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Achieve Miami Engages TFA Alumni, Macy's, and the Community to Help Students Put Their 'Best Look Forward' 

In December, Achieve Miami teamed up with Macy's to provide College Readiness Program participants from M-DCPS high schools an unforgettable day of styling and shopping. TFA teachers who serve as Achieve Miami mentors supported the event.


Achieve Miami Best Look Forward Event

January 25, 2019

The new year can mean many things—prioritizing our health, setting new goals, developing new ways of thinking, finding balance, a fresh start to focus on our dreams. For high school students across Miami, it often means expanding horizons and planning for a big next step: college!

New data shows that the number of low-income students enrolling in college has grown. For many of these students getting to and through college can be challenging. College readiness programs and excellent teachers can make the world of difference.

Programs like Achieve Miami are supporting local students’ path to college. As a long-time partner in the work to ensure every child has access to a lifetime of opportunity, Achieve Miami has enlisted Teach For America Miami-Dade teachers as after-school mentors of their College Readiness Program, ensuring student success in and out of the classroom.

Students try on Suits at Macy's

Achieve Miami’s college-readiness program supports students' personal and academic growth. As college readiness mentors with Achieve, TFA alumni develop the whole student, engaging students outside of traditional school hours. This ranges from help completing college applications to easing the transition from high school to college.

Amanda Ellman sits on Achieve Miami’s Junior Advisory Board and took the lead in coordinating this very special partnership. To help students “put their best look forward” in 2019, Achieve Miami mentors and TFA teachers, Johnny Andrade (TFA Miami-Dade ‘16), Henry Bareiss (Miami-Dade ‘16), Alethia Hinds (Miami-Dade’ 16), Devon Grussmark (Miami-Dade ‘16), McKenzi Payne (Miami-Dade ‘13), and Eric Steen (Miami-Dade ‘15), supported Achieve’s collaboration with Macy’s this past December.

Seniors and select juniors from Achieve Miami’s seven college readiness cohorts (Booker T. Washington High School, Miami Central High School, Miami Edison Senior High, Homestead Senior High School, and Miami Northwestern Senior High School) benefited from a day of workshops, which taught them how to dress for success in college and job interviews. Each student took home a new outfit and new skills. Thank you to Achieve Miami, Amanda Ellman, Macy’s, and our Teach For America teachers for making this day possible for students!