Telling a Better Story
Many inner-city students, who live in an adverse environment, begin to lose hope for their future. They don’t believe their story is going to lead to success. The CoreFire E-Portfolio gives youth the opportunity to tell a new story. Here’s what that would look like.
Let’s say Jackson is a 10th grader. With the CoreFire App, Jackson will be able to connect with teachers, mentors, coaches, youth leaders, and many more. As Jackson continues to grow his story, it can be viewed by potential employers, and university admission departments. They can see place’s he’s volunteered, internships he’s had, even testimonial comments from his coaches and teachers. This will not only get Jackson excited about pursing success, but it can help him land a job or get into college. The whole system is designed to recognize and reward effort. Jackson’s motivation to train, to volunteer, to have a positive attitude, increases because now his efforts can be documented and displayed. He is better prepared to enter the workforce and more engaged with his school and city. But most importantly, the E-Portfolio communicates the “life story” of Jackson which is much more fascinating than just his ACT score.
A survey by New Memphis Institute Fellows team conducted with over 42 businesses in Memphis, TN, demonstrated that 93 percent said they would use the CoreFire App to locate and learn about potential Interns. In face-to-face interviews with over 200 African American high school students, 100 percent said they would use the CoreFire E-Portfolio.
