College Visions 2015 Annual Report

annual report 2014–2015

Our Mission College Visions empowers lowincome and first-generation college-bound students to realize the promise of higher education by providing advising and resources to promote college enrollment, persistence, and graduation. College Visions advances equal access to educational opportunities in historically under-served communities.

Letter From the Director When there’s so much to celebrate, it’s easy to take it for granted.

Every fall, a new class of College Visions students enters college. Every spring, our list of college grads grows longer. In fact, there are now over 190 College Visions college grads! As you know, outstanding college enrollment and completion rates are tradition at College Visions.

But there’s no magic and no shortcuts­—just profound effort, hope, and good will. Young people arrive at CV with high aspirations and an unshakeable belief in a better future. What students’ families lack in knowledge, they more than make up for in determination. Our staff and board are tireless college access advocates. And generous friends like you are deeply committed to our students. College Visions students’ achievements don’t happen by accident. They are only possible through the hard work, generosity, and vision of our community—of people like you. So know that I don’t take your partnership for granted. Thank you!

When there’s so much to celebrate, it’s easy to forget we’re fighting for justice.

Your support closes the opportunity gap for College Visions students, and this is a reason to rejoice! A college degree represents a path to career options, civic engagement, health, deepened knowledge of self and the world—pillars of freedom and strong communities. But you know there’s still much work to be done. Far too many disadvantaged youth continue to be shut out of higher education. And this drives our plans to grow.

When there’s so much to celebrate, it emboldens us to imagine.

Our shared success is not a reason to be complacent. College Visions began with a pilot group of 10 students. This year, your support is guiding 350 students toward college graduation. And with your ongoing commitment, we’ll honor the 500th College Visions college grad by 2020. A more just Rhode Island will be the result of efforts by people like you, and I invite you to continue with us on the path.

Simon Moore, Founder and Executive Director

Creating a Path for First-Generation Students Our students face big challenges on the path to attaining a college education.

They come from many different countries, cultures, high schools and with different academic backgrounds. But they all share the ambition to get a college degree.

61% of College Visions students graduate within 6 years compared with only 11% of low-income, first-generation students nationally.

Family portrait: • 100% are first-generation college bound • 81% will be the first in their immediate

family to attend college • Average family income: $26,009 • Average high school GPA: 3.1 • Average SAT: 819 out of 1600

“The college decision is the first time teenagers look with all seriousness toward adulthood. There’s not a teenager around who doesn’t need some help making this transition, and College Visions is there for those who ask, with its warm but practical staff, its encouragement and attention to detail, its excitement and follow through.“ Michael Stein, Professor of Medicine, Health Services, Policy & Practice, Brown University; College visions donor

College Visions has been the guiding compass throughout my college career. my Path

My path to college has been a long, winding road, full of forks and small towns with quirky charm. College Visions has been the guiding compass throughout my entire college career—they never told me where I must go, but gave me the tools to follow the direction I desired.

Although I had many ideas of how, where, and when I would pursue my bachelor’s degree, if the staff of College Visions had not been at my side, I probably would have given up on college. I would have figured the reason I wasn’t succeeding in the ways that I needed was because college wasn’t meant for me. I wouldn’t have come to the realization that college is something many people struggle with, especially people whose families have no prior experience navigating ivory towers.

With every new concept I had for pursuing higher learning, College Visions assisted in every way, making the process as smooth as possible. The end of my college career is no longer a mirage, it is a reality. I am extremely thankful for all that College Visions has done, and continues to do for myself and others like me.

Monay McNeil, Rhode Island College ‘16

College was a new thing for me, and my family. my Path

I used to live in a house made from bamboo and wood. I would read under the sunlight and play in dust. Academics were not valued in my village in Nepal, and most people were illiterate. They believed agriculture was the only way of living. These problems never prevented me from working hard on my studies.

When I arrived in America, it was an entirely new world. I met people with faith in education, I began to work more seriously and with more hope. Senior year was filled with confusion and tension because I wanted to continue my education. But I was unaware of how college works. College was a new thing for me and my family.

I was introduced to College Visions through my school counselor. It provided me with an advisor, many opportunities, and information. College Visions was the bridge which helped me cross that deep and vast ocean of confusion about college, and “College Visions helped me create my own path supported me to reach my destination.

Kamal Rai, University of Rhode Island ‘19

by providing me with exemplary guidance and counseling throughout the application process.

Thanks to their help, I am where I should be; I am where I want to be.”

Emmanuel Quinones, Hampshire College ‘19

College Admissions: Understanding the process College Access Program (CAP) At the core of our program is a commitment to one-on-one advising. Students have the opportunity to explore options, develop polished application materials and receive guidance with financial aid applications.

Because getting into college is a family endeavor, the CV program also engages parents in the process through workshops and individual meetings.

The results are impressive: • 98% of CV students enrolled in college

directly after high school* • 81% of CV students enrolled in a

bachelor’s-granting institution • 98% of financial aid met for CV students

* compared to 48% of Providence public school graduates (Source: National Student Clearinghouse)

No matter how indirect or uncommon my path felt, I always had the support and guidance of College Visions!

There’s no better way to explain College Visions—“They Get It Right!”

After taking a year off after high school, CV was there to help me through my second round of college applications. It was then that my advisor suggested I apply to Eastern Connecticut State University. In 2012, I graduated with a B.A. in Art History.

my Path

After spending a year job hunting and not finding the right fit, I once again turned to College Visions. I knew I had an interest in Art, Black culture, Black identity and youth work but I wasn’t sure if a program like this existed. My advisor told me about Brown University’s Masters in Public Humanities and after researching the program I decided it was the best fit for me. I am proud to say that not only did I get a full scholarship as a Public History of Slavery Fellow, but I will graduate this May from Brown University with a Masters in Public Humanities! No matter how indirect or uncommon my path felt I always had the support and guidance of College Visions!

Maiyah Gamble-Rivers College Visions Alumna Eastern Connecticut State University ’12 Brown University M.A. in Public Humanities ‘16

College Persistence: Finishing a Degree Kolajo Paul Afolabi College Success Program (CSP) Recognizing the need to support students throughout their entire college experience, College Visions launched the College Success Program in 2009. Our students get the help they need through individual coaching, empowering them to solve problems and engage with campus-based resources. CV also contributes to student success by providing FAFSA assistance, financial counseling, emergency grants (for unforeseen expenses) and coaching to support students in community college transfer into bachelor’s degree programs.

• 86% of students persist to their second

year of college • 95% of students complete the FAFSA by

the priority deadline • CSP students meet with their advisors an

average of three times per semester

Our students are currently enrolled in a diverse group of schools including: American University Bates College Barnard College Bentley University

Why Give?

Too many talented young people aspire to a college degree but never make it to the finish line.

Boston College

Your support plays a key role in the success of our students.

Brandeis University

For most teenagers, getting into college is not only a major

Brown University

challenge, but the first important decision of their adult lives.

Community College of Rhode Island

First-generation students come to CV with many assets, but

College of the Holy Cross

they also face additional academic and social challenges.

Connecticut College Denison University

When you choose to help College Visions, your gift makes

Hampshire College

it possible for disadvantaged students to create a path to

Howard University

college and earn a degree.

Lafayette College Northeastern University

“As first-generation college graduates, we strongly value advanced

Providence College

education and the knowledge and opportunities it brings. We see

Rhode Island College

College Visions living those values as they help many first-generation

Rhode Island School of Design

students be successful.�

Salem College Union College University of Rhode Island

Janice M. Prochaska, Ph.D. College Visions Board Member; President & CEO, Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. James O. Prochaska, Ph.D. Founder, Pro-Change

The Path Ahead

Neighborhood Builders® Award This past year the Bank of America Charitable Foundation presented College Visions with a generous award in recognition of our ongoing efforts to promote college college completion in low-income communities. Given to only one grantee in Rhode Island each year, the Neighborhood Builders® investment combines $200,000 in funding with leadership training for our staff so that we can grow to serve even more students.

An important step toward long-term fiscal stability and hundreds more college grads CV has always budgeted to ensure we have a healthy reserve, but funding for long-term stability was not available until now. With the Bank of America gift, 2015 was a banner year for College Visions. This investment enables us to: • Bring our operating reserve into alignment with best practice • Grow to reach 10% more students this year • Make strategic investments in sustainability and continued program expansion

“Our model empowers disadvantaged students to enter and graduate from college at an outstanding rate. Thanks to Neighborhood Builders support, College Visions will be able to reach hundreds more deserving youth.” simon Moore founder and executive director, college Visions

Impacting RI! Neighborhood BuildersÂŽ are recognized for their significant impact in addressing needs related to community development. College Visions addresses a critical need in the Providence area, where less than half of public school graduates enroll in college and just 1 in 5 will earn a college degree.

Access to higher education empowers people, lifting up local economies and strengthening the community as a whole. As College Visions expands its reach and helps more students reach their goal of attending college, we expect to see improvements across Providence neighborhoods.

This is a highly effective nonprofit that is connecting college-bound students to much needed resources, and we’re glad the Neighborhood BuildersŽ program could play a role in them reaching hundreds of additional deserving students. william F. Hatfield Rhode Island Market President, Bank of America

2014-2015 Financials

grants 57.3%

earned income 5.1%

Revenue Grants $367,417 Earned Income

$ 32,759

individual donations

Individual Donations

$105,503

16.5%

Special One-Time Gifts

$135,000

Other Income

$

Total Revenue

our funding

160

$640,839

special one-time gifts

expenses

21.1%

Personnel $322,023 Programs

$ 27,497

Occupancy

$ 19,030

Professional Services

$ 15,427

Special Events

$

Essential Infrastructure

$ 17,784

Capital Purchases

$

3,440

6,896

Total expenses

$412,097

TOTAL R E V ENUE

$640,839*

TOTAL EX P EN S E S

$412,097

other income .02%

personnel capital purchases 2%

78.1%

essential infrastructure 4.3% special events .8% professional services 3.7% occupancy 4.6%

our expenses

programs 6.8%

* See “The Path Ahead” (previous page) to learn how CV’s strong fiscal health enables greater stability and impact.

The Future of College Visions 100 new students every year Each year, College Visions turns away many qualified students. This

College Visions students come to the program from every public high school in Providence and many innerring suburbs, including:

year we were able to increase our class to 80 new CAP students

Adademy for Career Exploration

(up from 65 students). By 2018 we aim to enroll 100 new 12th

Central High School

graders annually.

Classical High School Cranston High School East

190 college graduates and counting...

Our goal is to reach more students every year while maintaining the same high level of outcomes. We know that low-income, first-

Davies Career & Technical High School E3 Academy Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex

generation Rhode Island students want to attend college, and we know that College Visions works—we have helped more than 190

other 3%

students graduate from college.

With your support we can create the path to a college degree for many more talented students.

caucasian 1%

latino 63%

how our students identify themselves

bi-/multi-racial 6% asianamerican 12% black/ africanamerican 15%

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

staff

Anne Brunson

Stephanie Ogidan Preston, Chair

Raul Cervantes

Managing Director of Retail Strategies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island

Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives and Commercial Operations, Citizens Bank

College Access Program Director

Garfield Davidson

Janice Prochaska

Access + Success Coach

Financial Planner, Barnum Financial Group

President and CEO, Pro-Change Behavior Systems

Joshua M. Greenberg

Sara Enright Director of Strategic Initiatives, Nalari Health

Henry Rodriguez

Michael Fournier

Bookkeeper, University of Rhode Island Bookstore Alumnus, College Vision

Chief Strategy Officer (Retired), YMCA of Greater Providence

Heather Hudson Policy Advisor, RI Governor Gina Raimondo

Jael Lopes Director of Strategic Partnerships, Providence Public School Department

Alexandra Moffatt, Vice-Chair Domestic Violence Advocate, Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County

Timothy Monroe, Treasurer Director of Development, Rhode Island Public Radio

Simon Moore, Ex Officio Executive Director, College Visions

Photography: Stephanie Alvarez Ewens Design: bottlerocket design group

Cindy Umanzor Project Manager, Pro-Change Behavior Systems

Emmanuel Ventura-Urena

Emily Gonzalez

Operations Manager

Moira Hinderer Development Director

Simon Moore Executive Director

Emily Rodriguez College Success Program Director

Commercial Banking Risk Specialist, Citizens Bank Alumnus, College Visions

Gleyribel Rodriguez

Jennifer Wood

Access + Success Coach

Deputy Secretary—General Counsel, RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Susan Youngwood Freelance Writer/Editor

Rafael Zapata, Secretary Associate Vice-President/Chief Diversity Officer, Providence College

Success Coach

Francesca Zetar

2014-2015 donors Foundation & Corporate Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Providence Shelter for Colored Children Rallis Conover Family Fund

Nancy Harlan5

$250+

Tucker Edmonds5*

Brooke & Eugene Lee5

Yetunde Afolabi*

Tim Monroe & Cheryl Nixon

Michael Brosterman5

Susan Youngwood & Richard Sedano*

Mary & Sandy Moore5 Simple Pleasures5

Elizabeth Burke Bryant & Daniel Bryant5

Bank of America Foundation

Rhode Island Foundation

BankRI

Santander Bank Foundation

Barrett Family Foundation

Southwest Airlines

Scott & Sally Stevenson

Jill & Andrew Caslowitz

Lyman B. Brainerd Jr. Family Foundation

Stranahan Foundation

Jennifer Wood & Bob Lee

Bill & Debbie Catone5

Carter Family Charitable Trust

TriMix Foundation

Mary Dexter Chafee Fund

Otto H. York Foundation

Taco/White Family Foundation

The Champlin Foundations Citizens Bank John Clarke Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Cox Charities Dexter Donation Commission Episcopal Charities of Rhode Island Sidney E. Frank Foundation Russell Grinnell Memorial Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Harry M., Miriam C. & William C. Horton Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

$2000+ Anonymous Anonymous5 Maria DeCarvalho & A.T. Wall eXposure, URI’s Multicultural Dance Team Alexandra & Thomas Moffatt5* Janice & James Prochaska5* Jack Richter & Cassandra Stafford-Richter5 Ingrid Tolentino5

June Rockwell Levy Foundation Making a Difference Fund at Providence College MetLife Auto & Home Nellie Mae Education Foundation City of Providence, Department of Planning & Development

$1000+ Nii-Ama Akuete Anonymous William Bennett Bottlerocket Design Group

Keith Catone & Dulari Tahbildar5*

$500+ Kolajo A. Afolabi* Anne Brunson* Jean Callaghan5 Michael Fournier & David Liddle Liz Glatzer Dione & William Kenyon Alice Moore Rebecca Murray5 James Olick & Deborah Obalil Joanne Rich & Bart van Belle5 Clay Rockefeller & Manya Rubinstein5 Angela Romans5 Sandy & Dick Spies Timothy Spurrell Anita Stafford Michael Stein & Hester Kaplan Emily Ustach & Mike Eng Rafael A. Zapata*

Howard & Nancy Chudacoff Grace Cleary Sara & Jeffrey Enright Elaine Fersh & Pat McGuigan5 Flatbread Providence, Inc. Foundation for Life, Inc. Jim Gannaway5 Bill & Ann Hinderer Tamara Kaplan5 Linda Kushner5

$100+ Kathleen Afolabi* Edie Ajello5 Mary Lou & Paul Aldinger5 Clarice Anderes & Jack Willis Anonymous Kathy & Carl Baer Bill & Diane Barrett5 José Batista5A Paola Beltránª Talia Borodin* Jeffrey & Jessica Brier Adam Bush

Simon Moore & Adeola Oredola5*

Clarice Cato Goodyear & Dent Goodyear

Stephanie Ogidan Preston & Shane Preston5

Josh Catone & Kate Aubin

Robert Orsi & Christine Helmer5 Linda Palmateer Pawtucket Credit Union Mercedes Quevedo5 Leah & Norbert Richter Hanna Rodriguez-Farrar5 Annie Steele*

Barbara & Anthony Cervone Hope Chu* Melanie & Stephen Coon Michele & Patrick Costaregni Mary Dalton & Bob Ameen5 Mary WC Daly Garfield Davidson & Shonté McDowell

Joseph & Brownsyne

*Denotes gift in memory of Kolajo Paul Afolabi | 5 Denotes 5 or more years of giving | ª Denotes gift by College Visions students and Alumni

2014-2015 donors (cont'd.)

Mike & Kelly DeAngelis

Jori Ketten5

Jasowolu Saygbeª

Anonymous*

Margaret & Jim Gardner5

Andrea DeMayo-Clancy & Bryan Clancy

Michelle Kweder

Peggy & Henry Sharpe5

Jackie & Anthony Ascrizzi5

Daniel Gatewood*

Gail & Joseph Edmonds

Christian Ladds

Karen Sheahan

Glenn Bautistaª

Lisa Glazer

Lisa Laforest*

Susan Smulyan5

Judy Beckman

Stephanie Greenhut*

Erika & Thomas Lamb

Chris Soto5*

Nicole Bennett*

Ryan Hathaway*

Ariel Lambe & Kevin Mercik5

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Candice Bocala*

Joanne Haynes

Richard & Karen Lambe5

Jack & Fran Steele*

Gretchen Brion-Meisels*

Richard & Judith Lappin

Tracy Steffes

Cara Camacho

Barrett & Mary Frances Hazeltine

Matt & Jean Marie Leonard

Deborah Steinberg & Ann Solomon5

Alexandra O. Carr*

Amy Lieb

Julia Steiny

Nancy Carriuolo

Thomasine Manickas

Stephanie Alvarez Ewens Photography

Cathy Chou*

Judith Swift & Charles Cofone

Kate & Arthur Chute

John Eng-Wong5 Cathy English5 Sandra Enos & Roberta Richman Chris Erway Mary-Beth Fafard5 Joan C. Ficke Chris Finlay5 Linford Fisher

Michael Marshall

Jai Flicker*

Mary & Don McClure

Jane & Barr Forman

Kira Mead*

Elizabeth Fradin

5

Marsha Miller & Robert Bedick5

Chris Gannaway

Mai See Moua

Yaniv Gelnik*

Gay & Art Nelson5

Geoff Gibson* Marc & Susan Greenfield

Monica Ng* 5

Samantha Hack Brian Hale* Jill Harrington Ann Hogg Jill Holloway5 Andrew Horwitz & Alexandra Callam5 Barbara Hurst5 Audie Jennings & Bill Jennings Andrew Karmiol

Pauline Ochiengª Lindsay Paiva R.David Persson* Ellen Polansky & Robert Chisholm Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. Rene Ravenel* Matthew Rufo*

Temple Beth El Cindy Umanzor* Bobby Van Druff* Debbie Van Marter John Vassalotti* Emmanuel Ventura-Urenaª Jennie Weiner* Imeh Williams* Anna Wilson-Wuestefeld Ginny Yang* Jason Yoon5 Seth & Tonya Zimring*

Marcia Russell*

Eric Chou Congressman David Cicilline Mary Cloud Ama Codjoe* Kath Connolly5 Kathryn Crewe Margarida Da Graca Maggie Dann* Carrie Driscoll* David Edelman* Wendy Edwards Kerry Evers Seth Familian* Mariluz Figueroa

Sebastian Ruth & Minna Choi5

$50- 99

Diana Fishman*

Hillary Salmons5

Mary Grace Almandrez*

Kier Flicker*

Phoebe Salten & Merrill Weingrod5

Anonymous (4)

Ellen Foley & Edward Fitzpatrick

Aneal Helms* Moira Hinderer & Hillary Reser* Alyssa Holland Short & Adam Short5 James Huguley5 Yadira Ibarra Pam Jennings Linda Katz Adrienne Keene* Nina Keough Janet Kwok* Mark Lambert Jane Leibrock* Deborah Levesque Zachary Levine Dan Lewis & Jan Fleischner5 Alden Maddry & Sharron Ou Jodi Martini Jasmine Mena Carolyn Snyder Menke* Ben & Paddy Moore5

*Denotes gift in memory of Kolajo Paul Afolabi | 5 Denotes 5 or more years of giving | ª Denotes gift by College Visions students and Alumni

“The simple reason I donate, and will continue to donate, to CV is because they do more than just get students into colleges. The work CV does changes lives and it has certainly changed mine for the better.”

Zainab Giwa, College Visions alumna; Eastern Connecticut state university ‘13 Bevin Murphy*

Karin & Edward Wetherill

Peter Chung*

David C-H Johnston

Robert Procaccianti

Monephia Nembhardª

Shelley Wilson

North Cooc*

Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor

Christina Richardsonª

Dionne Nickerson & Sebastien Ezzahi5

Gloria & Edwin Wilwayco

Adrienne Dorn*

Christina Kaian

Rachel Richie

George Nippo

Erin Wright-Gandhi*

Shawn Dunaway*

Michelle Kalinski*

Nancy Riley

Mary-Jo Younger

Elsa Dure*

Chad Kampe*

Rachel Ritchie

Francesca Zetar*

Debbie Edelberg*

Kari Kokka

Gleyribel Rodriguezª

Mona Egan

Alexa LeBoeuf*

Emily Rodriguez*

Erica Faulkner

Brenda López

Joshua Rodriguezª

Karen Feldman5*

Elizabeth Lugo*

Brenda Rosarioª

Al Fera

Pam MacColl

Haley Rosenfeld*

Julmar Figueroa

Andrea Martiesian & Phil Doughty5

Noreen Sandino

Lynn & Courtney McCracken

James Schlageter

Helen Osborne Lisa Patel Stevens* Becca Pollack* Tracie Potochnik* Alexander Pudlin* Jennifer Rossi Christina Russell* Erica Schachtell* Daniel Schleifer5

$1 - 50 ACHE RI Chapter Robinson Adames Adrienne Adeyemiª Anonymous (12) Phyllis Barmak

Carla Shalaby & Thomas Nikundiwe5*

Karen Baxter

Liuba Shapiro*

Alvaro Beltránª

Jason Showalter*

Alex Bernardin*

Sandra Showalter & Wayne Showalter*

Allan Borodin*

Rachel & Ben May Showalter*

Christopher Buttimer*

Sarah Staley & Mike Balulescu

Sol Camanzoª

Kathryn & David Swanson

Ashley Campo

Dominique Taylor*

James Canonicoª

Eric Tucker

Amanda Chapman

Carol Umanzor

Eva Chen*

Skyler Ng*

Marisa Chock*

Mindy Weber & Lowell McRoberts5

Van Chu*

Shannon Behrman*

Vasiliki Bovolaneas*

Christopher Fowler Cynthia Fredricks Gabriela Fullon* Dylan Gipson* Rene Goldstein Emily Gonzalez Mariely Gonzalez Mimo Gordon Riley Todd Grindal* Jacqueline Guerra Lofgren Joshu Harris* David Hartwell* Julia Hayden* Abel Hernandezª Marc & Hedwige Hiralien Mary Hutchins Bernice Ines*

Paula Meinel Bethany Meuleners* Hollis Mickey Nancy Miller Barbara Navas Pamela Nelson Erskine Stephanie Palmer Rachel Panitch Susan Pasquarelli Masha Paulª Marguerite Pile Alexander Poeter* Diana Polancoª Phyllis D. Poor Megan & Anthony Prentiss*

Sarah Scaramella Margot Schomp* Aron Shafran* Cindy Shuman Shirley A. Spater Freedman Denise Springborg Amy Strunk* John Sun Ellen Sweeney* Talia Triangolo Jessica Tuohy* Catherine Tyler* Michelle Veras* Tonya White* Catherine & Christopher Zabriskie

Broadening Horizons

College Visions 131 Washington Street, Suite 205 Providence, Rhode Island 02903 401.490.3996 | www.collegevisions.org