We are education’s future.

THE CONTEXT

Nationally, only two percent of teachers are Black males, underscoring the glaring underrepresentation of Black male educators across the public K-12 continuum. Furthermore, according to the Center for American Progress, leaks in the pipeline for educators of color are riddled with multiple barriers. Two of the most pressing barriers are college completion and passage of licensure exams needed to work as an educator in K-12 settings. Thus, to help strengthen the Black and Brown male teacher pipeline, intentional steps must be taken to ensure that prospective male educators of color are both graduating and passing their licensure exams. 

what we do

The BELIEF Fellowship (Black and Brown Educators Lifting and Inspiring Education’s Future) recruits young men of color (any major) at two and four-year institutions of higher education interested in pursuing teaching in K-12 settings as a viable career path. Taking into consideration some of the barriers that impact matriculation into the teaching profession for Black and Brown men, the program focuses on college completion and passage of licensure exams needed to become a licensed/certified teacher. 

mission

We strive to increase the number of Black and Brown men teaching in classrooms by providing critical and intentional support services that increase college graduation and passage rates of education licensure exams required for teaching certifications. 

VISION

Our vision is that BELIEF will serve as a critical resource in strengthening the male educator pipeline of color. 

Impact

program pillars

  • Exposure

    Fellows experience activities that highlight the impact teachers have on students, families, and communities, and why teaching is a vocation. Fellows also attend events exposing Black and Brown male students from elementary through college to teaching careers.

  • Elevate

    With intentionality, BELIEF will partner with pertinent external stakeholders to ensure that all support services are geared toward achieving the program’s mission and vision.

  • Embrace

    Fellows will receive support services that include financial assistance, workshops, career coaching, and mentoring from veteran educators of color and other professionals to enhance graduation prospects and the passage of licensure exams.

Words From Our Fellows

  • “My dream and aspiration is not only to become an educator, but to become an educator on an intentional level. BELIEF has helped me understand the purpose of education and the role that I play. I’m thrilled to have the opportunnity to learn from brothers and mentors who not only believe in me, but believe in the future of every student.”

    — Marcellis McQueen

  • “My dream is to uplift struggling neighborhoods and provide opportunities for youth in low-income communities. I believe that integrating engineering and education can be a powerful way to achieve this goal. By introducing engineering concepts and skills to young people, we can inspire them to think creatively, solve problems, and pursue careers that can positively impact their communities. All Rise has supported me in pursuing this dream by providing me with the tools and resources to integrate engineering and education in meaningful ways.”

    — Zachary White

  • “I want to continue to use my love for teaching to support the needs of my community. Through teaching and the BELIEF program, I hope to be a role model and inspire my pupils to relentlessly chase their aspirations and goals.”

    — Dominique Washington

meet the 2024-25 fellows

Are You A Good Fit For The Program?

    • Men of color between 17-24 years of age

    • Documented enrollment in a two or four year college or university

    • Two letters of recommendations

    • Complete an application

    • Attend an interview

    • Apply annually for the scholarship through the application process

    • Maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA)

    • Attend required mentoring sessions and workshops

    • Attend and participate in a minimum of two community service projects each year

    • Attend 80% of the Praxis Core Preparation Course (if applicable)

    • Attend informational sessions with alternative education certification partners (if applicable)

    • Participation in a $2000 -$7000 annual scholarship opportunity

    • Mentoring support

    • Praxis test-taking skills workshops

    • Professional development

    • Networking opportunities

    • Workshops (resume building, interview preparation, financial literacy, mental health, and more)

READY TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT? APPLY TODAY!

Before applying, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with other critical elements about the program, including eligibility requirements.