Strong Women, Strong Futures. That is the name for the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee Network of partners who are working together to help create a new narrative to change negative messages girls and young women sometimes receive about pursuing more education beyond high school. Project GRAD is one of eight foundational members of the […]

During the Knox County School Board Workshop (12/4/19), Project GRAD Knoxville announced that it exceeded every Year One metric established under its 5-Year Memorandum of Agreement with Knox County Schools. Graduation rates went up at Austin-East and Fulton last school year. More of our graduates have gone on to pursue post-secondary education and more students […]

Participating in the National College Access Network (NCAN) annual meeting always results in a great learning experience. The annual conference attracts outstanding plenary speakers and more than 1100 attendees. The 2019 conference areas of emphasis provided more than 100 workshops that included diversity/equity/inclusion, serving students of color well, empowering students from low income/foster care circumstances, […]

Just after students left the buildings and before Project GRAD summer institutes began, the GRAD leadership team gathered to reflect on efforts during the 2018-19 school year to meet organizational metrics. Pulling away off-site for the day provided an opportunity to perform an uninterrupted quadrant analysis of whether actions and activities closely aligned with metrics, […]

Project GRAD pilots Urban Brilliance! a hands-on STEM experience Watch WATE coverage here. On May 8, nearly 200 elementary and middle school students participated in Project GRAD Knoxville’s first “Urban Brilliance!” STEM Experience (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) designed for the 12 GRAD supported K-8 schools. The new Change Center skating rink was transformed into an […]

Again, a very generous Knoxville regional community responded to the invitation to be part of the 2019 WATE Laptops for GRAD Scholars Telethon. Long a dream of news anchor and youth advocate Lori Tucker, the goal of the station’s telethon is to raise funds to provide a laptop computer to every Project GRAD Knoxville Scholarship […]

Since the early years of the organization’s 2001 beginning, Project GRAD Knoxville has periodically provided relevant professional development sessions (FREE) for youth serving partners and community/faith-based organizations serving the same students and families. Topics addressed deepen understanding of demographics served, raise awareness of in-school strategies, discuss important education policy, or build skills. Sessions may be […]

Ronni Chandler, Executive Director & CEO Thank you to all who contributed towards the upcoming 2019-2020 fiscal year by giving in the GRAD2020 year-end effort. About a quarter of the 1,000-plus grassroots supporters who were engaged last April made a financial commitment in the November/December window. While a few 2020 pledges are pending, gifts to […]

What a tremendous honor we had on September 17, 2018 at the Pellissippi State Magnolia Campus as we greeted many of the individuals who support the young people in center city public schools served by Project GRAD Knoxville. We are so fortunate to live in a community that cares about all children! Attending guests had […]