Emily Krzyzewski Center Inc

The emily k center's game plan: future program provides postsecondary information, advising and support to high school students in durham through strong partnerships with our local school district as well as local community-based organizations. To signify a more inclusive approach to postsecondary advising beyond traditional four-year colleges, the program name was changed from game plan: college to game plan: future at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. Through this program, we can contribute to both the district's and the center's shared goal of ensuring that all students have equitable access to the information and support they need to pursue their postsecondary goals. Students who will be the first in their family to attend college, who come from low income family backgrounds, and who are members of racial/ethnic groups that are under-represented in higher education are the target population for this program, although any student who resides in durham and/or attends a durham public schools high school can access the services.this year, the game plan: future program served 2,124 students through the delivery of 42 curriculum-based workshops and 30 special events or initiatives. As a result of participating in college access workshops, 83% of students reported an increase in knowledge gained about the college access topic presented. Additionally, our game plan: future team met the postsecondary planning needs of high school students through the delivery of 347 1:1 advising sessions to 215 students. These sessions supported students to move forward in their postsecondary exploration, planning and application completion processes. While our delivery of these services is designed to support any student who resides in or attends a high school in durham, we are especially focused on reaching students within our target population. Our most intensive service, 1:1 advising, was predominantly delivered to students within this target population: 44% of students will be the first in their family to attend college, 54% of students participate in the free and reduced priced lunch program (24% were unsure), and 82% of students were from racial backgrounds that are traditionally under-represented in higher education.the continuation of two special initiative projects next step teachers fellowship, and college jumpstart! Program helped the center increase its overall student reach. The next steps teacher fellowship is a high school teacher led program aimed at improving postsecondary culture within district high schools. 520 students engaged in postsecondary milestone completion projects aimed at improving confidence in postsecondary access. Overall, there was an average net decrease of 23.2% low knowledge/confidence and 34% increase in high knowledge/confidence about postsecondary milestones after participating in pilot, indicating a high rate of effectiveness in improving knowledge/confidence for students who participated.the college jumpstart! Program, a summer melt initiative, was aimed at increasing enrollment rates of local rising college first-year students. 36 students were engaged through these initiatives, 90% of whom fall within our target population based on the standards or underrepresented race in postsecondary environments, free/reduced lunch prices, or first-generation college students.15 of the 36 engaged participated in additional advising sessions focused on fall enrollment milestones.

In addition to postsecondary access programming, the center enhances the impact of local organizations through facility partnerships by serving as a home and resource for nonprofits, schools, and community groups as they convene, learn, and grow. In 2024-25 we served as the home gym for two schools and supported over 30 other organizations with weekly, monthly and annual meetings, programming, and event space. Organizations such as durham public schools and the durham charter school network directly reinforce our core mission areas while organizations such as the center for child and family health, nc farmworkers health program, and the growing club support the community ecosystem in which our students and families work and live. The center is open to facility partner usage on average 55 hours a week and provides space for free or at direct usage cost to 94% of these partners, resulting in significant rental savings and program impact for these organizations.