The Black Star Project

Founded by Phillip Jackson in 1996, the Black Star Project is an educational nonprofit reform organization located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Its focus is to eliminate the racial academic achievement gap by improving the lives of those living in African American and Latino communities. By providing mentoring and tutoring services, the Black Star Project ensures that students, parents, and community members become productive citizens in their neighborhoods. The project focuses on one-on-one interactions with students; but also involves parents so that they can have positive influences on their children's education. The Black Star Project provides a range of activities including parent and mentoring programs, school outreach programs, special events and national initiatives. Programs The Black Star Project has a selection of diverse programs for children, parents, and community members listed on the Black Star Project's official website. The academic programs that are offered for African American youth include Saturday University, Math Boot Camp, Private Tutoring and reading academy. There are also parent programs like the Million Father's March, Father's Club and Parent University. The mentoring programs and special events are put in place in order to bring the African American and Latino communities together. In the end, the organization hopes to improve the lives of African American youth by focusing on education reform and fair discipline policies. On June 24, 2017, the Black Star Project started their fourth annual ceremony for black males’ graduation. At a Mass Black Male Graduation and a Transition to Manhood Ceremony, Philip Jackson outlines the Black Star Project's vision "To improve violence in Chicago, the best way to improve our city, is to improve these young men." Academic programs The academic programs include Saturday University, Math Boot Camp, Private Tutoring, and a reading academy for youth. All the students must register online. The academic programs are free except for private tutoring.