FLINT, Michigan — On Thursday, Dec. 21 at 5 PM, Hailee Clack, founder of The Floyd and Brenda Clack (FBC) Initiative, will host the second annual 'Flint to HBCU' forum at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library at 1026 E. Kearsley St.
This forum is open to all middle and high school students interested in learning more about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The event aims to educate Flint youth on the culture of HBCUs and share their rich history while helping students choose which school is right for them and the best ways to navigate college successfully.
“This is an annual event, and each year, I want to bring a fresh set of speakers and make it bigger than the last. I do this because I love Flint, and I know how much potential is in the city. I just want them to see it as well,” said Clack.
The FBC Initiative will also be hosting panels with several HBCU representatives, alumni, and current students to share their experiences and provide additional insight into the possibilities that exist when considering an HBCU for higher education.
Research shows that although HBCUs represent only about
3% of all four-year colleges and universities, HBCUs produce nearly 20% of all Black college graduates. Their alumni make up half of Black lawyers and doctors and roughly 80% of Black judges. HBCU graduates also make up roughly 50% of
Black public school teachers, further speaking to the viability of HBCU graduates and the endless possibilities for students graduating from an HBCU.
Sharing these statistics and personal experiences is what Clack hopes to do to empower Flint youth to consider various schools for college.
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Current student and alumni panelists from the 1st annual 'Flint to HBCU' forum.Clack says, “This is a space to share our wealth of knowledge with the community. I want everyone to come with an open mind and lots of questions. This is a safe space to share all questions, comments, and concerns about anything related to college, our experiences at HBCUs, our internships, extracurriculars, etc.”
Once an HBCU tour participant, Clack credits
Motivational Foundation for the experience of visiting HBCU campuses and interacting with current students as one of the main reasons she decided to apply to HBCUs and eventually attend Hampton University. However, she realized after the tour that there weren’t any opportunities that connected Flint high school students interested in applying to HBCUs with those already attending HBCUs.
“Instead of complaining, once I was accepted into a number of HBCUs and committed to Hampton, I made it a priority to come back to the community that gave me so much, and give them the tools and create the platform for current HBCU students from Flint to see how far they have come, see the impact they have in our hometown, and to encourage the next generation of students to proudly represent the 810 in these schools. This is why I created my organization, The Floyd and Brenda Clack Initiative, and the Annual Flint to HBCU Forum,” said Clack.
Clack says this year, participants can look forward to several giveaways, breakout room activities, great food, and even better networking opportunities. However, the main message Clack wants Flint youth to take away from this forum is that HBCUs are just as important as any other college and/or university.
She shares just how important this is by urging students to consider all schools, especially HBCUs. “Please look into all of them and choose which one is right for you,” she says. “There are more schools than Spelman, Howard, and NCAT and that’s why I continuously have this event to promote all HBCUs, because they all matter.”
To learn more about the FBC Initiative, find and follow them on Facebook.
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