On Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022, the Mission Society was honored to host Congressperson Adriano Espaillat at Harlem Renaissance High School.
They were joined by their Level Up students as they celebrated college decision day.
During the visit, Representative Espaillat had the opportunity to see their program in action and speak directly with students about their next steps post-graduation.
They also had the chance to reflect on their hopes for the city, and why programs like Level Up are integral to establishing a more equitable future.
When Representative Espaillat and his team at the school, students were in the midst of creating pennants for their colleges of choice and sharing their career ambitions.
Representative Espaillat offered them advice, affirming each young person in the room as he told them that their determination and compassion will lead them to success.
He spoke candidly about lessons he learned from his experiences growing up, and how it led him to his current career in politics.
In a one-on-one interview with Alex, a student in the program, Congressperson encouraged all young people to engage with the issues that matter most to them and find projects where they can ignite change.
The Congressperson and the Mission Society team took a moment to connect over the pivotal work they do in schools, and how it benefits communities across the city.
During a day when students were celebrating their dreams for the next phase in their lives, they were reminded of the value of offering programs dedicated to academic and social-emotional development.
They understand that supporting education for all is one of the most powerful ways that they can break down economic barriers, and ensure that no young person is prevented from accomplishing their most meaningful goals.
Representative Espaillat has played a crucial role in advocating for these programs, helping the Mission Society secure a recent federal earmark that will provide Level Up with $1.1 million.
This kind of tangible support from our representatives means that more students will benefit from their development programs, receiving career and college counseling, mental health support, internship offerings, volunteer opportunities, and more.
The day offered us all an opportunity to celebrate this momentous achievement, and to uplift the hard work, resilience, and heart of our students and educators.
They were so grateful to the Congressperson and his team, as well as to the staff and students of Harlem Renaissance High School, for making the visit memorable.
They thanked their student interviewer, Alex, Lorraine Mignotte, and Jaslyn Rojas for organizing the event.
To read more about the federal earmark and their work with Representative Espaillat, you can visit our blog or head to the Mission Society website to learn about their Level Up programs.
Mission Society, 646 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037, 212.674.3500, https://www.missionsociety.org/
Photo credit: Mission Society.
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