New initiative aims to support Black students across Benton, Linn counties

A coalition of schools and community groups in Linn and Benton counties has launched a three-year program designed to boost academic achievement and cultural connection among Black middle and high school students.

The Black Excellence Initiative, funded through the Oregon Department of Education’s Student Success Plan grant, brings together multiple school districts and community organizations to create what organizers describe as a comprehensive support network for students in the region.

“By bringing together schools, families, and community organizations, we’re creating a network of support that addresses both academic excellence and belonging,” said Jason J. Dorsette, who serves as the project’s principal investigator.

The program targets five core areas of student development, including culturally sustaining education that incorporates Black history and identity into programming, as well as targeted mentorship and tutoring services that pair students with mentors focused on growth and leadership development.

The initiative also emphasizes strengthening ties between schools families, and community-based organizations through enhanced engagement efforts. Additionally, it will support student-led clubs and academic and cultural excursions while fostering belonging and success through culturally responsive educational practices.

Seven organizations have partnered to implement the program: the Linn Benton NAACP, African American Youth Leadership Coalition, KinCultivate, Philomath School District, Corvallis School District, Greater Albany Public Schools and Lebanon Community School District.

Dorsette emphasized that the initiative represents a significant regional commitment to ensuring academic success while helping students maintain connections to their cultural heritage throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley area.

The program launches as Oregon continues implementing its Student Success Act, which has directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward addressing educational equity and achievement gaps across the state.

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