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This painting of Martin Luther King Jr. hangs in the
Breakthrough Manchester office.

 Painted by Rob Surette at an event
sponsored by Jayme's Fund for Social Justice,
the portrait serves as a daily reminder of the
"fierce urgency of now."
Reflections on Martin Luther King Day
In Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, he spoke of the "great vaults of opportunity of this nation" as well as the "lonely islands of poverty." 

Breakthrough serves as a bridge between the two. In fact, the program is rooted in the image of a bridge. A bridge over the summer. A bridge to high school. A bridge to college. Ultimately, it is a bridge to possibility, a bridge of access, a bridge of hope. 
 
On the one hand, we know that we cannot afford to overlook the potential of the next generation, regardless of their neighborhood in which they live, the color of their skin, the language they speak at home, their socioeconomic level or their family status. 

On the other hand, we know that the development of good teachers is critical now and in the future. 

The beauty of Breakthrough is that it works on both of these fronts simultaneously. And you make all of this possible. 

All of you. 

Thank you for your support of our work, and for supporting the journey ahead for our students and emerging teachers.  You open doors to the future.


Partnerships, Pathways and Pipelines
In addition to our three most important partnerships with The Derryfield School, Southern New Hampshire University and the Manchester School District, we've been exploring others this winter.

For instance, a handful of the high school juniors and seniors who teach in our school-year Saturday program will be teaching those lessons again - this time at the Manchester Boys and Girls Club. (Speaking of the Club, we strongly support and look forward to participating in their community-wide initiative with the Granite YMCA to create a more structured collaboration to serve Manchester's kids.)

To develop the summer science class for our new class of rising ninth graders, we are tapping the Modeling Instruction approach at the AMTA and the Young Inventor's Program supported by the Academy for Applied Science in Concord.

After a year's hiatus to accommodate a programming shift, we will again take our oldest students to visit the NH Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF,) a key resource for first generation and limited opportunity students to reach and afford college.

Our partnership with Campus Compact of NH will allow our summer Teaching Fellows to qualify for the first time for an AmeriCorps Education Award this year; these Ed Awards can be used to pay college expenses and pay down student loans.  Our stipend, supplemented by The Ed Award and the financial aid we can offer through the endowed Elkin Teaching Scholarship funds, makes the invaluable summer Teaching Fellowship financially feasible for all college students.  
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Pipelines and Pathways
Breakthrough Manchester is a critical link in the PATHWAY for bright, limited opportunity students, and a PIPELINE for the development of the next generation of excellent teachers.  

Connect with us, so that we can better connect these pathways and pipelines for students!

It's Not Too Late - Apply as a Sixth Grade Student or as a Teaching Fellow
For Sixth Grade Students in Manchester
The application process is now open to join the Breakthrough community this summer. The deadline for student applications is March 10.  For more information and the application packet, click here.

For College Undergraduates
There is still time to apply to teach!   The final application deadline is February 23.  Find out why the Breakthrough experience has been named a Top Ten Internship for College Undergraduates in America by Princeton Review.  For more information and to access the application, click here.  

Our Mission
Our Vision
All young people, regardless of circumstance, can achieve their full potential as students, teachers and leaders.

Our Mission
The dual missions of Breakthrough Manchester are to launch promising Manchester middle school students, particularly those with limited opportunities, on the path to college while inspiring high school and college students to pursue careers in education.

We do this by:
* Recruiting and selectively admitting high-potential sixth graders with limited opportunities from Manchester middle schools for a tuition-free, three-year program
* Providing three rigorous, joyful academic summers and school year supports to admitted students during their middle school years
* Connecting ninth graders with the Breakthrough College-Bound program at Southern NH University to create a seamless pipeline of opportunity 
* Recruiting, training, mentoring and supporting college students, and some local high-achieving high school students, as excellent teachers
* Engaging a broad array of stakeholders in understanding, promoting, funding and championing both missions of Breakthrough. 

With thanks,

Becky Berk
Executive Director
Breakthrough Manchester
Breakthrough Manchester
2108 River Road
Manchester, NH  03104
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