It never ceases to amaze me the number of nonprofits across the country truly contributing to a better tomorrow, actively seeking social change. Meet today’s BCG Charity Spotlight ACT-SO, a program by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), is an acronym that stands for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. Without question, now more than ever it is clear that it is going to take an entire village to educate a child. As the illiteracy and drop out rates continue to increase and African-American high school students consistently rank low on national tests and in college enrollment, the need for programs that challenge and encourage their academic and artistic development also increases. ACT-SO is focused on change. It is a student enrichment program that culminates in a local and national competition where students compete for awards, and prizes totaling over $50,000.
ACT-SO, often referred to as the “Olympics of the Mind”, seeks to promote the following among high school students of African-American descent:
- Positive self-esteem
- Positive interaction between our youth and the adult professional community
- Positive academic and artistic excellence
- High academic and cultural achievement
The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders; to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among students of African-American descent.
Students who participate in ACT-SO, compete with other students (locally) in up to 3 of 26 categories which includes sciences, humanities, performing arts, visual arts and business. The local competition serves to showcase the hard work students have put in all year long. Students receive medals and prizes provided by the local and regional sponsors and contributors. ACT-SO Students who receive gold medals on the local level then compete at the National Competition where they receive prizes and other rewards provided by national sponsors.
ACT-SO is rooted in the firm conviction that African American students can succeed and compete at the same or superior levels as their counterparts in classrooms, boardrooms and laboratories across this nation and abroad. The mission of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize and reward African-American youth who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence. If you are in the New Jersey area, be sure to check out and support the work of ACT-SO! For more information on ACT-SO visit them at www.actsonewjersey.org, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!
