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Project TROY - For The Orgs
Project TROY - For The Orgs
Summary
Project Trojans Reaching Out to Youth (Project TROY) is an innovative educational program in which minority
youth are exposed to the positive nature of the University of Southern California. Project TROY's mission is to
provide young minority men with skills and characteristics in leadership, integrity, and academics that result in
our gentlemen succeeding in life. The purpose of the program is to expose Black and Latino youth at Animo
Locke Senior High School to the motivating and inspiring culture at USC.
Problem
The minority youth addressed by Project TROY includes the potentially challenging and turbulent
developmental periods when young adults begin to making decisions about their futures, seeking high
education, finding vocations and taking the first steps toward adult independence and self‐sufficiency.
According to an LA Times article on school dropout rates, about 29% of Black and Latino youth drop out of
school in Los Angeles County while about 40% of Black and Latino youth are college ready. With such a high
dropout rate and low levels of college preparedness, these youth are bound to wind up not pursuing any form
of higher education.
According to the State of California, Prison Industry Authority, 80‐90% of new inmates are Black and Latino
males. When entering the prison system, the Black and Latino population segregate from one another, building
no bond or relationship. This lack of a relationship and discrimination is carried with them upon their release
and back into the communities they came from. Then, segregation between these two populations is passed
down to the younger generations, carrying this mindset with them into the schools they attend.
For Animo Locke Senior High School, this lack of unity and prospect of higher education leads to negative
behaviors in and out of school. Project TROY seeks to address both these issues by building unity between
Black and Latino youth through a common goal of higher education.
Program Outcomes
By the end of school year 2010‐2011, Project TROY will have its 40 participating students at the minimum
required grade point average of 3.0 and grade level requirements, towards the path of graduation. All 40
participants will also participate in 120 hours community service.
Methods
Overview
Project TROY connects minority youth at Animo Locke Senior High School to the resources and positive
influence that the University of Southern California provides. To build this bridge, PROJECT TROY seeks to
accomplish the following three goals: (1) provide mentorship; (2) create a bond between black and brown
youth; and (3) foster academic awareness.
Selection Criteria
PROJECT TROY participants are Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors at Animo Locke Senior High School. They
are a mix of at‐risk students with low credits and GPA and the students with passing credit and GPA levels.
Major Components
Project TROY is a multi‐tiered and dual location program. The first major component for the program begins at
Animo Locke Senior High School. Twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the participating students will
meet to take part in study groups, discussions on grades and academics as well as go through leadership and
team‐building exercises.
The second major component for Project TROY is at the University of Southern California. Once a month, the
40 participating students will be taken together to spend an eight hour day on the USC campus. During the first
four hours, students will do their school work under the supervision of Animo Locke Senior High School
teachers and administrators. After eating lunch together, the second four hours will have the students
engrossed in USC life. Each participant in PROJECT TROY will be paired with an individual mentor provided by
USC's Black Alumni Association and USC's Latino Alumni Association. This mentorship is key as it gives each
student individualized attention and a mentor to help guide the students. The afternoon will also include
meeting with other Black and Latino leadership on campus, student organizations, meeting with professors
and attending some classes. These activities will provide the students with an idea of what college life and
higher education is like, giving them a tangible experience that they can build their own goals upon.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact Kareem Edouard at Reemkick@gmail.com.