Close Ties
Leadership Program
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." -Frederick Douglass
3,000 Black boys in Atlanta's lowest socioeconomic neighborhoods*
lack exposure to opportunities which prevents them from reaching their full potential. This void often goes unnoticed until high school when
less than 75% of Black males graduate high school and less than
47% of them meet the College Readiness requirements**
The Void
*includes City Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12
**as outlined by the Georgia College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI)
Our Mission
Close Ties Leadership Program believes in Black boys' inherent genius and unlocks their full potential through early exposure to college and career opportunities, in-school mentorship, and social-emotional support.
Exposure
We create a safe environment for Black boys to discover their unique passions and we
expose them to college and career opportunities aligned to their passions which leads to broaden perspectives for their futures.
Mentorship
We provide in-school mentors to hold our members accountable
to meeting individualized academic and social goals which leads to increased academic growth and behavioral improvements
SEL Support
We provide individualized social emotional support through weekly after school sessions aligned to our Leadership and Self-Awareness curriculum that increase confidence and sense of belonging at school
Our Impact
Our theory of impact values depth over breadth as we serve the same boys
from 5th grade until they graduate high school
100+ Black Boys impacted in
West End and
Southeast Atlanta
100% high school graduation rate with post-graduation plans
Over $10 Million received in college scholarships in the past 2 years
Exposure to 15 universities and Black men in over 40 career fields
100% of members state they feel more prepared to lead in their chosen pathway
Our Supporters
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