What is YMCA Black Achievers?
YMCA Black Achievers takes kids who have not begun to think of a path after high school and provides them with mentors and resources to help them. The central purpose of the program is to help minority teens set and pursue higher education and career goals.
YMCA Black Achievers also is a fellowship-oriented program where teens meet, learn from each other, travel and take part in local service projects. Teens are partnered with successful minority role models who provide academic and career-related mentoring and support services. Teens will be exposed to careers in technology, business, entrepreneurship, law and government, medicine, engineering, and education.
Our objectives are:
Provide role models whose success and knowledge will inspire youth to set and reach their goals
Help youth develop a positive sense of self
Raise academic performance
Build character
Expose students to a variety of career options
YMCA Black Achievers is open to teens in grades 8-12 in Wake, Durham, Lee and Johnston counties and meetings are held at the YMCA Association Resource Center in Raleigh. Meetings are held twice a month from September through May. The Black Achievers program concludes every spring with a gala where deserving high school seniors are awarded financial scholarships.
Schedule:
YMCA Black Achievers hold cluster meetings on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Clusters normally consist of life skills, workshops, career development, community service and college preparation information.
April 1 – April 4
Spring Break College Tours
 It’s College Tour week again! The YMCA Black Achievers are taking 23 teens to six colleges in five days from April 1 – 4. Stops are planned for the College of Charleston, South Carolina State University, Claflin University, University of South Carolina, Allen University and Benedict College. Senior YMCA staff leaders and Y Black Achievers volunteers will lead this trip.
April 1: The bus departs at 7:30 a.m. for Charleston, S.C. Teens will tour College of Charleston and the city of Charleston.
April 2: Off to Orangeburg for a tour of South Carolina State University and lunch, then a tour of Claflin University. After that the teens will tour the city of Orangeburg.
April 3: Tour University of South Carolina in Columbia and the Allen University. At Allen University, the teens will watch a step show specially planned for their visit. Finally, the teens will head to Benedict College for a tour.
April 4: The bus departs and returns to Raleigh, N.C. Estimated arrival time is 4:30 p.m.
May 22
Annual Gala
The YMCA Black Achievers Gala will be held on Thursday, May 22 at the Downtown Durham Marriott. Sidney Lowe, N.C. State’s head basketball coach, is the keynote speaker and Miriam Melvin, a local WRAL news producer, is the emcee. The Gala is held from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. with an early greet and mingle beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The YMCA Black Achievers is proud to announce this year it will award at least $14,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors to defray the cost of secondary education. This year will also begin the Achievers Scholarship Fund. All proceeds from Gala sponsorships and ticket sales will fund future scholarships for our YMCA Black Achievers. Stay tuned for more details and ticket sale information.
Enrollment and Fees:
All participants must fill out and sign a participant application.
There is a $30 fee for each participant. (If a teen is unable to pay the fee, he/she should contact the Black Achievers Director immediately to inquire about financial assistance.)
Participant Expectations:
YMCA Black Achievers are expected to adhere to certain guidelines and expectations. Listed below are a few of these. Please see the Black Achievers Participant Handbook for a full list of expectations.
I will practice the five core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Faith
I will be committed to the program and serious about my success as a young teen.
I will demonstrate excellent behavior and be an example for others. I will not use foul language or show disrespect to others or myself.
I will take advantage of community service opportunities to earn extra service hours. I will record my hours with integrity. I will volunteer as well and work to earn points for special awards.
I will learn, respect and recite the YMCA Black Achievers Youth Pledge.
History of Black Achievers:
Quentin Mease first conceived the YMCA Black Achievers program in 1967 under the label Young Black Achievers of Houston. The program was designed to motivate African-American teens to academic and career success. In 1971 New York YMCA financial consultant, Leo B. Marsh, challenged the Harlem branch of the YMCA to develop a new motivational program. This new program brought forth the Black Achievers format we know today. It fostered ongoing interaction between African-American youth and adults, who had distinguished themselves in their professions.
This successful career development/academic achievement initiative spread quickly to YMCAs nationwide. Today, Black Achievers continues to grow in both urban and suburban communities of all sizes with more than 200 active programs nationwide.
The YMCA of the Triangle area Black Achievers program is a program designed to help African-American and other teens of color set and pursue high educational and career goals. Through academic support, career exploration and mentoring, the Black Achievers program help youth raise their academics standards, develop a positive sense of self, build character, explore diverse college and career options, and interact with professionals of color who serve as role models to inspire them to greater heights.
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