Postsecondary Success for Young Men of Color in Newark
In 2015, recognizing that many Newark residents lack the degrees and credentials
to participate in the city’s growing economy, leaders across New Jersey’s largest city
established a goal to raise the postsecondary attainment rate from 17 percent to
25 percent by the year 2025. This collective effort is facilitated by the Newark City
of Learning Collaborative (NCLC), a citywide initiative working to increase overall
college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates by drawing on the expertise of
organizational partners from a range of sectors: nonprofit, corporate, philanthropic,
municipal government, K-12 education, and higher education. As a result of these
coordinated efforts, Newark’s postsecondary attainment rate has grown to 21 percent
(Backstrand & Donaldson, June 2018).