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Institute of Urban Education

W.E.B. Dubois Talented Tenth African American Male Academy 2008

From June 8 to June 27 Central State University's Institute of Urban Education provided a version of its residential summer camp, the W.E.B. Dubois Talented Tenth Academy, to young men who are enrolled in the Governor's program efforts to Increase the Graduation Rate.  The Institute and Governor's Office seized a unique opportunity to provide educational support to seventy-eight young men, who met at least one of four risk criteria that, un-addressed, might result in their dropping out of high school.

Classroom Learning

Pictures to Exchange

The Institute of Urban Education has been awarded a two year grant by the Governor's Office to Close the Achievement Gap to design culturally competent training and educational practices for teachers in thirteen districts in the state.   Two major goals of the Governor's Initiative are to halt the drastic numbers of African American young men who drop out of high school, and to provide educational support to them to foster educational success.    As the Institute of Urban Education’s signature program, the W.E.B. Dubois Talented Tenth Academy came to the notice of the Governor’s Office for Closing the Achievement Gap the idea was born that culturally competent educational and social support practices could be delivered to the young men directly.

Final Night "Etiquette Training"

Young men from Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dayton participated in three, one week long modified versions of the Talented Tenth Academy.   The standard W.E. B. Dubois Talented Tenth Academy consists of four summer programs for high school students that have an interest in engineering, science, math or technology. The residential program convenes on Central State's campus and runs for two weeks. Students experience economics, entrepreneurship, math, science engineering and technology concepts in addition to Learning to Learn and study skills.

Teamwork

 
In the modified camps, the young men experienced one to one and group time with a cadre of African American educational professionals, para-professionals and Central State college students.   The young men were provided support that ranged from educational to socio-emotional.  And, were  challenged through recreational, as well as rigorously physical, activity.   Etiquette training (compete with banquet) and dialogues about media portrayals of men and violence, self-discipline, and leadership were part of the camp curriculum.  

Each camp ended with an award ceremony.

Final Day Awards

  Camp attendees earned awards. Multiple award winners were the norm for each of the three camps, and even those who arrived to Central State University with skepticism and an expectation of being negatively singled out, left with smiles, raised self confidence, hope and a greater awareness of the (positive) options they could pursue to accomplish their goals.  

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