Nonprofit Spotlight: Pathways to Success

BY SYDNEY MASON

Second chances; that’s Pathways to Success’ purpose. Pathways to Success’ mission is to provide underserved youth an array of academic, social, experiential, and emotional tools and services to enhance their academic and post-grad success. This nonprofit organization helps hundreds of children each year reach their academic potential.

Pathways to Success’ programs are designed with the goal to help lower school dropout rates and build a strong community environment. Students enter the program in ninth grade and stay in it through their senior year plus one year after graduation to help with adjusting to either the work world, military, or college. Executive Director Fay Blake explains that “85-95 percent of participants are underserved youth.” Of those students, “98 percent graduate from high school and 96 percent go on to either college, the military, or find fulltime jobs and careers.”

Pathways follows a platform called CARE (consistent, authentic, respectful empowerment). Their holistic programming allows students to voluntarily participate in the program. Pathways program coordinators interact with students to create a respectful, dependable, and authentically transparent relationship while providing the much needed academic, social, and emotional support to successfully navigate their school and communities.

One of the most popular “pathways” available is the After School Program at Sussex Technical High School, which falls under their much broader Youth Program. This after-school pathway mirrors what is taught in other schools but in a different format. The program incorporates volunteer tutors and speakers who teach life, study, work, and leadership skills in addition to financial literacy education and opportunities for paid work-based learning. Many of the educational interactions do not fit into the rigors of the normal academic curricula. Oftentimes this is personalized to each student participant.

When asked what she enjoys most about Pathways to Success and what she finds most rewarding, Blake says, “Every day I get up, I’m excited about sowing wonderful seeds into the fabulous students that we serve. I think at the heart of me, I’m a servant leader which means giving the best of you that you can possibly give.”

Pathways to Success is more than just a program, it’s a place where many find comfort. Blake’s main concern is not reaching the students who “fall through the cracks.” Although sometimes a reality, her personal mission is to support as many young people as she can.

Currently, the organization operates in four schools—Milford High School, Cape Henlopen High School, Seaford High School, and Sussex Technical High School—with around 400 kids each year. The nonprofit is also poised for growth with plans to expand into the Polytech School District next year. The expansion would be funded by the Delaware Department of Labor with a goal to create a “robust work experience program” that partners with local businesses. Blake also plans to implement internship opportunities and shape new programs to help prepare students who decide that college isn’t their path of choice.

The pandemic significantly affected underserved youth not just financially but emotionally. As a result, the nonprofit hired a clinical social worker to address the needs of both the students and staff. Although the pandemic has presented its challenges, Blake prefers to consider the moment as an opportunity to build a stronger support system for their students as they look beyond the scope of education and into mental health and well-being.

Blake summarizes, “My heart has always been with underserved youth—I was one of those kids. When I retired, I thought what can I do to give back? Honestly, I am thrilled every single day that I get to do this because I know that I’m helping to change the life of someone that deserves it. To me, it can’t get any better than that.”

Sydney Mason interned for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce during the spring semester of her junior year. She is a communications major at the University of Delaware.