This article is one of a series of articles produced by Word in Black through support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Word In Black is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.
By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
African American led organizations are stepping up to address the deficiencies in our education system that affect the success rate of young Black students and students of color. By providing leadership, mentorship and resources the Life Enrichment Group (LEG), a mentorship and education support organization in South Seattle, is leading the way by giving young students the necessary support to be successful in their academic pursuits.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a lot of inequities and inefficiencies within our education system locally and nationally, and parents like Jhitana Ball wondered how she was going to keep her 11-year-old daughter, Princess, engaged as school buildings closed and on-line learning began. Fortunately, Ball, through the help of a friend, learned about a program offered through LEG called the Scholars Project that provides academic support for youth of color in middle school that helps foster the personal development they need in order to succeed.
“The Scholars Project revealed what [Princess’] future could be,” said Ball. “Princess discovered the importance of academics and how it will affect her future. She also developed skills in research, budgeting, and poetry.”
LEG offers five programs that provide support and guidance to young people and their families through positive channels of education, performing arts, and mentorship – including a mentorship program for at-risk pre-teen girls, and a program to help youth learn the meaning of entrepreneurship, strengthen academic discipline, and mental astuteness to become productive citizens.
According to Tajiana Ellis, Chief Program Officer for LEG, all of LEG’s programs are designed to promote academic success by building mental and self-awareness and strengthening the participants belief in themselves, while providing young men and women with life skills and tools to combat and overcome challenging life situations.
“We are providing five programs that are designed to help young people find their way to success in their academic pursuits and beyond,” says Ellis. “Academic support really is just providing support for our students by having one-on-one meetings with students, providing them with what we call smart goals and action plans when it comes to maintaining good grades and success in school.”
“We are providing opportunities for the young people to create plans and actions that they can implement so that they can increase and improve their academics,” added Ellis.
DeAndra Charles, a mother of four, has witnessed the transformation that takes place in youth while participating in L.E.G.’s programs.
Charles’ daughter, Alexia, started with LEG as an eighth grader in the Youth in Business program, which connected Alexia to youth of color and helped build a community. As Alexia progressed in school, she transitioned into Young Queens of Seattle, a leadership and personal development program that teaches the values of self-love, sisterhood, life and leadership skills, health and wellness and firsthand entrepreneurial training.
Charles’ son Cortez took part in the “Know to Grow” program designed to provide academic support and career exploration in addition to a trip to the East coast to tour Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).
LEG’s philosophy centers on meaningful experiences for youth. Addressing the challenges that young Black people and people of color come across each day. Through LEG young people are able to partner with positive role models that look like them, and work and live in the communities of the youth they mentor.
“I view Miss Monica [Monika Matthews, President/CEO of LEG] and L.E.G. as a co-pilot for my kids,” said Charles. “They provide opportunities, build confidence, and teach practical life skills that prepares students for life.”
