Skylar Mitchell is a sophomore at Spelman College in Georgia and recently wrote an inspiring and thoughtful commentary published in the NY Times, explaining her reasons for attending an HBCU. So we thought it would be helpful for young people and their parents to gain perspective from someone closer to home, someone who has matriculated and graduated from that same school of thought.

First Lady Monica Moss of Trinity United Church of Christ:
I consider my time at Spelman College to have been the most positively influential experience of my young adult life.
Mrs. Moss added that an HBCU:
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Equips young people for life in the real world because at the heart of the education is a love of self and an understanding of historical relevancy as a person of African descent in the United States of America.
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Provides a nurturing environment where young, African American men and women are not only accepted, but celebrated for their unique attributes and abilities.
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Allows for traditions to be established and perpetuated as students are immersed into the rich cultural framework of educational institutions born from the deep yearning of African American people to learn and to succeed in spite of a society that deemed them unworthy.
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Is in a sense, a museum of history where African American cultural contributions are curated so that future generations will have access to the traditions and history of their ancestors.
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Provides African American men and women the space and time to not only learn their history, but to celebrate it!
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Is an instant network where life-long connections are established and a mutual understanding of support is forged.
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Is relevant, powerful and unique and provides students with a rich heritage of traditions and connections to our American history.
Endeleo is hosting its summer college bus tour to the State of Alabama. For more information, please contact Carole Jacobs at 773-966-1583 or email her at cajacobs@trinitychicago.org.