CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY SERVICES

Results: Few agencies provide any support for this chronically under-served population; CCS is the only provider of such a multi-faceted program designed specifically to meet the needs of students matriculating in our community’s bi-lingual education program for new immigrant teens. We have seen clear evidence of the powerful impact possible when one program addresses all of the issues our students face through a holistic, proactive approach. National statistics for students of similar demographics to our City Links students are dim; low-income immigrant students struggle to graduate from high school, let alone attend and succeed in college. Our evaluative data proves City Links students are different. CCS recently hired a third party evaluator to conduct a more robust program evaluation to measure the impact of the program on 20 years’ of alumni. Through surveys and focus groups, we are gathering data from current and former students, academic tutors, mentors, and worksite supervisors. The preliminary data from surveyed alumni is extremely positive: 27% of those polled are currently attending or have completed a two-year post-secondary program, and 55% are currently enrolled or have completed a four-year college degree. Few programs can boast an 82% success rate for post-secondary enrollment for alumni; when factoring the unique challenges faced by our low-income immigrant students, we are confident our program model offers our students the opportunity to truly thrive.

Target demographics: empower at-risk and immigrant youth in Cambridge

Direct beneficiaries per year: 100 students achieve success.

Geographic areas served: Cambridge

Programs: college access and success programs to empower youth.