#CUNYTuesday Addresses a Critical Need by Raising Funds for Support Programs

At BMCC, advancing equity through the transformative power of education is the mission of many support programs designed to help Black and Latinx students achieve their goals. This year, BMCC is encouraging everyone to help fulfill this mission by contributing to the #CUNYTuesday fundraising campaign.

#CUNYTuesday is a CUNY-wide initiative, which coincides with National Giving Day, and BMCC is welcoming donations from employees, faculty, students, alumni and friends of the college. Contributing to #CUNYTuesday enables BMCC supporters to directly help programs that have proven success and address significant needs.

BMCC’s Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA), is firmly committed to increasing the graduation rates of groups that are severely underrepresented in higher education, particularly men of color. Participants of the program have shown a higher graduation rate than their peers outside UMLA — even as the gap between Black male student success and that of other groups has widened at BMCC over the years.

UMLA’s role became more critical when the coronavirus pandemic hit New York City and disproportionately impacted the economy and health of Black and Brown low-income neighborhoods. The program’s 344 student count in the 2019-2020 academic year decreased to 253 in the 2020-2021 period.

To help reverse that trend, BMCC will dedicate funds raised through the 2021 University-wide campaign #CUNYTuesday to the program. #CUNYTuesday is a CUNY initiative set for Tuesday, November 30 at BMCC and welcomes donations from employees, faculty, students, alumni and friends of the college. By contributing to CUNYTuesday, BMCC supporters can directly help a program that has proven success and meets a compelling need at the college.

“We’re trying to create a community and give our students the tools they need to not only be successful here at BMCC, but also at their next step; whether that is going to a four-year school or going straight to the workforce,” says UMLA Director Ashtian Holmes. “Many of our students also have creative passions and want to get into entrepreneurships so we provide networks and links for our students to succeed in all those ways.”

Recent BMCC alumnus Michael Dadzie was able to move his career goals forward, as a member of UMLA.

“While I was at UMLA, I heard about a program that was being offered through BMCC, which brought professionals from Goldman Sachs to campus,” says Mr. Dadzie. “Through networking, I was able to gain an internship this past summer with Goldman Sachs, which led to a full-time offer.”

Now a mentor with UMLA, he shares what he learned through that experience with current UMLA participants. “I came back to UMLA to be a peer mentor because I also believe in paying it forward. While I was at BMCC, I had so much opportunity — which, without being a part of UMLA, I wouldn’t have found.”

BMCC Theatre major and UMLA member Luis Leyva is also a peer mentor with the program. “I’m starting this week as a peer mentor and I’m very happy about that because I’ll be able to teach a younger person about the college experience, and help them have a really good journey — because that’s what college is; it’s a journey, an experience.”

Mr. Leyva plans to share not just tips and advice on navigating the college system, but strategies for handling life challenges that can affect a person academically.

“There are times a person goes through, certain problems that can affect their academic performance in a bad way,” he says. “It can either make or break them. Even I have had really bad moments in my college journey, especially with the pandemic. I had to really stand up for myself and rise to the challenge because that experience was either going to make me or break me, and it really made me.”

Business major Julius Morris agrees that overcoming challenges in both life and the classroom are all part of the college experience.

“There were times I wanted to quit,” he says. “I didn’t want to go forward. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. This is the best decision I’ve ever made. Yes, it is challenging, but with the help of UMLA I can get through any challenge. I recommend it to anyone. It opens our minds to so many different things. I thought I would be reading books all day, but no, I have the outlet of different people that I can communicate with, that help me on my journey.”

Another student support program empowering Black and Brown students is BMCC’s College Discovery (CD), a program that supports BMCC students so that they can achieve their goals in college and beyond. College Discovery works with BMCC students so they have the skills to do well in their classes, the financial help they may need, and personal and/or academic counseling. By offering in-person tutoring in a variety of academic subjects; E-tutoring from home; meetings with a CD counselor; Personal Enrichment Program (PEP) workshops and CD Toolkit which helps students develop techniques for success in school, College Discovery is available to help students earn their college degrees.

Earlier in 2021, BMCC launched the Conexiones & Connections program, which is open to all Latinx students who are interested in exploring and refining their purpose through their college experience. In addition to serving all students, the program offers a community of support for males of color. Through the program, Spanish-speaking staff members offer bilingual support for BMCC Latinx students. Students are eligible to receive incentives for active participation including stipends, summer and winter tuition waivers, and opportunities to apply for paid summer leadership and career prep programs.

This year, BMCC will dedicate funds raised through the 2021 University-wide campaign #CUNYTuesday to programs that help Black and Brown students find success inside and outside of the classroom.

Help us meet our goal and make a donation today!