Tanya Ilela and Sybil Owens

Ilela’s and Owen’s innovative teaching idea, “African American Male Empowerment & Success (AAMES),” focuses on providing the necessary tools for African American students at Hinkley High School to be able to overcome the opportunity gap faced within the community. With the hopes of catalyzing socioeconomic progress, AAMES leaders will meet daily to build core competencies in areas such as leadership, social and emotional health, Black history, communications and marketing, and finances. Through a strategic mentorship enabled by the Voya grant, college students will work with the Hinkley High School students to implement these projects and develop strengths-based leadership skills. Ilela and Owens aspire to empower this group of students to be successful and change the narrative, and that there will be an emergence of young AAMES Leaders in the community.