Thread engages underperforming high school students confronting significant barriers outside of the classroom by providing each one with a family of committed volunteers and increased access to community resources. Thread fosters students' academic advancement and personal growth into self-motivated, resilient, and responsible citizens.
Thread believes that students experience the dire consequences of the poverty of isolation, including chronic absenteeism, course failure, and an increased risk of high school dropout. Despite rising average high school graduation rates across the city (roughly 75% overall), only 6% of 9th grade students with GPAs below 1.0 and early warning indicators such as poor attendance, behavior problems, and course failure graduate from high school within four years. Social isolation is the critical phenomenon that underlies these outcomes and prevents our young people from accessing the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.
Thread brings together individuals from across the city to form relationships and help students to overcome their challenges, graduate high school, and become self-motivated and self-supporting citizens.
Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle grant helped Thread to recruit, educate and prepare volunteers, collaborators and staff to form the Thread supportive families who engage with underperforming high school students in Baltimore schools where Thread operates. It expanded to its 4th high school where it more than doubled student enrollment - 112 new students amounting to a total 2.5% of BCPS system, with a goal of 7% or 20,000 students. 739 new volunteers with significant Touchpoint occurred all during the year.