Close Ties | Nonprofit | Atlanta, Georgia

"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 & Career 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

The mission of Close Ties Leadership Program is to unlock Black boys' full potential through early exposure to college and career opportunities, in-school mentorship, and individualized social-emotional support so that they graduate from high school prepared to lead in the pathways of their choice.

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