CUMU Conference 2019

In 2014, Pace University was approached by One Hundred Black Men (OHMB) of New York to donate space for their unique and innovative Junior 100 Pathways to Success scholarship program. After learning more about the program, the Office of Government & Community Relations, in partnership with the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, agreed to host with one request, to work collaboratively with OHMB and become their academic partner.

Entering its fourth year at Pace this spring semester, this 16-week youth development program for more than two dozen High School juniors and seniors takes place on Saturdays, January thru May, and includes classes on college readiness, life skills, financial literacy, ballroom dancing and entrepreneurship training with a strong emphasis on the integration of technology in business. The student scholars, all college-bound who will largely be the first in their family to go to college, are accepted into the competitive program after a series of interviews and often have their first college experience on Pace’s New York City campus.

This year, OHBM has agreed to admit up to 10 students who are currently homeless and living in transitional housing throughout New York City. This initiative grew from a conversation between NYC Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson and OHBM President Michael Garner.

This pilot program at Pace has been replicated in other cities across the country within OHBM’s network nationally. This best practice session will give an overview of the program with particular attention paid to the classes Pace teaches.