FUTURES IGNITE INC

FUTURES IGNITE OPERATES SCHOOL-BASED CIVIC SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON STEM LEARNING CONNECTED TO REAL COMMUNITY CHALLENGES. THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE GREEN CORRIDOR PROGRAM, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, FIELDWORK, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS FOCUSED ON ISSUES SUCH AS AIR QUALITY, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 50 PARTNER INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, URBAN PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS, AND CITY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO REAL-WORLD EXPERTISE, MENTORSHIP, AND APPLIED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CONNECT CLASSROOM SCIENCE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE.TO DATE, MORE THAN 1000 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN CIVIC SCIENCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, AND 90% OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS REPORT INCREASED LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE AS A RESULT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT. THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, STUDENTS BUILD STEM KNOWLEDGE, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, AND EXPAND AWARENESS OF COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS IN SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE FIELDS.

FUTURES IGNITE PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE AND CAREER ADVISING TO ALL STUDENTS AT PARTNER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE BRONX AND UPPER MANHATTAN. WORKING IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, FUTURES IGNITE HELPS ENSURE AN ADVISING RATIO OF APPROXIMATELY ONE POSTSECONDARY COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 40 STUDENTS, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALIZED GUIDANCE IN SCHOOLS WHERE COUNSELOR-TO-STUDENT RATIOS OFTEN EXCEED NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.ADVISORS SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, FINANCIAL AID, AND POSTSECONDARY PLANNING, AND WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS AT NEW YORK STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIESPROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER PERSISTENCE AND GRADUATION RATES. APPROXIMATELY 85% OF FUTURES IGNITE STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR THESE PROGRAMS, AND THE ORGANIZATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS TO ENSURE THEY ARE MATCHED WITH INSTITUTIONS WHERE THEY CAN SUCCEED.FUTURES IGNITE ALSO SUPPORTS STUDENTS PURSUING PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS AND ALTERNATIVES TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, HELPING MATCH STUDENTS WITH CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, MILITARY SERVICE, OR WORKFORCE PATHWAYS ALIGNED WITH THEIR INTERESTS AND GOALS. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, EMBEDDING THESE SUPPORTS AS PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO ENSURE CONSISTENT GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR.