The Gem Project connects with high school and college students to increase their academic engagement and graduation rates through year-round programs and supplemental summer events. Program topics typically include peer-mentoring, life-skill workshops, and service-learning social justice initiatives.
The Gem Project team wanted to expand their academic programs in the Newark School District. While they had successfully conducted summer programs, they wanted to continue connecting with students through this initiative. Their team also sought creative solutions to improve their core curriculum to provide the maximum benefit to program participants.
EBEC provided strategic planning and educational enrichment programs to help the Gem Project. Our team provided an assessment based on their current program offering and used the assessment to identify areas for supplemental programs targeted at middle and high school students in low-income areas throughout the Newark area.
We also developed a strategic plan to increase the Gem Project’s breadth of topics to include additional academic and professional development for participants and highlight the educational value to local school districts and communities seeking to support their youth’s educational goals.
After implementing this strategic plan and educational enrichment, the Gem Project received various accolades for their program’s success. Their student engagement increased, and students were excited to participate. These tools also provided the Gem Project with the opportunity to expand their partnerships to include the Newark public school district