A2MEND

African American Male Education Network & Development

A2MEND Debuts 2021 Annual Report

To highlight A²MEND’s progress last year, the organization has published its 2021 Annual Report. In the report, readers will learn about A²MEND’s key successes throughout the year and how the organization is strategizing for continued growth in the year ahead.

Cover of A2MEND’s 2021 Annual Report, which can be fully accessed at a2mend.net.

The report includes such information as:

  • Message from the President
  • Leadership Academy’s Successes
  • Annual Summit Recap
  • Student Abroad Trip to Africa
  • A²MEND 2021-22 Budget

To view A²MEND’s 2021 Annual Report, please visit the organization’s website at a2mend.net.

Governor Allocates $1.1 Million to A2MEND

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 A²MEND. The Newsom Administration’s 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.

“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) as well as Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE).

PBS NewsHour Airs A2MEND Story

In April, PBS NewsHour aired an enlightening news segment about A²MEND as part of its “Rethinking College” investigative news series. Please watch this informative news piece here and share on your social media platforms. Also, please Donate Now to A²MEND to further the organization’s mission of helping Black men pursue a college education.

Forward-Thinking Summit Reimagines Black Male Student Success

In its mission to embolden Black male student success at California’s community colleges, A²MEND held its 15th Annual Summit in Los Angeles in March. 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.

A2MEND panelists (from left) Hill Harper, Ivy McGregor and Dr. Christopher Emdin immersed in a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by A2MEND Co-Founder Dr. Edward Bush.

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.

A²MEND STUDENT MENTEE ACCEPTED AT HARVARD

Downloadable .pdf Version

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Paulette Thornton (323) 401-0406

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.