By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
In Seattle, young Black males face some of the most persistent educational challenges in the region. They are twice as likely to drop out of high school and three times as likely to be suspended compared to their white peers. From early reading scores to middle school math proficiency to high school graduation, African American boys fall behind on nearly every key measure of academic success, highlighting a system that has long struggled to meet their needs.
Solutions to these disparities are varied, but one promising approach is intervention by adult Black men who provide sustained mentorship and support. The Academy For Creating Excellence, known as ACE, is one organization that has stepped into that role with intention and commitment. Established in 2012, ACE works to uplift young men of color through programs that combine academic support, life skills, mentorship, and leadership development.
ACE was founded by Seattle natives Willie Seales, CJ Dancer, and Marcus Harden, who all believed that not enough was being done to address the specific needs of Black males in the community. All three came from different backgrounds but shared a commitment to creating pathways of success for young men who might otherwise be overlooked by existing systems.
“In 2012 it was initially just an idea,” says Seales. “We would sit down, meet, and just gather information, bring together our various gifts, talents and expertise in the education space and decided, let’s figure this out.”
A couple of years later, around 2014, the founders began a small Saturday project with young males of color in partnership with Goodwill. “Over time the program began to grow into what we think is a solid program,” says Seales.
According to Seales, the purpose of ACE is to groom young boys of color through mentorship for excellence, instilling values that prioritize family, academics, motivation and environment, an approach the organization refers to as F.A.M.E. What began as a small weekend initiative eventually evolved into the Summer Learning Experience Program.
“Applying for a grant with the City of Seattle in 2016, we launched a summer program in partnership with Southshore K-8,” says Seales. “Which we called the Summer Learning Experience. This gave us the opportunity to work closely with some of the Black males and males of color in the middle school, working with seventh graders.”
Now entering its tenth cohort, ACE has developed meaningful relationships with the city of Seattle, the Department of Education and Early Learning, Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, Renton Public Schools and Lake Washington School District. The organization’s mission is to provide high quality services that help young Black boys comprehend and embrace their value as capable, viable contributors to the world.
Fostering safe, structured spaces is central to that work. Over 14 years, ACE has worked with approximately 1500 young men. In the current alumni cohort, 15 graduates are receiving recurring scholarships of $1000 as they pursue various college degrees and career paths. ACE provides vital resources and support including reliable mentors, guidance toward college and trade school pathways, scholarships, and career preparation programs that nurture growth and leadership.
One important part of ACE’s work is representation. The Black Male Educator Institute was launched to encourage more Black men to enter the teaching profession. ACE not only encourages program graduates to serve as mentors and teachers, but also helps facilitate their path to earning teaching certifications and entering education careers.
“We have launched what’s called the Black Male Educator Institute,” says Seales. “What that really is trying to tackle, is bringing a little bit more awareness for Black men in education.”
ACE’s leadership believe that seeing Black men in educational roles helps young boys envision futures beyond the limited options society too often presents. Graduates who have remained connected to the program help illustrate why that representation matters.
One such graduate is Joshua Hanson-Bush, now a mentor with ACE and a student at Clark-Atlanta University. Hanson-Bush speaks candidly about the importance of exposing young Black boys to alternative paths outside the streets or the criminal justice system.
“From my own personal experience, my little brother of 15 years of age passed away from gun violence. One of our cohorts, maybe three or four years ago passed away as well from gun violence,” says Hanson-Bush. “Trying to steer these kids onto the correct path, especially in Seattle, is really important.”
“Too many young men fall into the wrong crowd, the wrong path and make choices that steer them away from opportunities,” Hanson-Bush continues. “Not your peers but older gentlemen who will really show you right from wrong and tell you when you’re messing up because you know your friends will never tell you. They are your friends, they will ride with you right or wrong. But to have older men who will really show you the consequences and show you that your actions really do mean something is really important.”
The organizations leadership also acknowledges that the work has not been without challenges. Maintaining the organization’s vision has required ongoing effort in areas such as funding, marketing, outreach, and motivating consistent participation from young men and families. Hanson-Bush also notes that personal discipline and motivation remain hurdles for participants, particularly during difficult periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During Covid it was a really hard time,” says Hanson-Bush. “No one wanted to do anything. Everyone just wanted to lounge around. So, for me waking up at 9am every Saturday was a bit of a stretch for me. But every Thursday or Friday before the meeting, my mentor would call me, make sure I’m doing good, make sure my family was in a good place and remind me Saturday we have ACE.”
“As a mentor, just be able to make those calls, and make sure and show them that someone cares, that there’s an adult out there that cares how you are doing, cares how your education is going,” Hanson-Bush says. “That is the treatment ACE gave me, so now I’m returning that with kids now.”
