Research has proven that school climate and culture can influence children’s lives, and every community deserves its school(s) to have a culture that develops hope and aspiration. It takes leaders with the attributes and skills to direct systematic change in a school climate, over time, to change its culture. Throughout the evolution of the public school system from segregation to desegregation and what research identifies as re-segregation, I maintained the belief that all students, despite race or socio-economic status, are “at promise” of greatness and are capable of achieving high levels of success in something. It is my opinion that the biggest “at-risk” condition of African-Americans is the indoctrination and stigma of the “at-risk” label from cradle to grave. Having grown up poor in a class system where you had the low, middle, and high class poor, my middle thinking conditioned me that I could become more., and having been educated in a school where I was viewed and treated as “at-promise” of greatness, I know that mindset and high expectations have the greatest impact on children’s success in school and life.

This program is designed to help more schools become a “Beacon of Hope” in the African American Community.