In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Black Student League, Youth Action has organized a youth-led College Day called the A-List Next Generation (Achievement List Next Generation) scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Bodek Lounge located at 3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144. Admission for this event is FREE and open to the public. This event is intended to connect Philadelphia college students with local high school students for mentorship on getting into and excelling in college. The concept for the program was inspired by Youth Action college members who became intensely interested in working to develop the next generation of student of color leaders on college campuses. Youth Action recognizes that high school students of color need mentors other than adults to spirit their preparation for successful entrance into college and while in college.

The A-List Next Generation will primarily focus on Philadelphia students of color high school students establishing relationships with students of color in college who have similar academic and career interests for networking and mentoring sessions on college admissions and career planning. The college day will also feature keynote speakers, student-led college panels, admission officers,performances, food, and college informational booths. College student in attendance will wear their college paraphernalia on that day and share with students their college experiences.

Specifically, the event format will be interactive, exciting, and inspiring. At the beginning of the event, high school students who have RSVPed will immediately be connected with their already assigned college mentor for the day. Each college student mentor will work closely with their assigned high school mentee throughout the day by sharing each others’ unique life stories. Then mentors will converse/advise their mentees about life goals, their academic and extracurricular interests, challenges of being a student of color in college, and talking about the college admissions process and life in college. Students will also receive a keynote address by a motivational speaker on  the college admissions process and  will also note the most significant items they need to do in order to be successful in college. Student participants will be assigned to one hour student panels on choosing your major and financial aid, college application process, and college student life.

Students from the following local colleges and universities have been invited to participate as college student mentors:

This will be the first intercollegiate service project that comes out of Youth Action’s A-List Network program which seeks to foster relationships between Black college students in the Philadelphia area in order to increase support of Black student led events, programming, and future activism.

Visit alistnextgen.eventbrite.com for more information. Also check out the A-List Video at www.vimeo.com/teamyouthaction/alistnextgen

In order to attend this special event YOU MUST REGISTER. PLEASE REGISTER QUICKLY BECAUSE SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTER TODAY! Individuals or high school students may registered themselves here:A-List Next Generation High School Student Registration Form

Please note that this event can only accommodate high school and college students. Any other guests are volunteers.

We are excited and looking forward to greeting you at The A-List Next Generation!!

For more information please contact A-List Next Generation Program Director Christina Hardison at chardi@wharton.upenn.edu or 215-595-3749.