OUR STORY
In 2005, music industry executive J.P Taylor and former educator, turned celebrity event publicist, Tonya Lewis both learned about the horrifying dropout statistics plaguing students across New York City schools. Moved by this, the two combined their passion for supporting youth, and their entertainment industry relationships and resources to develop I WILL GRADUATE Inc., and The Entertainers for Education Alliance "now known as" the I WILL GRADUATE Youth Development Program.
Since, I WILL GRADUATE has been dedicated to serving and empowering students and families in New York City. The I WILL GRADUATE programs are designed to inspire school aged youth to take initiative in bettering their futures thorough : arts-in-education, college/career guidance, life skills development, leadership development, academic support, social emotional support, mentoring and peer mediation programs.
I WILL GRADUATE believes every student deserves a high-quality education and strives to make that mission a reality by maintaining impactful partnerships with schools and educational professionals across the city. Through those partnerships, we are committed to strengthening our communities and identifying the root causes of the inequities working class, BIPOC, and under-resourced communities face.
Young people are at the center of all that we do and we will continue to connect youth and their families to impactful resources and opportunities that will result in their ultimate success.
