Tag Archives: TASC

A Win for Project Rise

Project Rise at KCC is approaching the end of our initial 4 year grant period. During that time over 180 disconnected young adults have come through our doors to receive preparation for the GED/TASC exam, important work readiness skills development, and extensive individualized support services. Our efforts have had a huge effect with over 50 participants receiving their high school equivalency and over 50 gaining long-term employment. Even more significant, so many of our students have gained confidence in themselves and their work to overcome obstacles that kept them from succeeding earlier in life.

As we move forward, KCC’s Project Rise received a challenge grant from the Center for Economic Opportunity/Social Innovation Fund to provide an additional year of funding for our program. Late last week we received a commitment from the Pinkerton Foundation for $100,000 and $2,500 from the Signature Bank Foundation towards reaching the challenge. These awards will allow us to continue providing our much-needed services to disconnected young adults who are eager to take control of their educational, professional and personal lives.

KCC’s Project Rise on WBAI 99.5 FM

KCC’s Project Rise on WBAI 99.5FM, tomorrow December 10th!

030CEWD sees so many amazing and ambitious students! Desi, a current NRC CHW student also hosts a show on WBAI 99.5FM: Women in the Making: Tomorrow’s History Today, which “highlights the views, perspectives, questions, goals and accomplishments of today’s girl.” Desi has taken a special interest in KCC’s Project Rise and has interviewed the program’s associate director, Dina LiMandri and two Project Rise students. The segment will air tomorrow, Wednesday, December 10th at 2pm. Tune in to find out how the lives of these young women have changed, in part, thanks to the work of Project Rise and Kingsborough Community College.

For more information, you can also visit the event’s page on facebook.

Project Rise Success Stories 2014

IKCC's Project Risef you’re a follower of this blog, you’ve seen post after post we’ve written about the success of Project Rise. We’re obviously proud of what we do. What makes our program so great is the one-on-one attention we’re able to give our participants. This individualized counseling, along with extensive preparation for the GED/TASC and job readiness training has allowed so many participants to reactivate their professional, educational and personal lives.

A. started PR feeling insecure about her academic ability despite having specific career goals. To hide her insecurity, she focused more energy on the people around her and neglected her own academic goals. With the help of Project Rise staff, she began to take Project Rise more seriously 4 months into the program. Since then, she has become incredibly focused in class and has started a coveted internship at a local hospital. What’s more, A. has noticed the shift in her own attitude and has often referred to the “old her” and the “new her” as she speaks with classmates and program staff.

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A Project Rise Graduate

IMG_1800I sat down with Natalie, a recent Project Rise graduate, to talk about her experiences with the program.

Me: How did you hear about Project Rise and what made you sign up?

Natalie: My mother. She saw the Project Rise advertisement in the Kingsborough Community College Brochure. My family is run on tough-love so she basically threw the brochure at me and told me I needed to get my G.E.D (I swear she is a very kind and funny woman). But I did like how they offered a paid internship and work readiness. Heaven knows I had no job experience.

Me: You just graduated. Congratulations! What did you like most about the program? 

Natalie: Generally I liked the whole package. The fact that I was going to be able to study and take the G.E.D. for free and have a paid internship along with obtaining college credits not to forget we had the chance to work on the Urban Farm, it was great…still is.

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Project Rise Cohort 5 Graduation

Friday, October 10th marked an important milestone for members for Project Rise Cohort 5: graduation! This cohort was one of the most active and engaged groups we have seen with the number of students earning their GEDs, completing internship hours and staying enrolled surpassing previous cohorts. This group was so engaged, they even designed their own graduation t-shirt, sashes (made by a fellow classmate) and yearbook filled with photos and stories of their year with the program. Graduates were presented with heartfelt messages from staff members along with their certificates and celebrated with friends and family members who encouraged their success. Congratulations, Cohort 5!

KCC Project Rise Cohort 5

 

KCC Project Rise Cohort 5

 

KCC Project Rise graduate with yearbook

 

Project Rise graduates

 

Project Rise graduates

 

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Project Rise Information Session

ProjectRiseLogoProject Rise will be having an Information Session on Tuesday, September 23rd for our upcoming October cohort. If you’re interested in signing up for this info session, fill out our quick online survey and a Project Rise representative will be in contact with you to discuss eligibility and sign you up.

Project Rise is CEWD’s GED/TASC preparation program that provides educational and employment opportunities for young adults (aged 18-24) who have not been enrolled in school and employed in the previous 6 months. Read more about KCC’s Project Rise by visiting our previous blog posts.

 

 

Project Rise Success

In their most recent newsletter, NYC’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) released a statement about Project Rise and the recent success these programs have had increasing high school equivalency attainment rates, internship participation, employment rates and college enrollment:

“During the first three quarters of 2014, providers saw each of these outcomes rise. For example, 43% of participants in the most recently completed class earned their HSE—an all-time high for Project Rise providers—and 35% of participants completed their internship, a substantial increase from the previous class. The sites achieved these goals by relentlessly focusing on outcomes, shifting strategies based on participant needs, and by learning from each other.”

If you want to see how successful we’ve been with helping students reach their academic and employment goals, check out our most recent statistics. I’d say KCC’s Project Rise is doing a pretty amazing job!

Project Rise September 2014 infographic

An Updated Snapshot of Project Rise

Project Rise is a CEWD initiative at Kingsborough that provides educational, internship and employment services to young adults. We prepare participants for the GED®/TASC exam, supports the development of work readiness skills and provides opportunities for participants to acquire gainful employment.

Interested? Here’s an updated snapshot of Project Rise at Kingsborough:

Project Rise POSTER

Project Rise at Kingsborough