Resources
Part of the Arizona Department of Education’s efforts to connect our communities is our recognition of Black History Month and the importance of community organizations that serve our African American families and students.
To that end, the Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has dedicated the following section of our office's webpage to organizations that provide resources to African American students and family's.
Future Stars, Inc
Future Stars, Inc. provides an opportunity for youths in under-resourced communities to achieve their goals of higher education. Our programming includes college readiness, mentoring, and technology workshops—the Hands-On STEM program launched in 2015 with a kinesthetic learning approach. Kinesthetic learning is a style in which learning takes place by the students physically participating in activities rather than listening to a lecture or watching demonstrations. The impact the Hands-On STEM program has had on the students goes beyond the data/numbers and the pre and post-survey. The students have developed confidence in themselves, critical thinking skills, and improved their ability to solve problems. There is a motto in the class where the students are not to use the word “can’t” when working on a project. We do not say “it did not work” or “it is broken,” we say let’s “reengineer it” to figure out why it is not working. The words that we speak are all positive, so they know they can do anything!
Contact Information
Website: www.futurestarsaz.org
Phone: 623-221-0902
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tucson Educational Empowerment for Minorities
Tucson Educational Empowerment for Minorities' vision is to develop students who are educated, well-rounded, life-long learners that have a sensitivity to community needs. These individuals will be the trend and goal setters for future generations.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.teemaz.org/
Phone: 520-869-5885
E-Mail: Marie Cephers at [email protected]
Lights Camera Discover
Lights Camera Discover (LCD) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides underserved youth opportunities to develop confidence, build self-esteem, and learn teamwork by participating in a series of workshops that teach various aspects of performing and digital arts (digital filmmaking, photography, acting, screenwriting, webpage design & animation). Lights Camera Discover also provides students the resources to recognize entrepreneurship opportunities in digital skills (graphic design, web design, filmmaking, and game design). As part of our efforts to give youth a voice through the arts, Lights Camera Discover offers an on-going program to train local youth in digital storytelling and animation productions. Lights Camera Discovery is an award-winning year-round program in which students learn filmmaking and animation basics alongside anti-bullying and social awareness. During our sessions, students get to create projects of their own.
Contact Information
Website: www.lightscameradiscover.org
Phone: 855-523-7490
E-Mail: [email protected]
The Tucson Chapter of Jack and Jill Of American, Inc.
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is an organization of mothers dedicated to raising the next generation of African American leaders while enhancing the lives of all children. The Tucson Chapter was chartered in 1978 by twenty-two mothers with the desire to enhance leadership skills in children. We work to accomplish our mission by planning programming activities for our children, guided under a general five-point programmatic thrust: cultural awareness. educational development, health (education and advocacy), civic (legislative advocacy and service), and social/recreational areas. We are the premier African American family national organization.
Contact Information
Website: https://jackandjilltucson.org
E-Mail: [email protected]jackandjilltucson.org
Phoenix Chapter of the National Alliance of African American Athletes
The Phoenix Chapter of the National Alliance of African American Athletes is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works to uplift and mentor youth, focusing on African American males, through programs that prepare students for college; leveraging athletes as catalysts to inspire leadership while recognizing and rewarding academic, athletic, and community excellence. Our target group is African American male athletes ages 12 -18 years. We provide internships, community service, ACT/SAT Prep Classes, and educational online classes.
Contact Information
Website: https://phxchapter.org/
Phone: 888-749-2427
E-Mail: [email protected]
The 100 Black Men of Phoenix
The 100 Black Men of Phoenix (The 100) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of African Americans within the Phoenix, AZ metro area by enhancing educational and economic opportunities for all. We take an active leadership role in helping minority youth become contributing, competitive and valued members of society. Our two signature programs include: The Men of Tomorrow Academy (M.O.T.A.) - The 100 Black Men of Phoenix Men of Tomorrow Academy is a tuition-free leadership development program that serves to develop the social, cultural, intellectual, and physical well-being of male youth ages 12-18. Mentorship Education Network (M.E.N.) - The 100 Black Men of Phoenix Mentorship Education Network (M.E.N.) focuses on the positive self-empowerment of African- American and Hispanic adolescent males. The program consists of monthly field trips with 7th and 8th graders from the Roosevelt School District.
Contact Information
Website: https://100blackmenofphoenix.com/
E-Mail: [email protected]
Booker T. Washington Child Development, Inc.
Booker T. Washington was an educator, a former slave from Virginia. Booker T. Washington Child Development Center, Inc was founded in 1967 by the late Calvin C. Goode. The East Lake Park and Garfield communities did not have quality preschools that served black children. Mr. Goode believed that families in his community needed access to Early Education. The Head Start program was the answer to the War on Poverty under President Johnson’s administration. In that first year, the program served 40 children in the basement of First Institutional Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona. Today, Booker T. Washington Child Development is funded to serves 220 pre-school children ages 3 -5. We are a non -profit preschool, and families must qualify under the FPG to enroll in the program. We also have a limited number of FTF scholarships for families that qualify. The program focuses on children’s cognitive skills, social-emotional development, math & problem solving, language, and physical abilities. We believe meaningful play is essential to children’s growth and development. Children also receive physical, dental examinations along with hearing and vision screenings. The program serves 10% of children that have disabilities. Caseworkers also provide social services to families in need.
Contact Information
Website: www.btwchild.org
Phone: 602-252-4743
E-Mail: To get in touch with the Executive Director, please contact Ms. Kim Pollins at [email protected]
Youth World Education Project
The Mission: To bridge the gap between parental involvement, education, and workforce development with a system of supports that prepares youth to compete in the global economy and build social skills, resiliency, and self-sufficiency.
The Vision: To see all youth possess a sense of purpose, graduate from high school, and transition successfully to postsecondary education with parental involved support. Also to see all youth gain life skills needed to become thriving, confident adults.
Contact Information
Website: www.youthwep.org
Phone: 623-218-9488
E-Mail: [email protected]
Omega Youth Leadership Academy
Mission: To develop confident leaders of tomorrow that have an understanding and awareness of who they are and the ability to act as beacons of inspiration.
Vision: Omega Youth Leadership Academy (OYLA) is a youth development program designed to empower and educate males of color in 5th -12th grades to become global agents of change.
Contact Information
Website: www.oyla.org
Phone: 623-226-6952
E-Mail [email protected]
East Valley NAACP-Arizona (1008-B)
Our mission is to ensure the political, educational, social and economical equality of all persons and to eliminate race-based hatred and discrimination.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.evnaacp.org/
Phone: 480-442-1222
E-Mail: [email protected]
