The Blackburn Foundation

Wilmer Mayor’s Back to School Extravaganza 2019

2019-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Join us for the Wilmer Mayor’s Back to School Extravaganza Saturday August 17, beginning at 9:00. You can donate funds online through the Blackburn Foundation.
https://blackburnfoundation.org/

Celebrating African American Educators

2019-03-18T21:21:00+00:00

On February 25th, Blackburn Foundation Vice President, and Dallas ISD Trustee, Dr. Lew Blackburn, hosted a reception to celebrate the work of African American Educators in Dallas ISD. The guest performer was Dallas ISD student, Skye Turner, recently seen on the Steve Harvey television show with Pattie LaBelle. The speakers were Shirley Ison-Newsome, former Dallas ISD Associate Superintendent, and Cora Garner, a first-year DeSoto ISD teacher.

Applying to College 101: The Waiting Game

2019-01-08T02:22:20+00:00

One of the mot challenging parts of the college application process is the waiting. It can seem like an eternity in the time between submitting your applications and when you hear back from your top-choice schools. Here’s are five things you can do to keep yourself busy and better prepare you for the Fall.

1. Stay focused on your academics. Grades still matter during your last semester of high school. Scholarships of financial awards can be impacted by drops in GPA, and colleges may revoke admissions status based on decreased academic performance.

2. Raise money. Whether it’s scouring the Internet for scholarship opportunities or get an after-school job, use the time you were spending on completing your applications to start earning extra money—trust me, you’ll need it. The more money you can earn, save, be awarded now, the less you’ll need to worry about it while you’re in school.

3. Start adulting. A big part of the college experience is living on your own. Learn how to cook a non-ramen meal. Educate yourself on personal finance and practice living on a budget. Take on household chores, like doing laundry, running errands, and grocery shopping.

4. Take an online course. Check-out online-learning platforms like edX and Coursera to see if your school(s) have classes available for you to take to prepare for the Fall. Doing so can give you a leg-up in being prepared for your future coursework and inform you on how you will be expected to perform.

5. Take a class for transfer credit. Save time and money by enrolling in a class at your local community college. Take a course from your anticipated school’s general education or graduation requirement curriculum to get it out of the way—just make sure that the credit will transfer before you enroll.

Applying to College 101: Campus Visits

2018-12-11T01:54:03+00:00

A successful college career not only depends upon your academic abilities, but on whether or not your school is a good “fit” for you The only way to truly address fit is by visiting campus.

Ideally, campus visits happen in the spring or fall before you apply for admissions, but this step in the admissions process can be cumbersome due to a number of factors, including travel, associated costs, and scheduling. If your campus visit options are limited, here are a few things to keep in mind in order to maximize your trip.

1. Check out Official Campus Visit Days. If possible, try to coordinate your trip with designated campus visit days organized by the Admissions Office. Doing so will save you a lot of leg work in the planning process, and can often include appointments or access to exclusive prospective student events. Don’t forget to register for such visits or schools may not be able to accommodate you.

2. Notify the Admissions Office. They can assist you in planning your visit, including setting up meetings with the financial aid office or faculty, arrange for you to sit in on a class, and even let you do your admissions interview (if required) on site.

3. Go to an event. Whether it’s a basketball game, a student organization meeting, or performing arts show, try and find an activity that piques your interest. Doing so will give you an idea of what student life is like on campus and what you might find yourself doing if you were a student there.

4. Take an official tour. Virtually all colleges offer a campus tour led by a student that will get you access to places you won’t have on your own, like residence halls, labs, athletic facilities, health centers, etc. Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to talk to a current student about their experience.

5. Eat the food. As a first-year student, you’ll most likely be eating in the dining hall(s) for most of your meals. Many colleges have upped their game when it comes to their food offerings, so take some time to check out your dining options to make sure your dietary needs will be met.

6. Talk to a professor. You’re going to school to get an education, after all. Meeting with a faculty member or academic administrator will give you an idea of what you can expect in regards to rigor and if their academic programs are focused on theory or application (i.e. how/why something happens or works versus doing or making something happen).

If you’re not able to visit campus, there are a few things you can do to get a feel whether or not a school is a good fit for you. Many colleges and universities host local events for prospective students. Even though you won’t be able to get an in-person perspective on what it is like to be a student, you will get the opportunity to meet admissions staff and ask them all of your question that you would on campus. You can also speak with an alumnus, ideally someone who majored in your intended area of study. When going with this route, it’s a good idea chat with someone who graduate within last five years, otherwise their experience may not be an accurate portrayal of current campus life.

Applying to College 101: Admission Essays

2018-11-15T17:57:30+00:00

Your admission essay serves as the cover letter to your college application. In 500-750 words, you will tell the admissions officer who you are beyond your resume and transcript. However, it’s easy to make many mistakes in so few words. Below are recommendations on how to write a admission essay that will stand out from the crowd—or stack, really.

1. Stay within the parameters of the essay prompt. If the word limit is 750, don’t try to get away with 825, admissions officers can tell the difference. Make sure you fully address or answer the question in the prompt. Also, don’t try to be too creative with the essay, like opting for poetry over prose, as this can be more distracting than distinguishing.

2. Be yourself. An admissions officer isn’t interested in an essay that tells them what you think they want to read. Write about something that is able to convey who you are as person, in your own voice. Using flowery language, an overly impressive vocabulary, or covering topics with which you are not fully familiar won’t ring true. Don’t be afraid to show off your personality.

3. Pick a topic that is both distinct and can be reasonably tackled within the word limit. The death of a loved one or an eye-opening mission trip may seem like great topics when writing about “a meaningful or personal identity developing experience,” except admissions officers have read thousands (probably more like tens of thousands) of these essays. Rather, pick something that reflects what you want to study and why. Maybe there was a moment in your chemistry class that you realized you want to research alternative fuel sources? Perhaps you discovered your passion for social justice while knocking on doors for a local campaign? It’s also not a bad idea to remind the admissions office why you want to go to their institution.

4. Proof read, proof read, proof read! It’s tempting to call it good when you’ve spent so much time carefully crafting and writing your essay, but no one’s first or second draft is perfect. Moreover, it’s hard to catch your own mistakes. Have someone else take a look at your essay to provide you feedback and give it a once-over for grammatical or mechanical errors. If you’re using the same essay for multiple applications, make sure you remove or change any institution-specific information.

5. Don’t be redundant. Remember, your admission essay is one more opportunity to remind the admissions office why you would be an excellent addition to their freshman class. Why would you waste it on telling them information you’ve already given them? They don’t need you to regurgitate your resume or your test scores—they need you to complete the picture of who you are beyond your accomplishments and scholastic ability.

Want more information on how to write an outstanding admission essay? There are many online tutorials or guides, but we recommend checking out Khan Academy’s Applying to College Course.

Applying to College 101: Letters of Recommendation

2018-11-02T22:44:18+00:00

You are going to need at least one letter of recommendation as part of your college application. While it is your recommender’s job to write and submit the letter, you have the responsibility of seeking out the best person to give you a reference and providing them the information or material they will need to offer a strong recommendation.

You will most likely need to provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher or person who can write about your academic achievements. You’ll also want them to be able to brag about your character and leadership skills. Chose a teacher who knows you from the classroom and your extra-curricular activities, and it’s always a bonus if the teacher is from a subject that you want to study in college. If you need additional references, pick someone who can write about your work ethic and community service, such as your work supervisor, faith leader, mentor, or community organizer. Remember, colleges and universities will not accept letters of recommendation from family members.

While most people are more than happy to write a letter of recommendation, make sure you have a backup reference in the event your first choice says they can’t give you a reference.

Once you’ve figured out who you think can write a great letter of recommendation, you should gather all of the information they will need to know to write and submit their reference. This information includes deadlines, online submission links, letter requirements (e.g. min/max length, topics to be covered, etc.), and maybe even a copy of your résumé to serve as a reference of all the amazing things you’ve done during high school.

Now, all you need to do is ask. If possible, ask your reference at least a month before the deadline, or from when you want to submit your application, in order to give them enough time to write, edit, and submit the letter. It’s okay to check-in once or twice to see where they are in the process. Keep in mind that you will not submit the letter yourself, rather, your reference will send it directly to the admissions office (via an online submission or in the mail).

Side Note: As part of the application process, you will be asked to sign a FERPA waiver for your letters of recommendation (FERPA is the law that keeps your educational record private). Signing the waiver, which is standard practice, means that the reference is not obligated to share a copy of the letter with you, and is seen as a good-faith effort to let your reference write candidly.

Once you know the letter has been submitted, be sure to thank your reference. A handwritten thank you card is always a nice gesture (and a good adulting habit), and let them know when you get your admissions decision. They’ll be more than happy to celebrate with you!

Applying to College 101: Early Admissions

2018-10-26T00:45:54+00:00

While it’s never too early to start thinking about college, applying for admission requires timing. Traditional students (that’s what colleges call those who go to college right out of high school) apply for admissions in December or January. Some schools even let you apply as late as mid-Spring. However, those who want to increase their chances at getting into an institution with a low acceptance rate often work hard to meet the early admissions deadline.

Applying for early admission means you submit your application by an earlier deadline set by the university, usually in November, and find out as early as January if you got it. But, it also comes with a few strings attached. Here’s what you need to know about early admission to decide if it’s the right choice for you.

First of all, not all colleges and universities have an early admission program, but those that do offer one of two types: early action and early decision. Early action means that you are not required to enroll if you are admitted. Early decision, however, means the school’s admissions decision is legally binding. In other words, by applying you are agreeing to go to that institution if you are admitted. You can only apply for early decision to one college, so make sure you know which type of program the school offers before you apply.

Keep in mind that early admissions does not guarantee that you’ll get in. Don’t wait to apply to other schools until you get your admissions decision—you run the risk of missing other application deadlines.

Early admissions might be the right choice for you if you want to increase your chances of getting into a selective or highly selective college (the smaller the applicant pool, the more your chances go up), but proceed with caution if financial aid will play a big role when deciding where to enroll. Early decision means you must accept the aid package the school gives you. Early action programs mean you have the comfort of knowing your spot is saved and the luxury of negotiating or shopping around at other schools to see what kind of financial aid package they may offer you.

If you have a really strong application: high test scores, good recommendations, stellar admissions essay, etc., then you might be ready to submit your application early. But, if you think you can raise your test scores, or add an additional community service project to your resume, you might be better off waiting until the traditional application deadline. Admissions officers care more about the quality of the applicants than they do about when an application was submitted.

Applying to College 101: The FAFSA

2018-10-16T00:43:10+00:00

You know you need to apply to college, but did you know you also need to apply for financial aid? The good news is that you don’t need to complete a separate financial aid request for each school you apply to (unless they ask you to do so). All you need to do is submit the FAFSA.

What’s the FAFSA and where do I find it?

FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and is the common form almost all colleges use to determine financial aid packages. You can complete and submit the FAFSA online at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. The FAFSA goes live every October 1st and is for the upcoming academic year. For example, the FAFSA application opening in October 2018 is the form needed for the 2019-2020 school year. Keep in mind, you’ll need to complete the FAFSA for each year you will be enrolled.

Is there a deadline?

Yes. . . and unfortunately it’s a bit complicated. Deadlines can depend upon the school, state (for public universities), and admissions consideration status. For example, those wanting to be considered for early admission may need to submit their FAFSA as early November or December, while other applicants may not need to submit until late spring. Deadline information should be available on colleges’ admissions sites.

Keep in mind that colleges and universities only have so much money available to give in student aid. So you’ll want to submit your FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for the maximum amount of aid.

How do I fill it out?

The FAFSA requires that both you and your parent provide information to determine the kind of aid for which you are eligible. You’ll answer questions to determine if you can be claimed as a dependent, share your parent’s demographic information, and provide your family’s financial/tax information.

It’s a good idea to have your tax paperwork and returns ready when you start to fill out the FAFSA so you don’t have to come back to it later. Some students miss out on financial aid because they forget to go back and complete this part of the FAFSA. If your parent files their taxes online, they made be able to import their tax information directly onto you application using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Don’t forget to sign and submit your form!

What if I have questions or need help?

There are many online resources to help you answer your questions or address your concerns. The U.S. Department of Education has many websites dedicated to making the FAFSA as easy as possible for students and their parents to complete.

What happens next?

Once submitted and processed, your FAFSA information will be shared with the institutions you listed on your application. It’s not a bad idea to reach out the schools to confirm they received it—many colleges and universities will not consider your admissions application complete until they receive your FAFSA.

You’ll also receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within a month of submitting your form. The SAR will show you a summary of the information you submitted and give you the opportunity to correct any errors.

Then, all you need to do is relax! Colleges and universities make aid decisions at different times in the admissions process, but you’ll learn about the aid you will receive through an award letter. These letters can be challenging to understand, so stay tuned for future posts on the types of aid and how to decode your student financial aid package.

Let’s Do It Big, Back To School Rally

2017-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

We’ve partnered with the City of Wilmer, Texas AD-HOC Committee to host the Let’s Do It Big, Back To School Rally! This epic rally will be held Saturday, August 19, 2017 starting at 9 AM. This will be a family-friendly event open to all residents of Wilmer, Texas.

We want to help all grade level students in Wilmer have what they need to succeed in school. Our aim is to supply each student with school supplies, backpacks, toiletries, snacks and hygiene products and much more. We also plan to serve awesome refreshments to the attendees. The overarching purpose for Let’s Do It Big, Back To School Rally is to encourage every student with the knowledge that the whole Wilmer, Texas community is in full support of their education.

If you’re interested in supporting this initiative, take a moment to donate now. All donations are tax-deductible. You can also spread the word with your friends and family in Wilmer. Share this page on Facebook and Twitter!

Support the Students

Event Details

Saturday, August 19, 2017

9 AM until 1 PM

Wilmer City Hall
101 Davidson Plaza
Wilmer, Texas 75172

Support the Students

Supporting the ACLU

2016-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

Last month, I saw the film Loving, based on the events that lead to the decision in Loving v. Virginia, which invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. I learned the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) played a pivotal role in righting this injustice.

One of the reasons I founded the Blackburn Foundation is to foster community development. We do this primarily via our academic pep rallies. The ACLU does so by ensuring that all members of our community are included. I’m not a lawyer, so the odds of me helping in court are pretty low. I do, however, have a bit of cash which I have now shared with the ACLU. I fear their services will be needed, now more than ever, given the current political/social climate.

If you’d like to donate to the ACLU, you can do so at https://aclu.org/donate.

The photograph (a reproduction of Grey Villet’s shot for LIFE) and letter I mailed earlier are linked below, if you’d like to see them.

Letter: PDF