In Connecticut, 20% of 14-26-year-olds are at-risk or disconnected, meaning they’re struggling to find adequate work or education. According to a recent report commissioned by the Dalio Foundation, and led by an advisory group which includes Hector Glynn, The Village’s president & CEO, the crisis is especially dire in Hartford, where nearly half of all high school students are at risk of not graduating. The Village believes the report is a call to action to expand opportunities for all youth.
The Village is strengthening our partnership with Hartford Promise, which provides $20,000 college scholarships to Hartford students who graduate with a 3.0 GPA and have an attendance rate of at least 93%. Scholars also benefit from a support team, which keeps them on track and assists them with employment after college graduation.
Dr. Sivan Hines, Hartford Promise’s president, says the program is transformational. “There are so many of these really smart young people in Hartford Public Schools and some of whom don’t even see college as a possibility, so this scholarship opens that whole world to them.”
Without Hartford Promise there is no way I could have gone to college. My message to teens who are struggling, don’t give up. You got this.
Jenika Carrillo was a Promise Scholar who graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University and now works at The Village as a family support specialist. “Without Hartford Promise there is no way I could have gone to college. My message to teens who are struggling, don’t give up. You got this,” Carrillo said.
The Village supports Promise Scholars with mental health services, attends their career fairs and launched a marketing campaign to make sure every student and family knows about Hartford Promise.