behind their peers in school. The organization provides an intensive program for middle school students called the challenge adventure and academic program ("caap"), which focuses on leadership development, teambuilding, problem solving, thinking and conflict resolution integrated with literacy development. It provides participants with opportunities to take healthy risks while facing progressively more difficult challenges; to Learn from their successes and failures; and to build skills that will enable them to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

Scholarship program:in fy 2023 We provided $711,469 for scholarships to 525 students to support post-secondary success. Through the accumulation of funds and federal awards received indirectly from the united states department of education under the gear up program, the organization will award scholarships for post-secondary studies to eligible students. Scholarship awards are granted on a year-to-year basis.

The success of the organization's program primarily lies in our seamless system of steady adult support for students from grade 6 to high school graduation. We place a team of 25 full-time middle school and high school advisors in 35 schools in our target districts throughout the academic year to personalize the college-bound experience for the students in our programs. These advisors forge relationships with students, encourage them to pursue high academic goals and run various after-school, weekend, and school vacation and summer programs to meet students' academic, personal and social development, college readiness and career exploration needs. Advisors are a diverse group of young professionals who understand the challenges that young people and disadvantaged communities face, since many of them are alumni or come from rhode island's urban communities.