Charter School Student named an Ambassador to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference

August 23, 2019 – Somerset Prep North Lauderdale student Demetri Ellison has been invited to attend Educate, Enrich and Empower Experience in Washington D.C. as a guest of Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, Founder of the ‪5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a mentoring program that Demetri participates in. Taking place in Washington D.C. on September 12-15, 2019, this exciting initiative is designed to provide prospective 5000 Role Model Scholars with a first-hand academic and cultural enrichment experience to broaden their academic horizons.

Demetri, a senior, will also serve as one of the student Ambassadors for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBSF) Annual Legislative Conference, September 11 – 15, 2019 in Washington, D.C. The CBCF Annual Legislative Conference is the leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans and the global black community. Thought leaders, legislators and concerned citizens engage on economic development, civil and social justice, and public health and education issues.

Several years ago, Mrs. Donyale McGhee, the principal at Somerset Prep North Lauderdale, a K12 public charter schools in Broward County, started mentoring programs for her high school students. She created the Boys to Men mentoring program to assist male students identified to be at-risk of educational failure and in need of positive role models to help guide them in a positive direction. That program now works in partnership with the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project — a dropout prevention, mentoring program committed to closing the minority male achievement gap by guiding minority male students along a carefully charted path through grades K-12 and college or ensuring the attainment of other post-secondary credentials, and increasing their employability in higher wage, high skills jobs within high demand industries. Participating students are also exposed to valuable educational, political, and social leadership opportunities that are designed to develop and strengthen their leadership skills.

“The goal of starting the mentoring organizations on campus was to help young ladies and young men between the ages of 11 and 18 discover their hidden excellence, build their confidence, guide them in setting goals and work towards achieving them,” explains Mrs. McGhee, Principal. “Those clubs, the Ladies of Elegance and Boys 2 Men, have made a positive impact on hundreds of students at our school.” The programs are also credited for raising academic achievement. “The students have improved their ability to engage in conflict resolution, decreasing disciplinary concerns exponentially. They are also performing better academically and we expect an increase in graduation.”  For more information about Somerset Prep at North Lauderdale, a Broward County Public Charter School, click here.