NBCUniversal Media Fellows - Summer 2021

This summer, our students had the opportunity to intern with NBCUniversal as part of our Media Fellows Program. Students toured the NBCU media center, worked on case studies about Peacock steaming services and the Olympics, and presented their final projects to NBCU executives!

It was a spectacular week and we are so grateful for the support from all of our friends at NBCU. It won't be long until we see our students as broadcasters on primetime!

2020-2021 Year In Review

Dear Friends of Minds Matter Boston, 

It has been a year like no other in higher education. The pandemic has exacerbated chronic inequities in postsecondary opportunity for low-income and first-generation students: in high-poverty high schools the number of graduates enrolling in college fell 11.4%, FAFSA applications dropped 18%, and early decision applications for first-generation students dropped 10%. More than ever, vulnerable students are losing access to one of our country’s only viable pathways out of poverty.

Our mission to connect driven and determined low-income students with the people, preparation, and possibilities to access and succeed in college has never been more critical. And, the achievements of our students are all the more exceptional in this moment:

• 100% of our seniors were accepted into a four-year college;

• 83% of seniors committed to a "selective" school as defined by Barron’s Top Three Tiers including, Columbia University, New York University, Northeastern University, UMass Amherst & Tufts University;

• 92% of seniors’ financial need was met through first-year financial aid and earned scholarships;

• 97% of program alumni are still enrolled or have already graduated from college.

You can read more about these achievements in our 2021 Impact Report.

Our goals for growth and impact have also taken on a new urgency, and I’m proud to say that we are entering the new program year stronger than ever: 

• We successfully grew our enrollment by 20% to serve 149 students;

• We added four new Board members;

• We hired an incredible team member: Samantha Carter, our first Development Coordinator who also serves as a volunteer mentor;

• We raised $900k with an eye towards sustainable, recurring revenue;

  • Received a $300k Catalyst Grant from Wellington Management Foundation to launch our three-year strategic growth plan to expand enrollment by 75%;

  • Received a $350k, a ten-year gift from the Cummings Foundation which ensures the stability of MMB for future generations.

In the coming year, we will grow enrollment again by 25% and add another full-time staff member to our team.  The progress we’ve made, and the enthusiastic support for our continued growth, reaffirms our decision to launch an ambitious, strategic expansion in 2020.

As the world continues opening, I am excited and hopeful for what the future holds. I look forward to sharing that future with you as we pursue our goal of unleashing the power and potential of our students.  

Thank you,

Rachel Kanter

Executive Director

We are honored to have the Cummings Foundation's support in encouraging the education and empowerment of the next generation of Boston's leaders. We hope you will support us too!

Join our team!

We are searching for a Program Coordinator to join our community! Help us continue our work to ensure students throughout the Greater Boston area have access to all of the resources and support they need to succeed in college and beyond! Click the button below to learn more about the position and how to apply.

Student Applications for the 2021-22 program year are now OPEN!

We are now accepting student applications for the 2021-22 program year. The application deadline is Monday, April 12th. Please check out our Students page for more information about eligibility criteria and the application process!

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Minds Matter Continues its Unprecedented Success with a New Mission Statement

Since its inception in 1991, Minds Matter has been dedicated to transforming the lives of accomplished high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success.

The results of that work are clear: in 29 years of existence, 100% of Minds Matter graduates nationwide have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities. That work has struck a chord and fulfilled a need across the country, and in doing so Minds Matter has organically spread from a few students in New York City to hundreds of students across 14 major cities nationwide. With thousands of volunteers supporting these students, Minds Matter’s impact is dramatic and marked. Its core programming is the key: college access has repeatedly been shown as one of the most powerful levers to break free of the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

Along with the nationwide expansion came a desire in Minds Matter leadership to reference and honor the fundamental motivation of its students, the level of investment that tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers and supporters have made in those students, and the life-long benefits that accrue for the students in whom we invest.

Which is why, after 29 successful years, all 14 Minds Matter chapters and the national office unanimously decided to update the mission statement to reflect these and other important elements as the program embarks on its fourth decade of success. The organization is excited to announce that it has refined its mission statement to reflect the benefits of the research-based, deeply-impactful Minds Matter program nationwide.

The revised mission statement reads:

Minds Matter connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world.

Sara Elaqad, Chair of the Minds Matter Chapter Leadership Council, reflects that “This updated mission maintains the important and persistent focus of our work, while also bringing to the forefront the innate skills and impact multiple stakeholders bring together to promote equitable access to higher education and a lifetime of opportunity for our students nationwide.”

Ashish Shah, Co-Chair of the Minds Matter National Board of Directors, shares that “this new mission showcases the energy and research-based best practices that our 14 chapters share as well as highlighting the dedication of our students. This new mission statement describes our work—and all that Minds Matter has to offer—in a more meaningful way.”

“The focus on people, preparation, and possibilities showcases the resources we bring to bear to provide unprecedented successes for our students. In light of the global Covid-19 pandemic and nationwide conversation around systemic inequity, it’s clear that our mission is critical,” says Shah. “At the end of the day, this new mission statement unifies the work across our 14 chapters. Our community is strong, and our work continues.”

MMB Senior Awarded the 2020 ALKU Scholarship

Minds Matter Boston is thrilled to announce that Nellcie Bodden, a senior in our program, was selected as the 2020 Recipient of the ALKU Scholarship! We are honored to support her and all of our students on their paths towards college.

“Today’s society is not structured to benefit everyone equally. That is why I want to be a voice advocating for those who do not have a chance to speak up and who are constantly suppressed…I can confidently state that I choose to not let it define me or my future.”

— Nellcie

Wellington Management Foundation Awards Largest Gift in MMB History

We are thrilled to announce that the Wellington Management Foundation awarded Minds Matter Boston with a multi-year Catalyst Gift of $300,000! This transformative investment will expand our enrollment by 75%, allowing more students in Greater Boston access to the critical resources needed to thrive in college and beyond. We are honored to have Wellington Management Foundation's support in encouraging the education and empowerment of the next generation of Boston's leaders.

Year In Review | 2020 Impact Report

Dear Friends of Minds Matter Boston, 

It has been an extraordinary year filled with unprecedented challenges and unacceptable injustice. Yet, in this turbulent time in our history, Minds Matter Boston has emerged stronger and more committed than ever to our students and mission.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to abruptly pivot, adapt our program, and find new ways to meaningfully connect with and support our students. I want to thank our entire team and community for rising to meet this challenge. We will remain a virtual program for the remainder of 2020 and reassess our plans in the new year.  

Systemic racial injustice is another kind of epidemic we faced this year and have a responsibility to address. Ensuring our students can access educational opportunities that open new doorways to economic mobility is a concrete way we are working to combat the systemic inequities they face in education and the workforce. We are committed to using our organization’s platform, not just now, but in a consistent way moving forward, to promote inclusivity and advance anti-racist work. 

Despite the challenges of the year, our organization maintained strong student outcomes: 

• 100% of seniors were accepted into a 4-year college;

• 76% were admitted into a competitive college (as defined by Barron’s Top 3 Tiers);

• 92% of seniors’ financial need was met through earned scholarships and financial aid, with an average first-year aid package of $47,000;

• 100% of seniors believed that MMB played a major role in helping them get to college;

• 93% of seniors said MMB provided an important service during the pandemic and created a safe and stable community for them.

There remains a great deal of uncertainty as we head into a new program year. There’s a natural instinct to want to hold tight, weather the storm, and maintain the status quo until things settle down; however, we are taking a different approach. The pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on the communities we serve, and we feel a sense of urgency to double down on expanding our reach and impact. 

That’s why I’m excited to announce that this fall we will embark on an ambitious three-year growth effort that will expand our enrollment by 75%. Today, we are turning qualified students away because we do not have the capacity to serve them. We have a responsibility to our community to become an organization capable of serving every qualified student who applies.  I hope I can count on your support to help us reach this goal.

These are challenging times, but the resiliency, tenacity, and drive for positive change demonstrated by our students gives me hope. I know that if we follow their lead, we can build a better future together. Thank you, as always, for your belief in our students and support of our work.

Sincerely,

Rachel Kanter

Executive Director

Coming Together During COVID-19

Dear Friends of Minds Matter Boston, 

The rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty and disruption to all of our lives. With schools and colleges closing, and many families dealing with unexpected loss of income, it can feel overwhelming and scary, especially for young people. At Minds Matter Boston, we are unwavering in our commitment to our students. The mentorship we offer, and academic services we provide, are a source of stability and hope for a brighter future. That’s why we will continue to proactively and thoughtfully adapt our programming to these new and ever-changing circumstances.

Two weeks ago, we transitioned to offer our college success programming virtually, including ACT & writing instruction, college advising, and mentoring. I’m grateful to our incredible team and volunteers who mobilized, took action, and adjusted quickly to make this as seamless as possible for students. We are also preparing to offer alternative summer enrichment programming if needed and will be providing assistance to our alumni who were displaced on short notice from college campuses. 

We also made the decision to postpone our Spring Soiree, usually scheduled for June. We look forward to celebrating our first annual Fall Fete with you on September 24 at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter!

Regardless of what the future holds, our community is strong and we will get through this together. Recently, I witnessed our collective purpose and resilience when over 200 students and volunteers joined our session virtually to continue the necessary and important work of preparing for and succeeding in college (see pictures below). 

Our mission of providing access to an excellent college education is more important now than ever. History has shown that workers without a college degree typically fare the worst during challenging economic circumstances. We can, and will, continue to do our part to help our students achieve their college dreams. 
 

Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission. Our thoughts are with you and your families.

With gratitude,

Rachel Kanter

Executive Director

NBCU Media Fellows Program

Minds Matter Boston and NBCUniversal partnered for our first ever Media Fellows Program, a unique 3-day fellowship for 21 select MMB mentees. The fellowship took place at NBCU’s new studio in Needham, MA over February break, where students worked in small teams to tackle case studies related to NBCU’s business. The case studies were 1) how NBCU can use TikTok to attract a younger audience, and 2) how they can market NECN to their new target audience of millennial women. The teams did research and immersed themselves into their case studies with the help of NBCU employees to guide them through the brainstorming process; ultimately, they presented their innovative ideas to NBCU employees and executives on the final day of the fellowship. Mentees also had the distinct opportunity to meet 1:1 with a NBCU employee over lunch every day to broaden their exposure to different career trajectories and types of roles within the company, such as broadcasting, digital marketing, sales, and many more.

We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our new friends at NBCU and look forward to more opportunities to broaden horizons for our incredible young people in MMB!

Check out this video for a look inside the NBCU Media Fellows Program.

Transform Lives. Transform Tomorrow.

Dear Friends,  

When I started as a Minds Matter volunteer in 2014, I did not fully understand the transformative nature of this program. 

Right away it was clear that Minds Matter’s approach was unique. Minds Matter provided comprehensive services to students throughout high school, preparing them to thrive in college, their careers, and as leaders in their communities. Over the years, I’ve come to learn that the true transformative impact of this program comes after its formal conclusion – when the students we’ve mentored return to the program to uplift the next generation.

Why do I think our alumni are so dedicated to our program? Because Minds Matter is a family. Minds Matter students learn from hardworking and compassionate professionals who devote their Saturday mornings to help them get to college. The selfless generosity our mentors demonstrate motivates many of our students to take up this work in the future as our #nextgenfamily.

One of the students from my early days of volunteering, who exemplifies this spirit of paying it forward, is Tiffany. Tiffany attended Boston College and now works at a college access nonprofit in Boston. Three years ago, she returned to Minds Matter to volunteer her time.

"For me, giving back to Minds Matter means providing students the opportunity to gain a similar transformative experience to what I had. Without my Minds Matter mentor’s support and guidance throughout all these years, I would not be the person that I am today. I believe it is important to support in any capacity— whether that be talking to mentees about my college experience, being a host for the spring soirée, or donating money to the fundraiser. "

Minds Matter is more than just a college prep program: it's a place where individuals become a community. That's why so many of the young people we invest in come back. This #GivingTuesday, I'm asking you to invest in the next generation of the Minds Matter family.

Together, we can transform lives that will transform tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Rachel Kanter
Executive Director

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