SBI @ Randolph

 
Originally located at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, SBI has been at A. Philip Randolph High School in west Harlem since the spring of 1991. From this location, SBI serves youth from twenty-five New York City com
munities, including Crown Heights, Jamaica, South Bronx, Fordham Road, Washington Heights and St. Albans. One of the few non-profit organizations based within a New York City public school, SBI is able to leverage the public investment in the Department of Education with private dollars and volunteer labor to improve outcomes for students in a school which prior to SBI's arrival had no cultural or career preparatory programs and very limited parent and community engagement.

 

SBI’s pilot program at A. Philip Randolph High School in West Harlem employs three complementary strategies: improving individual students’ lives, strengthening individual schools, and advocating for citizens to take responsibility for public schools.

 

1.      Improving young people’s career and education outcomes

SBI’s career programs are designed to help young people imagine and understand the range of educational and career possibilities available to them, and help them develop the skills to realize their dreams.

 

 College and Career Preparatory Institute (CCPI): The 250 students enrolled in CCPI meet twice a week for seven months, developing a portfolio of career goals, job readiness skills and resources. 
Lewis Leadership Program (LLP): LLP provides leadership training and year-long internship experience for 12 students;
Career Days: As part of the largest scale career day in the city, SBI brings over 200 professionals to A. Philip Randolph to give presentations on a wide range of career options, lead workshops on job readiness skills, and conduct mock interviews with students.
 

 

2.      Strengthening A. Philip Randolph High School

SBI’s school activities and services provide new opportunities in the arts for students.  SBI-sponsored school-wide events are the only times during the year that the full school comes together, and they serve to build a sense of community within the school that leads to a more peaceful and cohesive educational environment.

Dance, Vocal and Drama (DVD) clubs: SBI sponsors weekly Latin, West Indian and Urban Dance classes;
School-wide events: SBI produces five school-wide assemblies each year, that provide cultural enrichment as well as developing a sense of community for the students, staff and faculty of A. Phillip Randolph;
Drill Team: The Step Team meets weekly to develop complicated step routines following the Greek tradition.
 

3.      Increasing the public’s role in public education

SBI brings parents, professionals, corporations and community members into the schools, and enriches the schools through the public’s involvement

Project 300: SBI recruits parents to spend a day in the school, learning about how the school works, and how to best advocate for their children.
Facilitating Corporate Donations to Public Schools: SBI makes it easy for Corporations and individuals to make donations of time, money or capital to the schools.  Where the Department of Education is a large and daunting bureaucracy, SBI offers an easy and responsive system to facilitate donations and relationships.
Bringing Professionals into School: Through Career Day and other initiatives, SBI brings over 250 professionals into A. Phillip Randolph each year, introducing them to NYC public schools, and proving that their time and efforts make a real difference for young people.

For questions or requests please contact: info@soundbusiness.org