Breakthrough Atlanta’s summer program went ahead despite significant funding challenges, showcasing the resilience of staff and students alike.
Just a month prior to the start of the program, the organization learned that they would be losing $355,000 in AmeriCorps funding due to budget cuts initiated by the Trump administration.
Breakthrough’s CEO, Shields, expressed her shock at the announcement.
“It came at a point where we’d already accepted all the college students as teaching fellows, and we’d accepted all of the students into our programs,” she stated.
Faced with the harsh reality of either rescinding offers or scaling back their programs, Shields decided to prioritize the commitments made to students.
“Even if our grantor wasn’t committed to its promise and to Breakthrough, we were committed to fulfilling our promises to our students and teaching fellows,” she explained.
In a remarkable show of community support, the organization raised $150,000 through emergency fundraising efforts.
Despite this, they still had to draw from their nearly 30-year-old reserves for the remaining funds to ensure the summer program could continue, albeit reduced by a week.
Founded in 1996, Breakthrough Atlanta provides a six-year, tuition-free program aimed at supporting underserved students in the Atlanta area while simultaneously offering valuable teaching experiences for college students.
Over the years, the program has positively impacted more than 2,500 students and 500 teaching fellows.
One such success story is Que Howard, who joined the program as a rising seventh grader.
Reflecting on his experiences, Que highlighted the confidence he gained, particularly in public speaking.
“Public speaking is something that the program really helped with. I haven’t been afraid to actually express myself or express the way I feel about something,” he shared.
His mother, Mareka Howard, attended the graduation ceremony and spoke fondly of the transformative impact Breakthrough has had on her son.
“Que was born with several drugs in his system, and I took custody of him through DFCS when he was 6 months old,” she recounted.
Mareka expressed how Que struggled in a traditional public school environment, prompting her to seek programs that could foster his academic and social growth.
As a single mother working two jobs, she was particularly impressed by Que’s development, both academically and socially, especially as he now serves as president of GUIDE’s Youth Advisory Board.
After the graduation, Que drove to the University of Georgia to speak on a panel addressing fentanyl abuse—a testament to his growth.
Mareka stated, “He never had the confidence to go talk in front of people until he found Breakthrough, and now he’s been doing it ever since. That’s one of the things I’m so proud of him about. He’s one of the most confident speakers I’ve seen.”
Que is set to begin this next chapter at the New York Institute of Technology in September, which fills his mother with pride.
Despite the successes, uncertainty looms for the organization as they plan for the future.
Shields expressed doubts about admitting a new class of seventh graders next year, citing ongoing funding challenges.
Nevertheless, she takes pride in Breakthrough’s accomplishments this summer.
“To maintain our program is pretty great, especially at a time when a lot of other organizations are facing the same challenges we are with their grants and other sources of funding being cut,” she stated.
Shields feels encouraged by the community’s recognition of the importance of investing in children, which fuels her commitment to the mission of Breakthrough Atlanta.
image source from：ajc
