NCLC is a citywide postsecondary attainment collaborative that seeks to increase the percentage of Newark residents who hold degrees, certificates, and other high quality credentials to 25% by the year 2025.

1. The VISTA Year:
Accomplishments
and Challenges
Newark City of
Learning Collaborative

2. Newark City of
Learning
Collaborative
(NCLC)
Location:
Joseph C. Cornwall Center for
Metropolitan Studies
Rutgers University – Newark
Mission:
"To increase the percentage of
residents with postsecondary
degrees, certificates, and quality
credentials from the current 17
percent to 25 percent by 2025."
(nclc2025.org)
Partners:
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark Public Schools
Prudential
Victoria Foundation

3. Project: Focus and Scope
Focus: College/Education
Scope: As a VISTA at the NCLC, my responsibilities include:
• Providing programmatic support for one of the NCLC's two
college pathways program (Pathway to Achievement and
Success)
• Communications based projects (NCLC newsletter,
correspondence with parents/Newark Public School staff)
• Revamping and repurposing the NCLC's Student Advisory
Board

4. College Pathways – Pathways to
Achievement and Success (PAS)
Goal: To support Newark high school sophomores “to and through college”
Medium: Arts and culture, college readiness
Key Features: Five arts mediums (3D Graphic Design, Photography, Newark
Print Shop, Theatre Arts, Paul Robeson Gallery), College Readiness (Princeton
Review Foundation), Mentorship from current RU-Newark students

5. My Week:
In an average week, I:
1. Communicate with mentors, guidance counselors and
students apart of the PAS Program
2. Prepare materials for PAS Saturday Academies
3. Meet with Executive Director of the NCLC
4. During PAS Saturday Academy: assist with on-site
operations
Newly Integrated Roles:
1. Gather media for the NCLC newsletter
2. Reach out to community partners, Newark students/parents
regarding Student Advisory Board

6. Accomplishments
Help with the successful launch of the PAS Program
Collaborated with NCLC staff on communications (flyers for both
college pathways programs, preparing materials in-school
recruitment events)
Creating the “PAS Mentor Handbook” and serving as a direct source
of support for mentors
Getting to know students apart of both college pathways programs
and witnessing their growth in the past month
Maintaining a sense of humor ☺

7. Challenges
NCLC based:
• Getting parents/students onboard with the college pathways
program
• Student/mentor retention for both college pathways programs
Finding meaningful ways to engage the broader Newark
community
Personal:
• Quickly adjusting to the fast paced environment of the NCLC
• Adjusting my role to meet the needs of the NCLC and being
patient during this process!
• Managing work life/personal life (self-care)

8. Questions?