United Way of Greater Atlanta’s African-American Partnership (AAP) was formed in 2000 after Dr. Johnnetta Cole saw a lack of philanthropic leadership presence for African-Americans in Greater Atlanta.
AAP is made up of donors with comparable passions for giving, leadership, and service. It was created to bring together United Way donors who were underrepresented. It is a place for members to make a personal connection and volunteer in a way to personally meet the needs of program recipients.
Last year, AAP met the goal of investing $1 Million (net) into our work of Powering the Potential of young African-American males.
Youth throughout the country have experienced the effects of virtual/hybrid learning and the social and emotional implications of navigating the pandemic. AAP addresses disparities our local youth face in the educational system, while providing immediate access to the tools our youth need from the start. AAP is committed to bridging the gap to serve as the safety net for youth who need it the most by offering academic support, access to technology, and crisis support like food and mental health resources.
Youth improved their college and career readiness through STEM and post-secondary exposure, including mentoring and coaching sessions. Moving forward, we are evaluating agencies and developing a more refined strategy to address learning loss.
In 2022-23, over 500 Black boys and youth improved their academic performance through tutoring, afterschool enrichment and summer experiences, socio-emotional health workshops, college fairs, and service projects. Youth increased their interest and focus in STEM classes, achieved an average grade of 80% or better, and developed their presentation skills.
Of these 500 youth:
- 85% of Black boys and youth who engaged in academic support sessions such as tutoring, homework help, reading, coaching, financial literacy and virtual classes, improved their academic performance.
- 75% of Black boys and youth increased their post-secondary exposure specifically through HBCU college and university events.
- 70% of Black boys and youth improved their social and emotional well-being through mentoring sessions, service-learning opportunities, and wellness circles.
To find out more about AAP and how to join, email AAP@unitedwayatlanta.org or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
