Our Crowdfunding Groups
Who We Are
The African American Male Research Initiative (AAMRI) is a faculty-led academic initiative rooted in evidence-based practices to promote academic excellence among African American males. AAMRI includes a research focus that informs public policy experts, practitioners, and concerned citizens on how best to create and maintain a culture of Black male excellence in K-20 settings. This research guides a hands-on practical approach to help AAMRI achieve its major goals: to increase the four-year graduation rate for African American males at The University of Texas at Austin and to increase the number of Black males attending four-year colleges and universities across the state of Texas.
Our Services
PowerHour Description
PowerHours are weekly empowerment sessions geared towards increasing the sense of belonging, support, and personal/professional development of young men. Given that Black students represent less than 5% of the total UT population, and Black males are even a small percentage of that number, AAMRI creates a space to assist these young men to intentionally and purposely connect with each other, as well as Black male faculty, staff, and professionals within the Austin community. PowerHours provide an atmosphere for young men to process their experiences, challenge their personal narratives, support their holistic growth, and connect with resources to propel them into their personal and professional life trajectories. PowerHours include food provided for the students in attendance, subject matter speakers to inform students and facilitate conversation, and time to network with other students, faculty/staff, and community professionals.
Why We Need Your Help
There are many costs associated to supporting these students with holistic development. Your donation will significantly aid students in receiving the additional support that contributes to their feelings of belonging and well-being. Your donations will go directly toward helping students perform at a higher level academically, pursuing higher goals with the confidence that they will achieve them, and becoming more engaged within the overall campus and local community. Your donation helps these students remember that THEY ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE!
Any size donation matters & makes the world of a difference!
Your donation will assist one student engage in leadership development by supporting their participation in a BOOST leadership building activity.
Your donation will give the young men of AAMRI the opportunity to gain knowledge and information from various subject matter expert speakers during PowerHour series.
Your donation will afford one young man the opportunity to attend a three-day personal development retreat (intense PowerHour), in which they will receive 2 nights lodging, 5 meals, a retreat shirt, and transportation to and from campus.
Your donation supports one AAMRI student attend a conference to further support their learning.
Your donation supports one full PowerHour for 40-50 young men, in which they are provided the space to process and talk about their experience, network with peers and professionals, and food for them to eat.
Your donation will provide a semester worth of College for A Day events, which serve as PowerHour recruiting of 20-25 potential high school students each event who can benefit from our AAMRI undergraduate opportunities and experiences.
Your donation will provide the opportunity to support the professional development of our AAMRI undergraduate students with the idea that PowerHours don't only take place on UT's campus, but can be effectively utilize through statewide connections and relationships.
Your donation will provide a one month worth of PowerHours for the young men of AAMRI.
Your donation will give 60-70 young men of AAMRI the opportunity to attend the annual Black Male Orientation, which serves as the very first-significant AAMRI event and represents foundation of PowerHours at it's largest scale.
Your donation will provide half a semester worth of PowerHours for the young men of AAMRI.
Your donation will provide a semester worth of PowerHours for the young men of AAMRI.
Your donation will provide a year's worth of PowerHours for the AAMRI men of UT.
