December 2024: A Transformative Year at The Upward Project

Originally sent by Mindy Wright on December 18, 2024. This archived newsletter includes announcements and deadlines from that time.

Thanks to your unwavering support, The Upward Project has now empowered seven cohorts of Scholars, and we are deeply grateful for your investment in our mission. Your commitment is helping close the wealth gap in Boston and offering future leaders access to opportunities that were once out of reach.

This past year has been one of transformative growth and we are excited to share how your support drove our progress in 2024:

Our Unwavering Commitment:

• Strategic Growth: We continually assess our curriculum and support model through multiple surveys and data collection to ensure our work remains innovative and impactful, knowing that we are shaping the futures of our Scholars and their families for generations to come.

• Personalized Approach: While we are growing, we remain committed to our small cohort model. Each Scholar receives individualized attention that prioritizes depth over breadth.

• Cultural Responsiveness: Our 100% first-generation, low-income staff connects with Scholars through a trust-based, culturally responsive approach, meeting them where they are and supporting their unique needs.

Key Milestones:

• Building Our Team: This year we added a Career Success Program Manager, who is providing more personalized support to help students land highly competitive internships. As a result of this addition, we are ahead of our summer commitment goal with over ⅓ of our Scholars having already solidified their summer 2025 plans.

• Growing Our Cohort: This spring, we welcomed 14 Scholars, more than double the size of our first cohort. With each new group, we build stronger TUP communities, which allows us to deepen Scholar connections across college campuses and career pathways.

• Amplifying Our Impact: With over 100 nominations for 15 spots in our 2024 application cycle, our reputation in the Boston community has grown among school counselors in public, charter, and independent schools, as well as community-based organizations looking to supplement their college success and career development programs.

How You Can Help:

With an increase in our budget due to increasing our TUP Team and the number of Scholars we are looking to serve, we ask that you consider increasing your monthly donation or making an increased gift from last year. Your contribution will directly fuel our efforts to provide Scholars with the tools they need to succeed academically and professionally.

Thank you for being an essential part of this work. Your generosity has already made a profound difference, and with your continued support, we can do even more.

If you are interested in connecting with The Upward Project, please fill out our engagement interest form. A member of our team will reach out to you.