racial equity

Ashe Culture Center, Inc. (Ashe) seeks to replicate and expand its very successful, Kent State University ‘rites of passage’ process for incoming minority freshman students from urban communities – where 350 participating students have graduated at over 90% - a notable rate of distinction nationwide. Many of these students have gone on to earn advanced degrees, assume positions at colleges and universities, and provide positive images for children and youth in their respective communities. During the past 14 years Ashe has refined the ‘Rites-Based’ Integrative Education Process and requests funding to support the goal of expanding this process to students at 16 select institutions (with a focus on historically black colleges and universities). Many of the program’s alumni students will become co-facilitators in a ‘train-the-trainer’ model where student peers can work with other college students like themselves. This new force of ‘change-agents’ will ultimately serve as positive role models in support of existing school programs, interface with ongoing community programs, and start new efforts designed to help alleviate some of the stubborn challenges that confront their vulnerable, younger peer generation.