It takes the whole community...
Not too long ago, I was involved in an accident where I was the victim of an assault in Washington, D.C. I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury which required surgery. It has been nearly four years ago now and to some degree I am still suffering from the side effects. For a while there, I was very angry at myself and at my assailants for the pain and suffering I was going through. After years of therapy, I recently realized that those kids who hit me in the head probably had no value for life because they never had anyone tell them otherwise. To move on, I decided to found The ADDUP Project. So what is the point? The ADDUP Project is an educational nonprofit to provide volunteer mentors to underserved and at-risk students and youth in the D.C. metro area schools.
In light of recent events concerning minority and racial divisions across the country, I think it's imperative that members of the community come together to help students in these situations.
The idea of The ADDUP Project is not to be the solution but as one of the many support systems available in the community.
At The ADDUP Project, our priority is to assist in creating a completion culture among students in the community. We also want to help instill a sense of shared responsibility among underserved student populations in our community to help eliminate equity gaps in student and young adults' success.
Through support systems such as mentoring which includes career counseling, ADDUP's volunteer mentors will be committed to help articulate the importance of school and how coursework translates into high-quality employment after graduation. ADDUP's volunteer mentoring will take place in a safe environment, which can ensure that underserved students feel a sense of belonging as they begin to consider their role in the community and society at-large.
So JOIN or DONATE to The ADDUP Project today, because learning can't wait!
