BIRMINGHAM, AL — The Birmingham Education Foundation and Birmingham City Schools is excited to announce a new partnership with YouthServe, a local non-profit committed to exposing youth to leadership through service.
As a result of the partnership, students participating in the inaugural year of the Birmingham Education Foundation’s College Prep Institute will have the opportunity to volunteer at a variety of local service sites including Toys for Tots, Greater Birmingham Humane Society, and Ronald McDonald House, during a cross-academy service day, Thursday December 12th.
The College Prep Institute (CPI) is a three-year program for Birmingham City Schools Career Academy students that focuses on themes of career exploration and academic planning, college preparation and professionalism, and college choice and admissions. Other organizations partnering with BEF on CPI include College Admissions Made Possible (CAMP), Alabama Possible’s Blueprints College Access Initiative, the Birmingham Business Alliance, and the Birmingham Rotary Club.
“We are excited to work with Youthserve to give the great young leaders in Birmingham schools the opportunity to demonstrate their talent and heart by volunteering throughout the city,” said J.W. Carpenter, executive director, Birmingham Education Foundation.
The College Prep Institute is designed to align with the work-based learning plans being developed by the Career Academies. “Students benefit most from programs that combine academic study with real-world work experience,” said Dr. Spencer Horn, Coordinator of BCS Career Academies. “That is what the Academies are all about, and programs like this help make that idea a reality.”
Together, Ed, YouthServe, and Birmingham City Schools will bring together more than 100 youth volunteers together to further the work of local non-profits throughout the city of Birmingham.
“Leadership is about giving back and making a difference,” said Jennifer Hatchett, executive director, YouthServe Birmingham. “Thanks to BEF we are exposing students at an early age to the power of service.”
