Introducing REACH University

Everything we do at the REACH is driven by demand from our families. And we heard our parents loud and clear: not only did they want the Summer Hub to return, they wanted us to expand to add more students, in more grades, and add outdoor activities. So that’s exactly what we’re doing: today the Summer Hub launches with 425 students — including REACH University, programming just for high schoolers. REACH University will launch later this month.

There is a growing national story about struggling high school attendance and engagement. Plus, our parents have never been happy with what their high schoolers are getting — it’s not setting them up for jobs or college. So we built REACH University as a way to re-engage high schoolers with relevant, high-quality, and exciting programming. Think everything from designing your own video game or building your own gaming computer, to building a robot, to getting to know local architects, to exploring creative writing with Black authors and more. This is what it looks like when you center the high school experience around the needs and aspirations of families, instead of the other way around.

Plus, all high school students in REACH U will get a mentor and earn $$ for participating. That’s right, students will get a stipend for every mentorship meeting and class they attend.

Another new addition to our Hub this summer? When we surveyed our families this spring, 85% of our families said they wanted outdoor activities. So while academic instruction will remain virtual, our students will learn how to build gaming computers in-person, there will be hiking meetups, a field day, and outdoor martial arts classes.

We are once again showing the system how we want our kids educated and our families served and delivering the solution.

Lakisha Young,
Co-Founder and CEO
The Oakland REACH