Every year, 1,300 to 1,600 students drop out of Boston’s high schools. This translates to eight dropouts every day school is in session, and is equivalent to losing all 1,575 students enrolled at Madison Park High each year. Among Boston dropouts, approximately 70 percent are African American and Latino; 55 percent come from low-income families. Dropouts will earn almost $2 million less over a lifetime than those who obtain a bachelor’s degree. These are the sad statistics for low-income urban youth in Boston and in high schools across the country. But BUILD is changing them. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Boston Public Schools. We are currently serving more than 150 students at Jeremiah E. Burke High and Community Academy of Science and Health in Dorchester, Charlestown High in Charlestown, and Another Course to College in Brighton. Also exciting is the number of corporate partners who have come on board to provide mentors, business coaches and other volunteers to work with our students. These include State Street Corporation, Bain Capital Ventures, Mintz Levin, Goodwin Procter, John Hancock Financial Services, Reebok, Staples and National Amusements, to name a few.
BUILD Boston's second annual Youth Business Plan Competition will be held on Saturday, June 1st. We hope to see you there!
Shine on,
Ayele Shakur
Regional Executive Director
BUILD Greater Boston
