Catalyst articles on keeping boys in school

I just read one of the current articles sent by Catalyst, Inc., titled THREE FRIENDS. It shows how the support of a principle, and a mentor provided by the Grand Boulevard Foundation, helped three young men stay in school and head to college.

The article said "Outside funding brought in the mentor, Cornelius Ellen, who gave the boys hope by telling them that they could go to college—and proving that he was for real."

In the final paragraphs though, was this:

"Ellen, however, faced the prospect of job-hunting. The Grand Boulevard Foundation grant that paid for his position had run out, and Dyett’s new principal, Robert McMiller, was still trying to find money in his budget to pick up Ellen’s salary. McMiller supports the school’s new approach. (Lemon left Dyett to become the principal of the new Chicago Talent Development High School slated to open this fall in West Garfield Park.)"


What does this tell us? The money ran out so the mentor may no longer be in the school. The Principle moved to another school, so there is someone new who has to have the same commitment, for the same results to be repeated.

If we don't enlist benefactors from the public, private, and business sector, to provide consistent funding so mentors and tutor/mentor programs are consistently available to kids, we can't expect to change the drop out problems, violence and other issues facing our inner cities.