The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute was founded in 2002 to promote economic independence among Black Americans. It is named after Charles Hamilton Houston, a lawyer who led the legal battle for civil rights. The Institute runs educational programs to supplement public schools, including the STARS summer literacy program for young children and a Youth Empowerment Academy offering classes in various subjects. It also provides parent education programs. The goal is to address challenges facing the Black community and support youth and family success.

1. Charles Hamilton Houston Institute™, Inc.Charles Hamilton Houston Institute™, Inc.
20142014
© Charles Hamilton Houston Institute 2013© Charles Hamilton Houston Institute 2013
All Rights ReservedAll Rights Reserved

3. The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, a 501.c.3The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, a 501.c.3
corporation was founded in 2002 as an outgrowth of thecorporation was founded in 2002 as an outgrowth of the
publication of “Saving Black America” bypublication of “Saving Black America” by
Dr. John Y. Odom.Dr. John Y. Odom.

4. Charles Hamilton HoustonCharles Hamilton Houston
The Board of DirectorsThe Board of Directors
 Will GreenWill Green
 Ms. Pia JamesMs. Pia James
 Gregory JonesGregory Jones
 Ms. Shanee McCoyMs. Shanee McCoy
 John Y. Odom, Ph.D., PresidentJohn Y. Odom, Ph.D., President
 Rev. Walter RaglandRev. Walter Ragland
 Joseph Thomas, J.D.Joseph Thomas, J.D.
 Anthony Timmons, MBA, TreasurerAnthony Timmons, MBA, Treasurer

5. Charles Hamilton HoustonCharles Hamilton Houston
The NameThe Name
Professor Charles Hamilton HoustonProfessor Charles Hamilton Houston::
 The mastermind behind a law-based civil rightsThe mastermind behind a law-based civil rights
strategystrategy
 Phi Beta Kappa at Amherst UniversityPhi Beta Kappa at Amherst University
 Editor of the Harvard Law ReviewEditor of the Harvard Law Review
 Officer in WW IOfficer in WW I

6. Charles Hamilton HoustonCharles Hamilton Houston
The NameThe Name
Professor Charles Hamilton HoustonProfessor Charles Hamilton Houston::
 Dean of Howard University Law SchoolDean of Howard University Law School
 First director of NAACP Legal Defense FundFirst director of NAACP Legal Defense Fund
 The first Black lawyer to argue before the U.S.The first Black lawyer to argue before the U.S.
Supreme Court (he won all of his cases there)Supreme Court (he won all of his cases there)
 Laid groundwork for Brown v. Board of EducationLaid groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education
 Member of the Washington, D.C. School BoardMember of the Washington, D.C. School Board
 Teacher of and mentor to Justice Thurgood MarshallTeacher of and mentor to Justice Thurgood Marshall

7. The Charles Hamilton Houston InstituteThe Charles Hamilton Houston Institute
Vision StatementVision Statement
Economic independence forEconomic independence for
Black AmericansBlack Americans

8. Curriculum WheelCurriculum Wheel
The programs of The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute (CHHI) areThe programs of The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute (CHHI) are
designed to supplement public education, not to supplant them. Ourdesigned to supplement public education, not to supplant them. Our
curricular intentions are to reach youth through their own areas ofcurricular intentions are to reach youth through their own areas of
interest. As such, our programming is non-linear; and is more akin tointerest. As such, our programming is non-linear; and is more akin to
college offerings than to the lockstep curriculum of public schools. Ascollege offerings than to the lockstep curriculum of public schools. As
such, CHHI offers programs in the following areas:such, CHHI offers programs in the following areas:
Academics, Personal Development, Health and Wellness, BusinessAcademics, Personal Development, Health and Wellness, Business
Development, The Arts, Technology, Relationship Development,Development, The Arts, Technology, Relationship Development,
Service to Others, Ethnic Pride/Rights of Passage and ParentService to Others, Ethnic Pride/Rights of Passage and Parent
Education.Education.

10. SOME CHALLENGESSOME CHALLENGES
 Wisconsin incarcerates the highestWisconsin incarcerates the highest
percentage of its Black population among thepercentage of its Black population among the
50 states50 states
 Dane County incarcerates the highestDane County incarcerates the highest
percent of Black youth among all counties inpercent of Black youth among all counties in
the U.S.the U.S.
 A dollar circulates in the Asian AmericanA dollar circulates in the Asian American
community for up to 28 days; in the Jewishcommunity for up to 28 days; in the Jewish
community, 19 days; among Whites, 17community, 19 days; among Whites, 17
days; in the Black community, 6 hours!days; in the Black community, 6 hours!

11. Charles Hamilton Houston InstituteCharles Hamilton Houston Institute
Center for Youth EmpowermentCenter for Youth Empowerment
 Only Michigan ranked lower than WisconsinOnly Michigan ranked lower than Wisconsin
for Black male graduation ratesfor Black male graduation rates
 66% of Wisconsin’s 466% of Wisconsin’s 4thth
and 8and 8thth
grade Blackgrade Black
students read BELOW the basic levelstudents read BELOW the basic level
compared to 25% for WI white male studentscompared to 25% for WI white male students
 By 8By 8thth
, nearly 75% of Black boys scored, nearly 75% of Black boys scored
BELOW grade level in mathBELOW grade level in math
 Out-of-school suspensions: BlackOut-of-school suspensions: Black
males = 21%; White males = 4%males = 21%; White males = 4%

12. CHALLENGESCHALLENGES
 Black infant mortality is more than twice that ofBlack infant mortality is more than twice that of
WhitesWhites
 98% of Black money is spent outside of the Black98% of Black money is spent outside of the Black
communitycommunity
 The “academic gap” between majority students andThe “academic gap” between majority students and
students of color is wider in Wisconsin than in anystudents of color is wider in Wisconsin than in any
other stateother state

13. CharlesCharles Hamilton Houston Institute, Inc.Hamilton Houston Institute, Inc.
Our ResponseOur Response
 CHHI’s response to the pernicious realities facing African AmericanCHHI’s response to the pernicious realities facing African American
students and their families include focus on:students and their families include focus on:
 Student readiness for successful livesStudent readiness for successful lives
 Parental preparedness to support themselves and familiesParental preparedness to support themselves and families

14. Summer Teaching to AdvanceSummer Teaching to Advance
Reading Success (STARS)Reading Success (STARS)

15. STARSSTARS
Founded 25 years ago, by Annie Odom, STARS isFounded 25 years ago, by Annie Odom, STARS is
the oldest pre-kindergarten program in thethe oldest pre-kindergarten program in the
Madison schools. STARS provides 6 summerMadison schools. STARS provides 6 summer
weeks of basic instruction to 50 low performing 4-5weeks of basic instruction to 50 low performing 4-5
year olds. Students come from all ethnicities, butyear olds. Students come from all ethnicities, but
most are Black and Latino. STARS studentsmost are Black and Latino. STARS students
perform better in the fall than their cohorts whoperform better in the fall than their cohorts who
were not STARS students.were not STARS students.

16. STARS Students and ParentsSTARS Students and Parents

17. STARS ParentsSTARS Parents

18. STARS Students and ParentsSTARS Students and Parents

19. STARS Students and ParentsSTARS Students and Parents

20. CHHI – Youth Empowerment AcademyCHHI – Youth Empowerment Academy
Program ContentProgram Content
 The Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA)The Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA)
offers high quality, leading edge programsoffers high quality, leading edge programs
designed to supplement those of existingdesigned to supplement those of existing
educational institutions. Program offerings areeducational institutions. Program offerings are
based on existing and emerging needs.based on existing and emerging needs.

21. CHHI – Youth Empowerment AcademyCHHI – Youth Empowerment Academy
Sample ClassesSample Classes
 Science in the City -- lab experiments at the UW Chemistry Dept. under theScience in the City -- lab experiments at the UW Chemistry Dept. under the
direction of Prof. Bassam Shakhishiridirection of Prof. Bassam Shakhishiri
 Study Skills, Time Mgmt., Notetaking: Dr. Joann PritchettStudy Skills, Time Mgmt., Notetaking: Dr. Joann Pritchett
 Academics & Computer Gaming:Profs. Elizabeth Hayes and Jim GeeAcademics & Computer Gaming:Profs. Elizabeth Hayes and Jim Gee
 College Admission/Fin’l AidCollege Admission/Fin’l Aid
 Wealth Building/Financial Literacy: Robert Wynn, J.D.Wealth Building/Financial Literacy: Robert Wynn, J.D.
 Life Skills: Coach Eric StudesvilleLife Skills: Coach Eric Studesville
 Right With the Law: Police Chief Noble WrayRight With the Law: Police Chief Noble Wray
 Business Etiquette: Tracey McLeodBusiness Etiquette: Tracey McLeod
 Respect of Self & Others: Kiah Calmese Walker, AIDS NetworkRespect of Self & Others: Kiah Calmese Walker, AIDS Network
 Physical Fitness: Rebekah Lohre, Horizon Health & FitnessPhysical Fitness: Rebekah Lohre, Horizon Health & Fitness
 Events PlanningEvents Planning
 Behind the Stage Professions: Overture Center for the ArtsBehind the Stage Professions: Overture Center for the Arts
 Awards Speaker: David SylvesterAwards Speaker: David Sylvester

22. Parent EducationParent Education
 Recently CHHI initiated an 8 week parent educationRecently CHHI initiated an 8 week parent education
program, covering such topics as:program, covering such topics as:
 Working cooperatively with school professionalsWorking cooperatively with school professionals
 Completing one’s own educationCompleting one’s own education
 Applying for jobs, college, grants and aidApplying for jobs, college, grants and aid
 Conflict resolutionConflict resolution
 Punctuality and regular attendancePunctuality and regular attendance
 Business start-upsBusiness start-ups
 Inspiring studentsInspiring students

23. Madison native and Denver Broncos Assistant FootballMadison native and Denver Broncos Assistant Football
Coach Eric Studesville discusses sports careers thatCoach Eric Studesville discusses sports careers that
don’t involve being a playerdon’t involve being a player

24. Madison Police Chief Noble Wray discussesMadison Police Chief Noble Wray discusses
careers in law enforcementcareers in law enforcement

36. Future PlansFuture Plans
 Continue and enhance our STARSContinue and enhance our STARS
programprogram
 Continue our Parent Education initiativeContinue our Parent Education initiative
 Continue projects with teensContinue projects with teens
 Host an annual Awards Luncheon toHost an annual Awards Luncheon to
acknowledge local change agents and toacknowledge local change agents and to
thank supportsthank supports