On International Day of the Girl the Explorers and Kalamazoo Valley Community College made an historic announcement. After 11 years of helping girls explore the possibilities of life, the nonprofit has partnered to with KVCC to provide college classes for students are early as 6th grade. The announcement took place at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Texas Township campus on Oct. 11th with nearly 200 friends, family, and community supporters.

The partnership will allow Explorer girls, and now the Boys with Promise partners, to take classes as college students. The goal is to prepare, particularly Students of Color, with college prep that will propel them toward future success and take the financial burdens off their families.

While the Kalamazoo Promise provides scholarships for Kalamazoo Public School students after high school graduation, and duel enrollment programs aid high school juniors and seniors, the Explorer Career and College Academy will extend these opportunities to younger students and those not in the KPS school district.

The goal is to raise more than $10,000 toward scholarships to cover class course, fees, and books. The Lois Richmond Foundation contributed $3,000 to the fund upon hearing of its inception. The Richmonds also fund a scholarship program for students of Comstock Public Schools.

A total 25 students participate in the Career and College Academy led by Dr. Deborah Coates, dean of Early Middle College at KVCC. Under the direction of Coates, faculty and staff provide hands-on career and college programming to the Explorers on Saturdays. A community celebration will be held in March to celebrate the first credits earned by the Explorers.