This Hispanic congregation is reaching out to Black and Hispanic teens in the tough Roxbury community of Boston to help prepare them for college through its Higher Education Resource Center (HERC). Its “Let’s Get Ready” program focuses on strengthening students’ academic skills while its weekly mentoring ministry matches urban teens with Christian college students who can help the high school students to grow more holistically. HERC offers classes to help prepare 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to increase their scores on standardized high school tests and college entrance tests (the MCAS and SAT exams). The Center also provides assistance to students and their families in completing college admissions and navigating financial aid processes.
