e CHANGE THE Narrativ

ANNUAL REPORT 2016

change the outcome Dear Fellow Dream Maker, Our Mission is to empower students in the to We believe in a Durham where all children own their education by developing the academic skills and personal are succeeding. We believe that together, well-being necessary to succeed in college and beyond. we can transform our community to make that dream become a reality.

Dreams that do not acknowledge the truth about the world in which they are born are in danger of remaining dreams and never being fulfilled.

As we work with our brilliant students and their families to ensure they have access to the opportunities and education they need to live out their full potential, we recognize that Student U does Photo courtesy of James Willamor not operate in a vacuum. We know that the context in which our students live, learn, and play influences their educational experiences and outcomes. As of 2016... As a result of structural racism, poverty, Over the past year, we have been reimagining our 28% of children in Durham live below the poverty level. 1 work to better meet the personal and institutional and other systemic injustices, first- challenges our students must overcome to thrive. generation college-bound students face 89% of white students in DPS graduate on time versus 77% of Latino students and 82% of African significant personal and institutional American students. 2 We invite you to join us as we obstacles to educational success. This Only 11% of low-income, first-generation college continue on this path. situation prevents our community from students are expected to graduate within 6 years. 3 Alexandra Zagbayou, Executive Director reaching its full potential. our work must Whites between the ages 25 and 29 are twice be rooted in this reality. as likely to have a Bachelor’s degree than Latinos or African Americans.4

Together we can change these outcomes.

1. City-Data 2. NC Department of Public Instruction 3. Pell Institute 4. U.S. Department of Education 2 To make our dream a reality, we have work to do. This work is our work. 2016 Together We must leverage our resources and work tirelessly in pursuit Student U of our long-term goals.

Our Student Population 2% 27% Multiracial REVENUE Individuals We walk alongside our students starting from the time they enter 2% 5% sixth grade through college graduation. White or Individuals $ 716,012 Organizations Caucasian and Corporations Organizations and Corporations $ 124,318 qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch. 57% 56% 89% Black or Foundations African-American Foundations $ 1,458,333 12% 39% Government Grants $ 322,670 Government Grants will be the first in their families to attend college. Hispanic 67% or Latino REVENUE TOTAL $ 2,621,333

Our Approach to change 40% EXPENSES Middle School We believe that a Durham where all children can succeed is possible. We believe that children are Program the most powerful change agents our community can leverage to realize that vision. We believe Middle School Program $ 762,703 31% that Student U’s role in creating a Durham where all children can succeed is in expanding the High School educational opportunities available to our students so that they may unlock their full potential High School Program $ 593,762 Program 12% and be the advocates for change within our community. College Success College Success Program $ 225,744 Program 11% Management and General $ 207,600 Management and General Our Long-term goals Fundraising $ 129,535 6% Fundraising EXPENSES TOTAL $ 1,919,344 Students Students Students Students become Durham achieve have the are on the traditional and is a place educational knowledge path to non-traditional leaders where all SUMMARY success. to achieve reaching in Durham and other children are financial their full communities and are succeeding. Revenue Total $ 2,621,333 security personal equipped to contribute to Expenditure Total $ 1,919,344 as adults. potential. long-term systemic change. TOTAL YEAR-END REVENUE $ 701,989 4 Head We know that all of our students are scholars and that each deserves to reach his Changing the Narrative or her fullest academic potential in the classroom. Student U’s full-time Learning The current narrative around why students are and Specialist partners with families to support individual students, working with them to understand their own brains, navigate the demands of school, and build the are not succeeding does not accurately depict the academic skills and confidence they need to becollege-bound . Our Learning brilliance of our students nor the brokenness of the Specialist also partners with full-time and part-time staff to ensure that all Student U academic programming is rooted in best instructional practices. We systems that surround them. Our students are scholars. know that every student at Student U has the capacity to be a brilliant thinker Our students have hearts full of love. Our students and learner. We strive as a team to create the space for each of our students have spirits defined by power and perseverance. Only to achieve academic greatness. when we change the narrative Can we begin to change outcomes and change the system. Heart We believe that in order for our students to succeed, we must also prioritize their personal well-being. Student U’s full-time Social Worker provides individual and group counseling to ensure that our students discover their best selves by having skills such as perseverance and emotional awareness. Our Social Worker provides support to students and their families at home, school, and during Student U programming, ensuring they are connected with the appropriate Desmond Jackson resources. Additionally, our Social Worker facilitates trainings for our staff about Student U Class of 2017 social and emotional health, including child development and approaches to 12th Grade at Hillside High School working with families, to equip our staff members with the tools they need to World-Class Athlete and 2016 Olympian best serve our community.

As an international paralympic athlete, Desmond contributes to the community by always making himself available to talk to kids, doctors, and a Spirit variety of other community members. He balances Interwoven into our work is a spirit of community between students, families, his commitment to academics and his own athletic and staff. We utilizerestorative justice practices as a way of thinking about career while finding time to give back by sharing his and responding to conflicts. It is our belief that the most effective way to story and hoping to inspire others in the process. encourage students to live out our core values is to proactively teach positive social interactions and then to address harms to our community after they occur. At Student U, our teachers and students model positive interactions and social-emotional skills by showing empathy and taking accountability for their actions. Through restoring relationships and working towards justice, we build strong community bonds that Photo courtesy of Deborah Jackson give us power. 6 Our students are change agents. We believe that education plays a critical role in Changing the Outcome giving our students the tools and opportunities they need to activate their agency. we are committed to walking with our students and their parents on their journey through college and beyond to reach our ultimate goal. Middle school Education The College Promise Program

59% Through the College Promise, Student U focuses on intentionally incorporating

57% college readiness into all components of curriculum beginning in sixth grade. We

45% 45% Tierra Winstead create experiences in which students are exposed to future professional opportunities 42% Student U Class of 2017 and ensure students build the skills required to seize these opportunities. 34%

33% 12th Grade at Hillside High School

28% Valedictorian of Hillside New Tech High School 19% Tierra is the Valedictorian of Hillside New MS Math Average MS Reading Average 8th Grade Science Average Tech High School. While managing a busy STUDENT U DPS DPS – Economically schedule, she works to maintain excellent Disadvantaged Students grades and to challenge herself by taking This chart shows proficiency levels of Student U students compared to Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Durham Public Schools students as a whole and Durham Public Schools In addition to thriving inside the classroom, students who are considered “economically disadvantaged” for the she energizes her community outside of the 2015–2016 school year. classroom. As a participant in Theta, theatre, music, Upward Bound, as well as interning at Student U, she is sharing her brilliance Personal Well-Being each day with her peers. Post-Secondary Education

100% 90% 89%

78% of students 70% of students reported 74% of students 77% of students reported 100% of students from 90% of graduating high school seniors 89% of Student U’s college students reported high high critical consciousness. reported high that being future-minded the classes of 2014, 2015, have enrolled in college, a post- from the classes of 2014, 2015, and self-worth. They are aware of perseverance. was “mostly like me” or and 2016 have graduated secondary institution, or the military 2016 have persisted in college, a post- structural inequality. “very much like me”. from high school. within their first year after high school. secondary institution, or the military. We partnered with a researcher from NC State to develop a survey that would help us understand the impacts that we have on our students in areas such as emotional health, leadership skills, and self-efficacy. Pre-college retreat 2016, recent high school graduates building leadership skills in a Trust Walk. 8 Making fearless dreams come true is tireless work. We are investing our time Our Community’s Commitment to ensure our vision for a Durham where one day all children can succeed becomes a reality.

Board of Directors Our Collaborators 84,760 Hours 1,410 hours Middle School Students Board of Directors Tiwana Adams Mark Kuhn • America Reads America • Mad Science Secretary of the Board Treasurer of the Board Counts at • Made in Durham Real Estate Agent President, Kuhn & • American Underground • Meals on Wheels Associates, Inc. • Assistance Travel & • Mindspire Tutoring and Deb Anderson Transport Test Prep Director, Wood Partners Bela Kussin • BCBS NC Foundation • MoneyThink at UNC-CH Educational Consultant • Book Harvest • Museum of Life and Science Mark Anderson • Capital Associated • Nasher Museum of Art 39,204 hours 3,240 hours Attorney at Law, Jerome Leathers Industries • NC Write Part-Time Staff College Students McGuire Woods LLP Principal, Southern High • Center for Death • Partners for Success at School, Durham Public Penalty Litigation Duke University Theus Armistead Schools • Crayons2Calculators • Racial Equity Institute 223,533 Former AT&T Executive • Durham Academy • Rotary Club of Durham Wynetta Lee • Durham Arts Council • Scholars Latino Robb Cadwallader Professor, School of • Durham Arts Guild Initiative at UNC-CH Hours worked at Student U Real Estate Entrepreneur Education, • Durham CAN • SEEDS Central University • Durham Chamber • Student Action with in 2016 towards a Durham where Jennifer Crawford of Commerce Farmworkers at UNC-CH Pediatrician, Teaching Dave Michelman • Durham Rescue Mission • The Adelante Coalition Assistant, Durham Academy Head of School, Duke School All children Can Succeed. • East Durham • The Hill Center 32,730 hours 3,930 hours Stephen Farmer Children’s Initiative • The Hub Farm Mark Trustin • El Centro Hispano • The Oak Foundation Full-Time Staff Volunteers Vice-Chair of the Board Attorney at Law, Trustin Law • Emily K Center • Thrills from the Grill Vice Provost for Enrollment • Essilor Vision Foundation • UNC Chapel Hill and Undergraduate Carmen Valdez • Farmer Foodshare • UNC Chapel Hill’s APPLES Admissions, UNC-CH Chair of Guardians for • Frolich Labs at UNC-CH Service-Learning Program Student U • Full Circle Interpreting • UNC-Chapel Hill School of Micah Gilmer Senior Office Assistant, • Huepa Culture Social Work Senior Partner, Durham County Department • Kidznotes • WUNC 30,810 hours 27,449 hours Frontline Solutions of Public Health • Latino Credit Union High School Students Parents and Families Lee Hark Lauren Whitehurst • Law Offices of Assistant Head of School Chair of the Board James Scott Farrin and Upper School Director, Co-founder, Sidekick Durham Academy Consulting, LLC Niadiquay Everette, a Tar Heel and Student U Class of 2015, teaching sixth grade Science at Summer Academy. 10 WE believe that a key to our success is consistency. The consistency of our 2016 students, our staff, our families, and the consistent investments from our Investors community in OUR vision for Durham. 

Founding partners • 21st Century Community • First Insurance Services, Inc. • Mary Mathew * • Tom Russell Charitable Learning Center • Fox Family Foundation • Medtronic Foundation, Inc • Regina Adams * • Robert Fryd • Michelman Family Fund • Triangle Community • Tiwana and Frank Adams • Micah and Jamaica Gilmer • Morgan Creek Foundation Foundation • Betsy Alden and • GlaxoSmithKline • Navillus Foundation – Backyard Fund Mark Rutledge Foundation • Wes and Elizabeth Newman – Durham Rotary • AmazonSmile Foundation • Barry and Lesley Gold • Oak Foundation Community Fund * • Frank and Anna Baldiga • Katherine Hanes * • John Page – Marcia Angle and • Kelly Barley * • Lona Hankins • Sarah and Manesh Patel * Mark Trustin Fund • Tucker and Katy Bartlett • Bobbie and Bill Hardaker • Julian and Jenevieve – Mark Higgins Community • Dan Baum • Joe Hejlek and Perpignano Enrichment Fund • Harry Bell * Aimee Della Porta • Geraldine Pesacreta – Regional Community • Patricia Blizzard * • Natacha Janvier-Derilus * • Zaneta Ponton * Endowment Fund • Carol Burk * • Wyatt Jernigan * • Debbie Proffitt * – Schmidt-Nielsen and LIFETIME TRANSFORMERS • Arbra Cates * • Jewish Communal Fund • Julian Robertson Claesson Family Fund • Chipotle Mexican Grill – Christina Bronec • Jennifer Rogers • Bettina Umstead Supporters for 9 consecutive years Supporters for 5 or more years • Damon Circosta – Gabelli Funds, LLC • Ron Rosbruch * • UNC Apples Service- • The Clorox Company – GAMC O Shareholder- • Walt and Patricia Rouse * Learning • Peter Aitken and • Mark and Cynthia Kuhn • Trudi Abel and • Jeff and Leslie Liss • Maris Cohen and Designated Charitable • Amy and Daniel Salo • United Way of the Maxine Okazala • Bela Kussin Noah Pickus • Suzie and Ben Lowe Ryan Lippel Contribution Program • Tim and Lisa Saunders Greater Triangle • Beth and Ed Anderson • Libby Lang • A.J. Fletcher Foundation • Sam and Sheila Miglarese • Brad and Whitney Corbett • Joy Kasson • Patricia Saylor • Carmen Valdez * • Chris and Linda Bailey • Stephen and Virginia Lang • Deb Anderson • Albert and Kathleen • Sarah Darwiche • Bernie and Judi Kimberg • Henry and Linda Scherich • Evan Walker-Wells * • Leigh and William Bordley • Eric Mlyn and Judy Byck • Pat and Theus Armistead Musciano • Annette DuBard and • Daniel and Amanda • Todd Seaver • William R. Kenan Jr. • Richard and Cynthia • Pete and Donna Moller • Robb and Kate • Emily Oliver and Andrew Wang Kimberg • Shared Visions Foundation Charitable Trust Brodhead • Mark and Nancy Ratner Cadwallader Benjamin Edwards • Cate Elander * • Wynetta Lee • Andrew Short and • Wired Triangle • Tony and Teddie Brown • Steve and Lao Schewel • Natalia Castillo - • Bruna Piccin and • Carolle Epstein • Dan and Amy Levine * Andrea Vizoso • Sandy and Aaron York • Heidi and Scott Carter • Lee and Carol Sullivan Escapada Living Jack Pucak • Anthony Ervin * • Lesley Levine and • Silverback Foundation Inc. • Nancy Yovetich and • Doug Cerny • Deborah and Thomas • Kristin and Jacob Clauson • Larry and Nancy • Exchange Club of Edwin Weinberg • Trudy Smith * Marty Kraut • Jennifer and Lawrence Swirsky-Sacchetti • F.M. Kirby Foundation Rocamora Greater Durham • Donn and Nancy Lewis • Katie Spencer • Alexandra Zagbayou Crawford • Jim and Lauren • Giarla and Michelson • Robert and Adele Schiff • Jonathan Farmer • Feng Li and Yuan Shi • Bradley and Tricia Staats • Claire DeLong – Whitehurst Charitable Foundation Family Foundation • Fidelity Charitable • Andrew and Jama Lidral * • Susan E. Stankavage The Butler Family • Emily Williams • Grable Foundation • State of NC DHHS - Foundation • Lilly Endowment * • State Employees Foundation • Lee and Marianne Hark Health Services – Gwendolyn Brooks • Theodora Lovejoy Combined Campaign * • Duke University Office • Jerry and Audrey Harnik • Stewards Fund – Holly Ivel and • Melissa Malouf • Redonnie Thomas of Durham and Regional • Thomas Henkel • Ginger Young and Matthew Smith • Mary Duke Biddle • Bob and Shirley Thompson Affairs • John and Celeste Kralovec Jonathan Wiener – Shell Schulte Fund * Foundation • Thrills from the Grill

* Welcoming new 2016 investors to the Student U family. 12 Our vision requires more from all of us as parents, students, community partners, investors, and of Student U as an institution. As We Look to 2017 But what? What is required of us now? It is time to courageously hold each other accountable for making decisions in our public and private spaces that actively bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice.

Courageously stand with us as students, parents, community partners, and investors to not just believe with us, but to actively fight with us; to continue to support us and invest in us as we deepen and reimagine our work; and to investigate your actions to ensure they are actively creating a Durham where all children can succeed. The consequence of our inaction and our complacency with the status quo is a world where our children are forced to still just dream of a day where their basic rights are protected.

When we need inspiration as we hold ourselves accountable for being our most Follow the Lead of Our Students. courageous selves, we look to our students.

This work is urgent. Zuri Perez Gianelly Vargas Santos & This work is ours. Student U Class of 2018 11th Grade at J.D. Clement Arleth Castillo Barreda The time is now. Early College High School Student U Class of 2017 12th Grade at City of Medicine Academy In solidarity for our collective vision, Zuri has been advocating with her family for several months around the wage theft Gia and Arleth have been instrumental in founding a experienced by her father and his coworkers Hispanic Student Union at City of Medicine Academy. on a construction site. She has bravely spoken They lead this organization of over 30 dues-paying AlexandraMs. Z Zagbayou out, voiced her concerns to the City Council, members who are committed to developing leadership Executive Director and given much of her time to this cause. among Latinos at CMA, as well as completing service projects in the community. Their first action was to raise awareness of National Hispanic Heritage month by disseminating information throughout CMA about the accomplishments of Latino nations and individuals.

14 600 E. Umstead St Durham, NC 27701 919-267-3958 Student Art: Bryce Davenport Art: Bryce Student

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