During the April break, Hartford Public Schools Social Worker, Merline Clark and seven chaperones took 37 students from 15 Greater Hartford area high schools to visit nine HBCU’s from Maryland to Atlanta. While the eight-day bus tour is the highlight of the experience, it’s important to note that this is a five-month process in which students and parents are required to attend monthly workshops that focus on the students’ academic, social, financial and emotional needs. “We explain to the families that our goal is to design a comprehensive tour experience that mirrors the actual process of applying, enrolling, matriculating and graduating with a degree. Thus, students are taught and required to submit student portfolios inclusive of resumes, research papers, college essays and official school character references." states Ms. Clark.
Students also visit historic cultural sites such as The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for non-Violence Social Change in Atlanta, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. and the (F.W Woolworth). International Civil Rights Center and Museum in North Carolina.
The tour group poses on the stairwell at Howard University
When asked how would she describe her experience over the past 31 years serving as co-chair of this Tour Ms. Clark responded, “The thirty-one years went by so quickly! I’m honored to be able to pour into the lives of young people and families who continue to remind me of the awesome positive role the tour plays in their lives as the Tour Team educates, prepares, advocates, exposes and challenges students to be relentless with their academic efforts, demonstration of character and networking."
See the tour's Reflection Book here:
The Tour has become inter-generational with parents who previously participated in the tour now bringing their high school daughter or son to participant in the Tour. Union Baptist Church HBCU Tour Ministry has engaged approximately 1,300 students and their parents in this tour experience.
The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Tour Chaperones
Union Baptist Church, Hartford maintains a lengthy legacy of providing services to HPS students and families. In addition to the 31 year HBCU Tour, the church for 23 years sponsored CLEP. (Children Learning Enrichment Program) for SAND, Clark and Milner Schools. The program was spearheaded by church members (many whom were retired educators.) who designed and sponsored a three-day afterschool program teaching math, science, reading readiness, music and poetic presentation.