A2MEND

Author: Armand Santos

  • A²MEND STUDENT MENTEES BECOME 2022 COLLEGE GRADUATES

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    A²MEND STUDENT MENTEES BECOME 2022 COLLEGE GRADUATES

    More Than a Dozen A2MEND Student Mentees Earned Their College Degrees This Past Spring, With Some Furthering Their Education While Others Already Pursuing Their Careers

    LOS ANGELES – June 30, 2022 – The board of the African American Male Education Network & Development (A2MEND) organization is proud to announce that 13 student mentees graduated from college this past spring. Several students who graduated with an associate’s degree are moving on to a four-year college, while others who graduated with a bachelor’s degree are continuing their education through a master’s program or have already started their careers. Regardless of their future pursuits, the students are grateful to A2MEND for their mentoring support and inspiring them to succeed during their undergraduate experience. A2MEND is led by African American male educators who voluntarily use their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within California’s community college system to increase success of Black male students.

    Jason Haskins is one of the graduates who has expressed immense gratitude for A2MEND’s mentoring support. Haskins, a magna cum laude graduate of Arizona State University, first learned about A2MEND at a time when he needed it most. Weeks after getting laid off from his job, Haskins found himself living out of his car. With a young daughter to support, he decided to go to college to position himself for better career opportunities. After enrolling in Diablo Valley College, he met Dr. Eric Handy, who encouraged him to get involved in A2MEND. His connections through the organization helped him land a student job as an assistant to the college’s president. When Haskins eventually shared about his homelessness, his mentor Dr. Terrence Elliott graciously opened up his home for him to live there as he worked toward his degree.

    While carrying a full academic load and working at the college, Haskins took on a second job as an Uber driver. Once he earned his associate’s degree, he transferred to Arizona State University upon receiving an Uber scholarship that paid for his full tuition. Haskins, who is continuing his education at ASU by pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership, plans to use his education to one day work in construction management to help builders develop affordable housing for homeless and low- income individuals. “I appreciate A2MEND for filling the void of fellowship for Black students,” said Haskins, who now is also a father to an infant son. “Organizations like A2MEND are what’s needed in our community.”

    Another student mentee who is thankful for A2MEND’s presence is Cesar Orozco, who graduated with an associate’s degree in social work from Moreno Valley College. Orozco heard about A2MEND through a college counselor during his freshman year. “I was going through a lot of personal struggles and stress at the time,” he said. “I had hoped that A2MEND would help me change my life, which it did. They helped me feel like I could break free from my situation.” Today, Orozco is headed to UC Santa Barbara to study sociology. His career aspiration is to become a college counselor to help support students with similar struggles that he endured. “I want to help other students by giving them a second chance with the opportunity of an education.”

    Student mentee Zaire Prewitt, who made the Dean’s List as a graduate from Moorpark College, believes that A2MEND influenced him to persevere in his studies and campus activism. Diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, Prewitt said that the stigma of the diagnosis often made him doubt himself. His sensitivity to learning led him to become a tutor for a nonprofit that mentors African American elementary and middle school students. Observing his interest in supporting students of color, one of his professors recommended that he become involved with A2MEND’s student chapter. Within months of joining the organization, he participated in A2MEND’s Study Abroad Program, where board members annually accompany student mentees on an excursion to Africa. “Going to Africa was a holistic experience,” said Prewitt. “It helped me learn how to become more patient with myself and be prepared for opportunities when they arise.” Once he returned to college as a sophomore, Prewitt put those self-discoveries into action by becoming vice president and later president of A2MEND’s student chapter while also serving as secretary of the college’s Black Student Union. “A2MEND helped me build confidence in myself,” said Prewitt, who plans to transfer to Whittier College to study marketing. “The board members of A2MEND believed in me.”

    The African American Male Education Network & Development (A2MEND) organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by African American male educators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within California’s community college system to increase success of African American male students. Since establishing the organization in 2006, A2MEND has served as the premiere nonprofit solely focused on addressing the lack of educational success for African American male students in community colleges.

  • Newsletter: June 2022

  • A²MEND STUDENT MENTEE ACCEPTED AT HARVARD

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    A²MEND STUDENT MENTEE ACCEPTED AT HARVARD


    Morale and Support Provided by A²MEND’s College Mentoring Program
    Aided Temesghen Ghde in his Path from Community College to Harvard


    LOS ANGELES – April 25, 2022 – A²MEND’s leadership congratulates one of their longtime student mentees, Temesghen “Temie” Ghde, for his acceptance to Harvard Kennedy School. Ghde will realize his dream of attending Harvard this fall as part of his post-graduate plans to earn joint degrees in law and public policy. Ghde’s successful educational path is a testament to the mission of A²MEND, which seeks to foster institutional change in California’s community college system by operating a
    mentoring program for African American male students.

    “We at A²MEND are tremendously proud of Temie’s acceptance at Harvard. His acceptance demonstrates to our students that nothing is impossible if you’re committed to academic excellence and hard work,” said Dr. Amanuel Gebru, President of A²MEND. “Temie’s brilliance and tenacity to stay the course as a top performing undergraduate student has enabled him to fulfill his vision of attending Harvard in his quest to work in law and public policy.”

    Ghde first learned about A²MEND while attending a community college in Oakland, where a professor introduced him to the organization’s student mentoring program. He was drawn by the supportive resources and the confidence building methods of the organization. Throughout his undergraduate years, he was matched with Dr. Gebru as his A²MEND mentor, who remained steadfast in encouraging him to press forward with his ambitious educational plans. “The morale boost that A²MEND provides to African American students is amazing,” said Ghde. “No matter how big or small, I appreciated their efforts to give financially through their scholarship contributions.”

    Ghde’s road to Harvard wasn’t an easy one. Raised in Eritrea, Africa, Ghde endured hardships early in his life. Following his graduation from high school, Ghde was unable to study his chosen field of law in college because his country’s educational system required him to major in engineering as a result of him testing well in physics and math on his matriculation exam. After studying civil engineering for three years and completing his national service, Ghde eventually moved to the U.S. in his resolve to
    leave Eritrea to follow his educational goals.

    A year after his arrival in the U.S., Ghde enrolled in Laney College upon settling in Northern California. Determined to succeed against all odds as a new asylee in the U.S., he remained vigilant in his educational pursuits to study law and public policy. During his studies at Laney College, he served as President of the Laney Law Society. Soon after receiving his associate’s degree from Laney College, he attended UC Berkeley, where he graduated with a degree in political science, specializing in comparative
    politics.

    Envisioning to ultimately earn a law degree to one day serve the people of his home country, Ghde applied to leading universities to position him for that endeavor. With an impressive GPA along with his extracurricular accomplishments, including a congressional internship on Capitol Hill and a prestigious study abroad program at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, he applied to Harvard as well as the University of Oxford. Less than three months later, he received the extraordinary news about his
    acceptance to Harvard.

    While Ghde’s sheer intellect and perseverance led him to Harvard, he is grateful to A²MEND for providing him with the mentorship and scholarship funding that helped support him throughout his undergraduate journey.

    The African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by African American male educators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within California’s community college system to increase success of African American male students. Since establishing the organization in 2006, A²MEND has served as the premiere nonprofit solely focused on addressing the lack of educational success for African American male students in community colleges.

  • A²MEND EMBOLDENS BLACK MALE STUDENT SUCCESS

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    A²MEND UNITES BLACK COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH THOUGHT LEADERS, DONATES $50K IN SCHOLARSHIPS AT SUMMIT

    Forward-Thinking Summit Reimagines Black Male Student Success in California’s Community College System

    LOS ANGELES – March 15, 2022 – In its mission to embolden Black male student success at California’s community colleges, the African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) organization held its 15th Annual Summit in Los Angeles earlier this month. Themed “A Radical Reimagination of Black Male Student Success,” the three-day conference drew about 1,000 college students and educators from across the state.

    The Summit’s opening day featured inspirational speeches from African American community college leaders who rallied the crowd in the spirit of brotherhood and support of the Black male collegiate experience. The rallying speeches were followed by a panel of impact leaders – actor and author Hill Harper, educator Dr. Christopher Emdin and businesswoman Ivy McGregor – who all led a thought-provoking discussion about radically reimagining Black male student success.

    Prior to the panelist segment, A²MEND President Dr. Amanuel Gebru announced the
    organization’s recent land purchase in Ghana and its plans to build the A²MEND Racial Trauma and Wellness Retreat Center. In support of A²MEND’s land acquisition effort, panelist Hill Harper publicly pledged to underwrite the costs to purchase the remaining three acres of the Ghanaian property.

    Also during the Summit, A²MEND’s leadership presented $50,000 in scholarships to deserving students who are currently mentored through the organization. The students will use the funds to pursue their studies in community colleges or further their education at four-year universities.

    The Summit additionally featured a student panel who discussed ways that African American students can thrive in California’s community college system. Students also were encouraged to visit a career fair as well as a college recruitment fair organized by A²MEND. The event’s pre-conference day hosted the Women’s Leadership Institute to give African American female college educators an opportunity to network and discuss topics related to Black women in higher education.

    The African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by African American male educators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within California’s community college system to increase success of African American male students. Since establishing the organization in 2006, A²MEND has served as the premiere nonprofit solely focused on addressing the lack of educational success for African American male students in community colleges.

  • BLACK MALE STUDENT SUCCESS SUMMIT: MARCH 2-4

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    A²MEND’s 15th Annual Summit Unites Black Male College Students with Educators to Increase Success of African American Males in Higher Education

                   LOS ANGELES – February 17, 2022 – A²MEND’s 15th Annual African American Male Summit kicks off March 2-4 to bring together Black male college students and educators to encourage their success in California’s community college system. Held at the Hyatt LAX Hotel in Los Angeles, the Summit is given each year as part of A²MEND’s mission of increasing Black male student success in community colleges throughout the state. The event is organized by African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND), a nonprofit comprising African American male educators who voluntarily use their professional expertise to operate a statewide mentoring program for Black male college students.

                    The Summit headlines a panel of impact leaders – actor and author Hill Harper, educator Dr. Chris Emdin and businesswoman Ivy McGregor – who will lead a discussion under the event’s theme, “A Radical Reimagination of Black Male Student Success.” The Summit also features a student panel who will discuss ways that African American students can thrive in the college experience. The event’s pre-conference day will host the Women’s Leadership Institute to give African American female college educators an opportunity to network and discuss topics relating to Black women in higher education.

                    The Summit also includes a career fair as well as a college recruitment fair. The event is open to the public and is expected to draw hundreds of African American college students, educators and administrators from across the state. To learn more about the Summit and to register, please visit a2mend.net.      

                   The African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by African American male educators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within California’s community college system to increase success of African American male students. Since establishing the organization in 2006, A²MEND has served as the premiere nonprofit solely focused on addressing the lack of educational success for African American male students in community colleges.