March, 2016
College Now is Looking for 200 Mentors by May 2! Apply Today!
 
You are invited to mentor a college student from Cleveland through College Now Greater Cleveland! Every year, College Now awards local students need-based college scholarships for the duration of their college career. Each scholarship recipient is also paired with a mentor to serve as a guide, sounding board and friend through his/her college journey. Another 200 mentors are needed for the incoming freshman class, so you are needed!
 
The Mentoring Program pairs College Now Scholarship recipients with professionals in the Cleveland area. Mentors support their mentees throughout all four years of the students' college career by helping them navigate any obstacles they may face that will prevent them from graduating. The structure of the program is very simple and easy to fit into the busy schedules of both working professionals and college students. Throughout their time together, pairs are asked to exchange two messages a month through an online platform and meet at least three times a year. Mentoring Program staff provide guidance and reminders for communication and plan several events during the academic year to help pairs arrange in person meetings.
 
The first three years of the program saw impressive results: 97% of mentored freshmen continued on to their sophomore year of college, compared to 53% of low-income students nationwide. This is due to the added support our students receive from mentors and College Now through the Mentoring Program. The time commitment is minimal (minimum of 2 hours per month), and the program is life-changing. To mentor, you must hold a college degree, pass a background check completed by College Now, and have reliable access to the Internet.
 
In the words of a current mentor, "[the program] has allowed me to make a friend that I not only can talk to about the little day to day experiences, but also be a part of some of the most defining years of her life. I've also learned a lot about myself and my own personal growth in the process; I can't recommend being a mentor highly enough!" Become a mentor, and change a life! Sign up by May 2 to make a difference in the life of college student from Greater Cleveland: www.collegenowgc.org/mentor.
 
If you are already a mentor and/or supporter, you are one of our most effective recruitment tools! Please help spread the word to your network. If you would like help getting information to your friends or colleagues, contact Madeline Rife (mrife@collegenowgc.org or 216.635.0163) about scheduling an information session at your work place or community organization.
College Now Partners with Cleveland International Film Festival to Present "The Bad Kids" 

To commemorate the Cleveland International Film Festival's (CIFF) 40th anniversary, College Now is partnering with the venerable festival to present "The Bad Kids," an inspiring documentary about the challenges facing a high school in an impoverished community.

"The Bad Kids" will be screened:

Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 9:25 p.m.
Monday, April 4, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. (with Film Forum to follow screening)

Many films sell out in advance! Don't miss your chance to see this or any of the other films (there are nearly 200 to choose from)! Click here to purchase tickets. Make sure to use the code CONOW to receive a $2 discount off of your ticket!

We hope to see you there!
Ohio AmeriCorps College Guides Seeking Soon-to-Be and Recent College Grads for Year of Service 

Since 2014, College Now has been the fiscal agent for the Ohio AmeriCorps College Guides program, managing 70 AmeriCorps College Guides in nine statewide locations. Additionally, College Now provides college access training for all 70 AmeriCorps members, including the ones serving in Cleveland. 

The AmeriCorps Ohio College Guides program places fresh college grads into middle schools, high schools and community centers to help guide traditionally underserved young people and get them the information and knowledge they need and deserve to prepare for, access and complete a postsecondary credential. The College Guides is a corps of driven and highly-qualified professionals getting a start in education whom students can relate with, confide in, and eventually emulate as they are guided in planning for their future and taking constructive steps toward successful completion of their goals.

We're recruiting for the 2016-17 school year! Do you know someone who would be interested in becoming a College Guide?

Create an application on the AmeriCorps site:

1. Go to my.americorps.gov
2. Click on the "Apply to Serve" link on the bottom of the home page
3. Follow the prompts to complete an online application

Apply to the Ohio College Guides:

2. Click on "Join AmeriCorps" found on the left-hand side of the home page.
3. Click on the "Advanced Search Opportunity" within the "Join AmeriCorps" box located on the right-hand side of the page.
4. Select "State/National" for program type.
5. Select "Ohio" for the state within the quick search function.
6. Type in "Ohio College Guides" for program name
7. Click on search.
8. The position descriptions will come up from each host site around the state. Click on the program name to view more information.
9. Once you do this, you will see an "Apply Now" link at the bottom of the page. Click on that and follow the prompts from there.