A2MEND

African American Male Education Network & Development

GOVERNOR ALLOCATES $1.1 MLLION TO A²MEND TO HELP INCREASE BLACK MALE ENROLLMENT IN CALIFORNIA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

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Media Contact: Paulette Thornton (323) 401-0406

With Historical Declines in African American Male College Enrollment, New A²MEND Funding to Expand Mentoring Programs for Black Men to Enroll and Succeed in Community Colleges

               LOS ANGELES – January 13, 2022 – As a clear sign of Governor Gavin Newsom’s commitment to increase Black male enrollment in California’s community colleges, the Governor’s 2022-23 budget proposal has allocated $1.1 million to the African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) organization. A²MEND comprises African American male educators who voluntarily use their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within California’s community college system by operating mentoring programs for Black male students. Since forming in 2006, A²MEND has mentored hundreds of African American male students to inspire them to enroll and succeed in the state’s community colleges.

               The Newsom Administration’s $1.1 million allocation to A²MEND was announced in the midst of a crucial climate for African Americans in higher education, as Black male college enrollment rates are currently at an all-time low. According to a recent report published by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, U.S. college attendance among African American males dropped 8% since the onset of the pandemic compared to the previous year. The new funding will greatly support A²MEND’s efforts to help reverse this troubling trend among California’s African American male student population.

               “We’re thankful for the Governor’s budget allocation to increase enrollment and graduation rates among African American male students. We’re equally thankful to the Chancellor’s Office for their call-to-action to improve Black student success and for partnering with A²MEND to manifest this vision,” said Dr. Amanuel Gebru, President of A²MEND. “As college enrollment of Black men is declining at an alarming rate, our organization is eager to continue engaging with our partners to expand our impact on retention rates among Black male students.”

               A²MEND aims to leverage the new funding to broaden the organization’s 23 statewide student charters that were established to improve academic success by creating an affirming environment where African American male students and other students of color are able to thrive. With the hope of doubling their student charters at community colleges throughout California, A²MEND’s executive board plans to request an additional $400,000 from the Governor’s budget, as the organization estimates that a total allocation of $1.5 million will ensure that their expansion goals are met. Still, the executive board is unequivocally appreciative for the current allocation commitment.

               “A²MEND is honored and deeply inspired to be acknowledged in the Governor’s budget,” said Dr. Abdimalik Buul, Vice President of A²MEND. “For the past 16 years, A²MEND has been unapologetic about radically redefining Black male success in our community college system. With the $1.1 million allocation, A²MEND is uniquely poised to widen our presence of student charters on campuses in every rural, suburban and urban community in California.”

               The announcement of the Governor’s allocation was met with praise from A²MEND partners, including the California Community Colleges Organización de Latinx Empowerment, Guidance, Advocacy for Success (COLEGAS). “COLEGAS is proud to see that Governor Newsom has affirmed his commitment to social justice and racial equity in our state through his proposed budget, which provides significant resources that can lead to an extraordinary transformation of our community college system. We are especially pleased to see $1.1 million for the A²MEND organization that will expand student charters across the state among other critical services for African American men,” said Dr. Cynthia Olivo, President of COLEGAS. “Investing in this effort will lead to the goal of addressing the ‘education debt,’ as coined by expert research and scholar Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings, who stated that ‘the cumulative impact of fewer resources and other harm directed at our minoritized students’ are certainly a result of systemic inequities. We believe in the mission of A²MEND – the name of the organization itself is a call for all of us to do everything possible to make amends to our Black community members. These resources are a move in the right direction. We commend Governor Newsom!”

               Another A²MEND partner, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE), also extended a congratulatory statement about the allocation. “As President-Elect of APAHE, I would like to express our support to Governor Newsom for his January proposal and his continued support of the California Community Colleges as well as the diverse programs and students they serve,” said Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, President of San Jose City College. “Specifically, I am grateful to Governor Newsom for his longstanding commitment to student programs centered on closing the racial opportunity gap for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. I commend the Governor’s proposal of an ongoing $1.1 million to expand A²MEND student charters to additional college districts. APAHE believes A²MEND’s programs for Black male students provide a critical intervention to historical racial inequities.”

               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 INSPIRES AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN TO ENROLL AND SUCCEED IN CALIFORNIA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

Downloadable .pdf Version

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Paulette Thornton (323) 401-0406

As African American Male College Enrollment Declines in the U.S., Particularly During the Pandemic, A²MEND Aims to Increase College Attendance and Graduation Rates Among Black Men

                LOS ANGELES – November 9, 2021 – With African American male college enrollment steadily decreasing over the past two decades, a progressive statewide nonprofit is working to reverse this troubling trend in California and potentially across the nation. The African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) organization 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. Since forming in 2006, A²MEND has mentored hundreds of African American students to inspire them to enroll and succeed in community colleges based throughout the state.

                The A²MEND Mentoring Initiative provides support, guidance, professional development and networking opportunities for new and existing African American students enrolled in a community college. Students are matched with a vetted mentor based on similar educational and career interests. A²MEND provides both mentor and mentee training to ensure that students and professionals receive maximum benefit from being a part of this game changing initiative.

“Representation matters and is vital to the success of our Black Male students. A²MEND has been instrumental in being the leading voice and a pioneer in racial equity, anti-racism and social justice efforts within the California community college system,” said Dr. Amanuel Gebru, President of A²MEND. “Ensuring that policy and practice are congruent in dismantling systemic barriers that both Black students and professionals face is the why that informs our work.”

                A²MEND’s mentoring efforts have proven to effectively work. Within the most recent academic year, two-thirds of A²MEND’s mentored students remained in college during the COVID-19 pandemic, with most continuing their studies by transferring to a CSU, UC or HBCU institution. These figures are especially notable, given that U.S. college attendance among African American males dropped 8% since the onset of the pandemic compared to the previous year, according to a recent report published by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

                As part of its mentoring initiative, A²MEND offers scholarships to provide mentees with financial support for tuition, books and living expenses as they pursue their education in community colleges or while transferring to four-year educational institutions. Scholarships are awarded to students with special qualifications, such as academic achievement, artistic abilities, demonstrated leadership and/or athletic talents. Scholarships also are awarded to students who are in a particular field of study, are members of underrepresented groups or demonstrate a financial need. Since launching the scholarship program a decade ago, A²MEND has awarded more than $500k in scholarships to African American students.

                A²MEND’s services have expanded beyond a traditional mentoring program by offering ongoing events, trips and webinars in an effort to keep students engaged in the organization’s network while giving them an opportunity to learn more about their heritage as well as strategies to rise above issues often faced by young Black men.

Since 2008, A²MEND organizes an African American Male Summit held annually in March in Los Angeles, where more than 1,000 policymakers, trustees, faculty, staff, administrators and students come together to identify solutions to the barriers that African American men may encounter in community colleges. The summit, which also hosts a job fair and HBCU informational booth, aims to counteract the dismal forecast of the African American male in higher education by focusing on their role in the community college system. Similarly, A²MEND hosts a webinar series, which has featured such distinguished speakers as Dr. Cornell West and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, to moderate dialogue about the history and impact of anti-black racism in U.S. society, including higher education institutions.

A²MEND mentee Amofah Brobbey was so influenced by the annual summit that the conference ultimately impacted his college academic performance. “With all the motivation and knowledge received from the conference, I was able to complete my first semester at Moreno Valley College with a 4.0 GPA,” said Brobbey.

Through A²MEND’s Annual African Cultural Excursion Program, the organization has escorted student mentees on a once in a lifetime trip to Africa. Since 2018, student mentees have been able to journey to their ancestors’ home in Africa for a life-changing experience. African countries that have been visited include Dubai, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco and Senegal.

While A²MEND is regarded for its premiere mentoring program, the organization’s executive board has broadened the nonprofit’s mission by becoming a mentoring support system for African American college faculty members and administrators. With this additional mission in mind, the executive board is prioritizing efforts to increase the participation of African American educators who seek to network with other like-minded collegiate professionals.

Currently, 23 A²MEND student chapters with more than 400 student members are active at community colleges throughout California. As statistics continue to show that African American male college enrollment in the U.S. is declining, A²MEND’s leadership is strategizing their next expansive move of planting future student chapters in other regions across the country. “The alarming decline in enrollment of African American men in community colleges across the nation is not a problem devoid of a solution. When colleges are intentional around providing direct resources and support to specifically address the cultural and educational needs of African American men, colleges can greatly improve their educational outcomes,” said Dr. Edward Bush, A²MEND Co-Founder and Board Member. “The A²MEND student charters represent this type of direct and focused high impact of institutional practice that community colleges around the country can adopt. Having an A²MEND student charter demonstrates to African American men on campus that their presence matters while simultaneously conveying a critical message to institutional stakeholders that perpetual underachievement of this population of students would not go ignored or unsolved any longer.”

The African American Male Education Network and 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.