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Mount Vernon Youth Bureau to take 27 students on HBCU college tour under federally funded Ready for Life program
Summary
Executive Director Debbie Burrell Butler told council the Youth Bureau will take 27 students (and eight staff/chaperones) on a grant‑funded HBCU college tour visiting Bennett, Hampton, Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina A&T; the program is part of the federally funded Ready for Life grant and costs to the city are covered by the grant.
Debbie Burrell Butler, executive director of the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, briefed the City Council on an upcoming HBCU college tour for local high school students funded through the federally supported Ready for Life program.
Burrell Butler said this is the program’s fifth year and that the bureau has taken 95 youth on college tours year‑to‑date when including an upcoming winter‑break trip that will bring 27 additional students. She told the council the trips are fully funded by the Ready for Life grant and that the city will not incur direct costs for student participation.
The planned winter break itinerary (dates listed on the council agenda) includes visits to Bennett College, Hampton University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina A&T. Burrell Butler said the program covers transportation, hotel lodging and meals and that the bureau aims to expose students to campus life, admissions officials and program staff so students can better evaluate college options.
Burrell Butler framed the program as an exposure, education and empowerment initiative. She said students who participate sometimes apply to and ultimately enroll at colleges they visited on these tours. The presentation also noted that chaperones accompany each trip; for the winter trip Burrell Butler said there will be seven chaperones for the 27 students.
Council members praised the program and several expressed interest in observing or chaperoning future trips; Burrell Butler said the bureau would consider council participation on future tours. The presentation was informational and the agenda included an item authorizing eight staff and 27 youth to attend the February college tour; no vote occurred during the portion of the meeting in the provided transcript.
Direct quote: "It cost the city $0," Burrell Butler said, describing the grant coverage for the college tour. She added that the tours give students a chance to "see and meet and greet" campus administrators and that some students have never stayed in a hotel before, which she said makes the experience meaningful.
The bureau requested the council item authorizing travel be scheduled and Burrell Butler thanked council for continued support of youth programming.
