Preparing for The Promise (cont.)

Internationally, the LINKS, Inc. members and 274 chapters are bonded by a chain of friendship and service with the commitment of improving the quality of life for others, particularly people of African descent.

Keeping The Promise
As an organization, the Kalamazoo Chapter of LINKS believes that today’s youth have never needed mentors and support more than they do now. The announcement of The Kalamazoo Promise has propelled the group into more aggressive action.

“Our urban student population needs additional help and support in order to fully access The Promise,” states Patricia Williams, chair of the LINKS Services to Youth facet. “They need coaching through school as preparation for life in the competitive state university environment.”

“Previous LINKS educational events have been successful, but they were one-time activities promoting single messages,” Ms. Williams continues.

The perceived challenges that LINKS members foresee graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools having, as they access The Promise’s benefits in post-secondary education, moves the LINKS to enhance their involvement with families. They are equally as interested in helping Battle Creek families who hope to one-day access benefits from that community’s Legacy Scholars Program.

“Every parent should have the opportunity to watch his/her child graduate from school and then succeed in life,” Ms. Williams emphatically points out.

Laying out their agenda, Patricia Williams explains that the LINKS is planning to follow today’s fifth graders through high school graduation, helping them along the way, and then measure their ability to succeed in college. Today’s leadership weekend is the fourth for many for the area’s girls.

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What is the Kalamazoo Promise?

A group of citizens interested in economic strength and quality of life in the City of Kalamazoo announced in the fall of 2005, a tremendous contribution on behalf of KPS students. All students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools, are residing in the district, and have been students four years or more will be given funding for college tuition and mandatory fees. The amount of available dollars depends on years of residency and the number of grades attended in KPS, up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees. The funds will be available to use at any public university or community college in the State of Michigan.

“There is no doubt in my mind,” said School Superintendent, Janice Brown, “that this will spur housing sales, attract new business development, and add to an already solid quality of life in Kalamazoo.

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