College Now was humbled to receive a generous estate gift recently from Margie Bray. A donor to College Now for almost 20 years, Ms. Bray had a life-long passion for and deep commitment to education, recognizing its critical role in helping individuals pursue and realize their hopes and dreams.

While in graduate school at Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs in the early 1980s, Ms. Bray facilitated the design and implementation of a public, urban high school emphasizing experiential learning. The proposal she helped write in collaboration with Cleveland State University’s Marshall College of Law was funded, and the Law and Public Service Magnet High School was born. A partnership with both CSU’s Levin College and Law School, the school was one of the most successful Cleveland public high schools created as a result of the desegregation order mandated by the federal court.

Ms. Bray served as both a resource coordinator and project manager in the early years of the school, which was located in the Martin Luther King Jr. building at East 71^st and Hough Avenue. Ms. Bray is pictured in the photo above with students in the school’s greenhouse during its inaugural year, 1982-83.

Ms. Bray’s involvement in education was extensive, including the supervision of the writing and editing of An Educators’ Guide to Cleveland’s Resources: Business, Labor and Education; designing and teaching courses as a graduate assistant; coordinating tutorial services at CSU; and teaching developmental writing to community college students.

In addition, she and her husband, Chuck Hoven, were founding members of the Hessler Housing Cooperative, a non-equity housing cooperative designed to maintain affordable housing in the University Circle neighborhood, and she remained an active member throughout her life.

College Now is so grateful to Ms. Bray for her enduring support. 

YOU are needed to mentor a college student from Cleveland through the College Now Greater Cleveland Mentoring Program! Every year, College Now awards local students need-based college scholarships for the duration of their college career, and pairs these students with professionals in the Cleveland area who serve as a guide, sounding board, and friend through his/her college journey. Mentors support their mentees throughout the students' college career by helping them navigate obstacles and be successful in college. Currently, there are over 2,000 mentors in the program representing more than 500 area employers, and you are needed to join them next year!

The program is entirely online, and allows for the busy schedules of both working professionals and college students. Pairs exchange two messages a month through an online platform and connect virtually at least three times a year. Mentoring Program staff provide guidance and reminders for communication, and proactive support to both mentors and students.

The time commitment is minimal (average of 2 hours per month), and the program is life-changing. In the words of a current mentor, "[the program] has allowed me to make a friend that I not only can talk to about the little day to day experiences, but also be a part of some of the most defining years of her life. I've also learned a lot about myself and my own personal growth in the process; I can't recommend being a mentor highly enough!" Become a mentor, and change a life! To mentor, you must hold a college degree, pass a background check completed by College Now, and have reliable access to the Internet. Sign up here today!

If you are already a mentor and/or supporter, you are one of our most effective recruitment tools! Please help spread the word to your network. If you would like help getting information to your friends or colleagues, contact Jabari Dorsey (jdorsey@collegenowgc.org) about scheduling a virtual information session at your work place or community organization. You can also nominate someone to mentor – send them an e-card about getting involved – by clicking here.

College Now is excited to deepen its work with the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) through its Member Advocacy Fellowship program. College Now's Manager of Grant Development, Krissie Wells, will be part of the new class of NCAN Member Advocacy Fellows, joining 32 other college attainment practitioners who will engage in higher education policy discussions over the next year.

NCAN Member Advocacy Fellows also each recruit two college current college students to participate in this advocacy work, as well, who will serve as voices to help inform lawmakers of issues currently facing college students.

Advocacy fellows and students have already participated in initiatives such as NCAN's 2020 #Thankful4Pell #DoublePell Advocacy Week Campaign, which took place from November 16-November 20 and encouraged Congress members to consider doubling the maximum amount awarded through the Pell Grant.

You can learn more about NCAN's Member Advocacy Fellows and their upcoming work on NCAN's website. College Now looks forward to being involved in these educational policy discussions during a year when college students are facing unprecedented situations and when support for these students has never been more important.

College Now is ready to help students and their families have a strong school year by offering free virtual Key Events! These events will give students and families a chance to hear from College Now advisors on everything from how to have a strong senior year to college admissions during COVID-19 and more.

Virtual events will continue throughout the school year and are open to students and families in all districts. To review College Now's upcoming virtual events and register for sessions, visit College Now's website. Events are listed on the calendar at the bottom of the page.