A Better Chance Program celebrates 40th anniversary

By Phyllis Lehrer
Staff Writer

Published on May 01, 2009

EDITOR'S NOTE: Amherst's 250th anniversary coincides with milestones for a range of civic and cultural groups. In an occasional series, The Bulletin is profiling these groups. This week, the A Better Chance Program, which is marking its 40th anniversary.

The A Better Chance Program was created in response to the racial upheaval of the civil rights movement and the call to work for equality through educational opportunity.

The organization celebrates 40 years of enriching the community by considering the needs of those outside of Amherst, said Michael Hawkins, president of the ABC Board of Directors.

ABC will host a 40th anniversary gala Saturday at UMass with Gov. Deval Patrick, who was an ABC scholar (Visit www.amherstabetterchance.org for more information).

ABC brings students from disadvantaged high schools to obtain an education here. They live at the house on North Prospect Street with resident directors. More than 100 have gone through the program that is supported by host families, the board and tutors.

"I've seen the work of supporting our scholars become ever more labor intensive. It takes more time, more money, and more people to make it all work. I've seen the lives of the scholars grow more demanding, the social landscapes within which they live grow more complex. I've seen a steady expansion in the professional expertise and dedication of the board to meet these demands," said Hawkins, who is an ABC graduate and involved with the local program since 1993.

He cited community's continued generosity to meet the $110,000 annual budget. Without an endowment, funds have to be raised each year to meet operating costs. Support comes from a United Way contribution, private donations and the major fundraiser, the Fall Foliage Walk.

The question of whether the program will exist in 40 years has been discussed, Hawkins noted.

"It seems to me there's a different kind of conversation on race happening now, but one where the need for spirited involvement is no less great. Educational disadvantage for people of color in urban communities are, in some ways, as great as they were 40 years ago. Disparities persist," said Hawkins, associate dean of admissions at Amherst College.

Hawkins said he sees the young men "transformed before our eyes over four years."

ABC prepares students for the academic demands and independence of college. The program's impact is seen in college graduation rates that are near 100 percent.

"That's at least twice that for most young people in the communities from which our scholars hail," said Hawkins via email. The program has thrived for 40 years, even through challenging times because of the impact that the scholars have on the community. "There will always be a need for people to work together in community to create the kind of life-changing, community transforming educational experience that Amherst ABC represents."

Mitchell Smith personally witnessed the transforming experience as a resident director from 1981 to 1992.

"I will always value the ABC Program and what it has done to fill important roles and responsibilities in professions chosen by ABC graduates, which will make our society a greater one for generations to come," Smith said via email from California, where he is a senior consultant with Right Touch Enterprise Group.

Smith said the ABC years were formative years and the students are eternally grateful for the guidance and leadership that was given to them. Smith was drawn to the program while a UMass undergrad.

After graduating from college, he wanted to work in New York's inner city where he was born and raised to bring back some of the knowledge he learned. However, after reading articles about the educational inequalities coupled with articles about the ABC program and the opportunities offered, Smith said he became interested in the possibility of making a difference in the lives of students who would dare take a chance - A Better Chance.

As a resident director, Smith said he wanted to keep things manageable and simple as possible.

"We ran the program with love, respect and firmness. Love, because each of our students needed to feel that, although they were many miles away from their family and home environments. Respect, because in our home there were many personalities. We stressed the importance of respecting one another's differences. Firmness and fairness worked hand in hand.

There were rules and responsibilities.

As a result, most students matured and grew responsible in the areas of their lives that would make a difference."

One of the greatest challenges, according to Smith, were needed repairs and structural changes with a limited budget. The house was expanded and renovated via a capital campaign a decade ago.

Smith said he stays in touch with the students and is writing a book about his experience. "We will always be one big family," he said.

Phyllis Lehrer has lived in Amherst for 40 years. She has been a supporter of the A Better Chance Program and will be recognized at the Saturday event.