BKCL Goes to Birmingham

This week we reached another milestone in the expansion of the organization. Black Kids Can Learn is now nationwide! Ok… maybe just regional. Nonetheless, our first “franchise” is now operational in Birmingham, Alabama. We took a day trip to meet with our Birmingham liaison, Chris Martin, and get things rolling.

Chris Martin (BKCL-Bham) with some kids
at a community service event during college

Chris is another Georgia Tech grad, hailing from Gadsden, Alabama. The BKCL mission quickly caught his attention, as he’s always held resentful sentiments about his own education. The valedictorian of his high school, Chris greeted college with strong ambitions. However, like many of his classmates, he soon realized that he was ill prepared for the rigors of a university course load. Years later, after securing a career, he’s taking his opportunity to help ensure that those coming after him fare much better.

Glen Iris Elementary, in the heart of downtown Birmingham, will host the first Birmingham Academic Mentor Program. The student body has a makeup of about 80% African-American children and 20% Hispanic children, who are all affected by an 87% poverty rate. Hopefully, BKCL, with the help of students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), will be a helpful addition to the academic and social culture at Glen Iris. Stay tuned for more updates!