EHTP, East Harlem Scholars Academies Among First to Fully Implement Virtual Learning

Effort Highlights Value of Community-Based Organizations’ Strong Ties to Quickly Assess and Address Educational Needs

(East Harlem, NY) — Amid a citywide school shutdown, East Harlem Scholars Academies launched a full virtual-learning program for its scholars Monday morning, distributing laptops to more than 500 families, as well as Wifi access to almost 200 of them. 

It is just one of the steps that the school network, an extension of the 62-year-old nonprofit East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP), is taking to ensure that its community of 1,200 students can keep up with their studies and stay in touch with their school community. Educators facilitated lessons through Google Classroom; meanwhile, the organization’s High School after-school program launched virtual tutoring via Zoom. The organization’s virtual College Mentoring Program will start this evening.

In addition, EHTP is providing free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals daily to its students and their families at its 2050 Second Avenue site. The organization has also converted the gym at that facility into a library for College Scholars, whose campuses are closed (to ensure social distancing, capacity is capped).

“East Harlem Tutorial Program has always been incredibly dedicated to the community,” said Executive Director Jeffrey Ginsburg. “I’m so proud of our team of educators, who worked tirelessly over the weekend to ensure we wouldn’t miss a beat in providing a quality education to our scholars. It is a testament to their passion and commitment that we were one of the first in New York City to roll out a virtual learning plan.”

EHTP closed its physical spaces on March 7 and 8 for precautionary deep cleaning; amid rising safety concerns, East Harlem Scholars Academies made the decision to close their doors on Friday, March 13. The community-based organization, acutely attuned to the educational inequities families of color often experience, sent school surveys in advance of the shutdown to assess technological needs. This allowed the organization to be proactive in its planning, and serve its families in real time. Scholars had little to no interruptions in their learning.

To date, neither EHTP nor its Scholars Academies have any confirmed cases of COVID-19. While the organization is following Department of Education guidelines and is closing its doors until at least April 20, its leadership is prepared to continue virtual learning for as long as necessary. 

# # #

About East Harlem Tutorial Program: EHTP prepares students with the academic skills, strength of character and emotional well-being to excel in high school and college, to lead in their communities, and to realize their best possible selves. Over six decades, the organization has grown from a small tutoring program into a multi-site college preparatory and after-school program, and is the operator of five Pre-K to 9 schools and a Teaching Residency.

Closing Buildings, But Opening Doors

Supporting Our Scholars During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As New York City grapples with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) has determined that the best course of action is to close its facilities until at least Monday, March 23. This includes our five East Harlem Scholars Academies, as well as our after-school programming and Central office. While we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19, our organization wants to do its part to keep our community healthy — all while supporting our scholars. 

It was a tough choice to make — we are well aware of the impact that closures have on our families. But with 62 years of academic support under our belt, we’re not about to let go of learning. To serve our scholars and their families, we are:

–Implementing a virtual learning plan for all East Harlem Scholars Academy students, and providing Chromebooks and WiFi to students who need them; 

–Providing free daily grab-and-go breakfast and lunch at 2050 Second Avenue for all of our scholars and their families;

–Keeping in contact with our after-school students and College Scholars, many of whom are home from closed college campuses, to ensure they have resources to continue studying. 

Want to support these efforts? Our generous Board of Directors is offering to match all gifts between now and April 20. Donations of all sizes make a difference — especially when you can double your impact! Stay healthy — and help us #BuildLove today!

Boss Up: College Scholars Explore Careers Paths at Annual Summit

Getting into college is tough. Staying in can be even harder. And adulting? It can be downright stressful, even under the best of circumstances.

That’s why East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) launched College Scholars in 2012 — to provide students with the support and resources to successfully navigate the complexities of higher education and beyond. A program highlight: our full-day Summit held annually in January. An opportunity to reconnect with fellow students and attend sessions designed to support their learning, Summit exposes our scholars to the possibilities that await them.

“We may be ‘Community Based. College Bound,’ but we want to ensure that we also open doors for our scholars,” said Vynessa Ortz, director of College Access and Success. “Summit is designed with the future in mind.”

This year, scholars attended workshops focusing on career, social justice, and health and wellness, receiving guidance on real-world situations — from applying to graduate school, to developing personal elevator pitches, to discussing how to safely exercise their rights as students of color interfacing with law enforcement.

And to ensure that our young women scholars can learn from role models who are forging the way and breaking the glass ceiling, EHTP held its 2nd Annual Be a Boss panel and networking session. Because while many of us proudly proclaim that the Future is Female, EHTP also recognizes that the job marketplace hasn’t necessarily gotten the memo.

Scholars joined women industry leaders to discuss charting their paths in the professional world. Panelists Esther Mireya Tejeda of Entercom, Rosemonde Pierre-Louis of NYU’s McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, and Nicole Davison Fox of Summit Rock Advisors, fielded questions from Leslie Ortiz, an EHTP alumna with Aya Healthcare.

Panelists described various avenues that scholars can take after college, followed by “speed dating” networking sessions with more than 30 professionals representing the fields of entertainment, law, business, the nonprofit sector and more. “This event is a perfect opportunity for our young women to see themselves in executive roles and as industry leaders,” said Vynessa Ortiz.

Jocelyn Roman, one of our College Scholars, agrees. “EHTP showed us so many career possibilities, and the fact that we met female professionals was even better. I’m passionate about women’s rights, and it gives me joy that other women are succeeding, that not only men can do these things.” Roman, who did some serious networking and has an upcoming informational interview with one of the professionals in attendance, noted, “A lot of these women are really powerful, and it meant a lot that they made the time to talk to us.”

What else did the scholars learn from these boss ladies? A lot. And for those students who feel less than sure about where they will land after graduation, there was a reassuring message:
It’s ok to shift course.

“I actually wanted to be Diana Ross,” said Pierre-Louis.”From the time I was a young girl, I had been signing, dancing. I really thought my entire life that I was going to be on Broadway.” At the same time, “I always wanted to be at the adult table talking about politics and social justice. … Being able to pursue multiple things … was one of the best things about college. Sometimes you go in thinking you’re going to be one thing and come out something completely different.”

Fox added that there “was a moment in my career where I was in the job I went to grad school to get. It looked good on my resume, but I was not feeling excited to get up in the morning to go to work.” She reassessed, then created the career that she wanted. Tejeda concurred, and said for her, “it wasn’t a straight path.”

The group also got down to brass tacks with some practical advice.“One of the biggest challenges that I have routinely with the younger professionals … is that they have an understanding of the job that is not the actual job,” said Tejeda. “Get as much actual experience doing the work. Intern, volunteer, go for informationals, meet people who do this work. Really understand the industry so you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Meet Our Star Scholar: Kennadie M!

Kennadie is a 7th grader at East Harlem Scholars Academy Middle School II, located in the historic Jackie Robinson Educational Complex. Why is Kennadie this month’s star scholar? She’s not afraid of a challenge, and represents our Core Values — especially Courage, Originality and Achievement!

Q: What is your favorite thing about coming to school?

A: My favorite part is the work, because the work is challenging. …All of the kids are participating. They’re really engaged in the lessons and they’re showing what they know.

Q: Any ideas of what you want to be when you grow up?

A: I want to be a teacher. I want to help out kids like my teachers do, and I want to see kids succeed like I want to succeed. I’m really bad at math, but I want to learn so I can teach other kids.

Q: What do you like to do outside of school?

A: I like to do sports. I like to play football, because it’s challenging. I like to go for things that are challenging … so when I get older I know how face tough situations.

Q: And what’s challenging about football?

A: I feel like I get judged a lot by playing football. Like if I’m on the train I see people staring because [I’m a girl and] I have a football in my hand. But I think that it’s good for me because it toughens me up and helps me have the right mindset for the future.

Q: What else do you like to do in your spare time?

A: I like to hang out with my friends, we go out to Popeye’s and McDonalds. We see other kids from Scholars I and Scholars II, we go together. I also like dancing, and I like to draw and do art.

Q: You recently joined our student recruitment campaign. Why do you think other kids should come here?

A: The teachers actually care about your education and want you to succeed. They put in the time and the effort. … it’s way different than other schools that I’ve been to. This is not only preparing me for high school and college, it’s preparing me for the real world too.

College Scholars Celebrate Successes at Annual Dinner

Every November our College Scholars are greeted by their own cheerleading squad — the staff and mentors at East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP), who are on hand to help them navigate college and the challenges it can present. This time, when they returned from school for the Thanksgiving break, they were greeted by a basketball legend as well.

Last night, NBA All-Star Charles Oakley joined EHTP’s annual welcome home dinner to celebrate our College Scholars’ accomplishments and encourage them as they head into finals. And he cooked the meal to boot! The New York Knicks top rebounder, who in retirement has become a renowned chef, whipped up a feast including turkey meatballs, mac and cheese, broccoli and bread pudding, to kick off Thanksgiving week.

In this season of gratitude, he also encouraged our College Scholars to remember those who gave them their start: “All your parents want you to do is go to school, stay dedicated, get a degree, stay grounded … they put the hard work in. Show them, ‘Hey, I’m going to carry that torch for the rest of life and make sure you’re ok’.”

What did our College Scholars think of our celebrity chef? Ambar Brito, who is earning her Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts Management, had this to say: “I think it’s really cool to have somebody go from a basketball career to cook, because it’s not easy to do.” She added that coming to the annual event “makes me feel like I’m at home.” “I’ve been a part of EHTP since I was in the second grade,” she explained. “It’s fun to come here, break from school and see all the familiar faces.”

EHTP’s College Scholars program, launched in 2012, provides students the support and resources to successfully navigate the complexities of higher education. Scholars have access to academic and career advising, tutoring, annual scholarships and assistance with securing internships, managing personal finances and navigating the financial aid process.

Together our dedicated staff and students experience some great outcomes: our Scholars graduate four-year colleges at eight times the national rate of students from lower-income households. As they discover their paths, we are thankful to be part of their journey.

Showing our Scholars the Power of ‘Yes’

Meet Arisleidy Fuchu! A founding member of our East Harlem Scholars Academy High School, Fuchu manages its Restorative Justice Program —  which puts the school’s philosophy of “Love. Liberate. Heal” into practice. The concept of restorative justice may be new to some, so Fuchu breaks it down in the final installment of our Latinx Heritage Month blog series: 

“Restorative justice invites everyone to develop a shared understanding of both the root causes and the effects of a conflict. It seeks to address the needs of those who have been harmed, while encouraging those who have caused harm to take responsibility,” she explains. While schools traditionally have handled “bad” behavior with some type of punishment, “restorative justice emphasizes the capacity of all people for healing, growth, and transformation through accountability, self-determination, and interconnection.”

Fuchu says her identity as an Afro-Dominican woman informs her work. “I grew up often hearing the word ‘no,’ with very few ‘yeses.’ My accent was too thick for debate class in 4th grade. Since Spanish was my first language, it was assumed I could not produce an essay on par with my peers. But I had parents who advocated and fought for me and my siblings to be treated with respect. They taught me the power of ‘yes’ without making apologies for who I am.” 

And this is exactly what she wants for her students. “I want our scholars to know the power of ‘yes,’ of being loved for who they are. The power of forgiveness, compassion, humility, strength. The power of visibility and knowledge, to stand in their truth and light.” 

Fuchu’s goal is to create a space where students feel heard and respected. “I think it is important to remember that these are kids and they will make mistakes. The idea is to always have a reset — a new beginning where they are not judged by their past, but by how they choose to show up.” If Love. Liberate. Heal is at the core of our anti-racism framework, she notes, it is up to the school leadership to demonstrate what this looks, feels and sounds like. 

It is in doing so, says Fuchu, that we can challenge the status quo. “We cannot educate from a place of mediocrity,” she says. “We have to believe that our scholars deserve more because of their humanity. No one has the right to take that from them.” If education is our liberating tool, she says, “then it is the way to uphold, uplift and love the people they choose to be.” 

For her, this parallels the significance of Latinx Heritage Month. “It is a celebration of my heritage, my people, our struggle. It is a recognition of the historical triumphs and obstacles we have overcome as people. … It is a celebration of the beauty, the complexity — an honoring of nuestra gente y cultural.” 

She adds, “I was raised with a deep pride in my culture and my people. In Latinx culture there is a song for everything — we are people who love and thrive through the rhythm of our music. There is nothing like mami’s sazon to make me happy.  I bring to work my love of music, my warmth, my laughter, my deep sense of social justice — all to ensure that our scholars are respected and loved.”

Efrain Guerrero: ‘I Try to Live My Life Full of Gratitude’

Efrain Guerrero has been Chief of Staff at East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) for over three years, partnering with stakeholders across the community to advance our strategic plan. He began his foray into education as Achievement First Bushwick Middle School’s Director of School Operations.

As part of EHTP’s Latinx Heritage Month blog series, we caught up with Guererro to learn why he is passionate about working in education.

It turns out that his educational success wasn’t necessarily preordained. “My parents both grew up poor, in a rural part of Mexico, my mom with 10 siblings and my dad with 12,” he explains. “Neither of them finished high school. My dad dropped out as early as middle school to find work so he could help support his family.”

Guerrero and his three siblings were born and raised in Long Beach, California, his parents having decided that moving to the U.S. would provide a better future. “I can’t imagine the courage that it took for them to leave their home and family in Mexico, leaving behind everything and everyone they knew and loved.” Guerrero adds, “I try to live my life full of gratitude for the sacrifices they made.”

While Guerrero earned degrees at Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, attaining education proved to be more elusive for his siblings. He says that only recently, because of the anti-racism professional development at EHTP, has he been able to reflect on what happened to his siblings and other teenagers in his Latinx community who never graduated from high school.

“Our parents did not realize that they were moving to a country that was founded on racism and white supremacy. …they didn’t know about the achievement gap, about the vast inequality in life outcomes that exists between people of color and white people. They didn’t come prepared knowing that the forces of institutional racism and the negative effects of living in poverty in this country would be nearly impossible to overcome.”

What made the difference for Guerrero? “I was in middle school when I first came to the realization that I was gay, and I knew that my parents, having grown up Catholic and who were very traditional, would never fully accept me. Being good at school was a way to overcompensate for this lack of acceptance and win my parents approval.”

Guerrero went on to become his high school valedictorian, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, having passed 9 AP exams, rocking his SAT’s and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook. When he applied early admission to Harvard, he got in.

Fast forward, and his expansive career has included market research at Proctor & Gamble and fundraising for SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) and GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). He lives with his partner James and their pug Mrs. Carter (named for — and sometimes dressed up as — Beyoncé), and is the biological father of two girls who live with their moms in Philadelphia. While it is a full and satisfying life, Guerrero remains driven by his passion for educational equality:

“I wish that all Latinx and black parents could have that sense of certainty about their kids’ futures. They should have that same sense of entitlement to the American Dream that white parents and their children enjoy. But the reality is that for immigrants and people of color in this country, the American Dream is a myth. Working hard, paying taxes, and doing the right thing every day is not enough for people of color to ‘pull themselves up by their bootstraps’.”

Reflecting on the importance of Latinx Heritage Month, Guerrero makes this assertion: “This racial inequality and injustice is something that we can’t continue to tolerate.”

East Harlem Heroes Day Our EHTP ‘Family’ Keeps Growing!

The rich legacy of El Barrio can be felt at East Harlem Scholars Academies through a tradition that was started eight years ago. East Harlem Heroes Day was created to pay homage to the individuals who have made an impact in the community and serve as role models for the students who will become the next generation of change-makers.

This year’s honorees included Francheska ‘Hey Fran Hey’ Medina, wellness advocate; Adrienne Alverio, EHTP alum and founder of Red Carpet Curls; Justice Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court; James Baldwin, renowned novelist, playwright and activist; Evlina López Antonetty, civil rights activist; Nicholasa Mohr, children’s book author; Javier Valdes, co-executive director of Make the Road NY and Eric Velasquez, children’s book author.

These Heroes joined an impressive roster of their peers and predecessors — among the 43 include renowned writers, artists and activists the likes of Maya Angelou, Julia de Burgos, Celia Cruz, Langston Hughes, Tito Puente, Hiram Maristany and more. As scholars celebrated Heroes in the classrooms named in their honor, the Heroes had the chance to ignite the curiosity and imagination of our youth, and inspire them to strive for the best.

Maristany, a master photographer whose Smithsonian collection documents scenes of East Harlem life, described efforts to capture some of his most well-known images and urged scholars in his classroom to take advantage of their education: “Use this time well. Dream big. Work hard. And try your best to do your best.”

There’s nothing like building love through a network of individuals who are committed to our scholar’s educational and personal growth. As our Heroes joined scholars at Community Circle, and walked the halls of our elementary, middle and newly-opened high school, they had a chance to share their personal journeys with scholars.

Medina, a Harlem-based voice of conscious day-to-day living, advised the 9th graders on how to be successful and navigate the world: “No one has gone through what you’ve gone through or can share your story the way in which you can. Your story is your energy signature and it’s your responsibility to share it authentically.”

Trevor Baldwin, nephew of James Baldwin, answered thoughtful questions from high schoolers who read his uncle’s “The Fire Next Time”: “I’m always proud to represent my Uncle Jimmy and being with you today, let’s me know his legacy continues. I’m so inspired by your school’s motto, ‘Love, Liberate, Heal,’ and cannot wait to see how you will carry the torch to transform our communities.”

We’d like to welcome our 2019 Heroes to the EHTP fold, and to a community that is much richer than the sum of its parts. As Hero Orlando Ortiz put it, EHTP means one thing: “Mi familia.”