Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Junior Scholars Program

Empowering Our Youth With The Knowledge Of Their African Cultural Heritage, The Black Experience In America, and African Diasporan History

A Saturday program for young people ages 11-17

“The Junior Scholars Program gives me something that I don’t get in school. I learn about black history and people who have paved the way for black people. This is an extracurricular advantage.” –Siddeqah Walker, 13

About the Junior Scholars Program:
The Junior Scholars Program, now entering it's eight year, is a Saturday school geared toward students of African descent throughout the New York Metropolitan area. Its primary goal is to ground young people in the histories and cultures of people throughout the African Diaspora. The program recruits youth between the ages of 11 and 17 for an intensive, 26-week, series of Saturday sessions, from 10am-3pm, designed to prepare them for intellectual and entrepreneurial careers.

Junior Scholars gain access to extensive resources at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—Where Every Month Is Black History Month.  It is expected that Junior Scholars will expand their knowledge of who they are as intellectual and artistic beings and will continue on the path prepared by their prolific and trailblazing ancestors.

“The mission of The Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program is to empower young black minds for optimal educational achievement and social and professional success.”—Howard Dodson, Schomburg Center Director

Program Content:

  • Lectures/Seminars (featuring leading authorities in African-American studies and living legends in black culture)
  • Full access to Schomburg Center collections and exhibitions for research projects
  • Video and film screenings
  • Cultural arts performances
  • Special projects workshops in music, theater, dance, video production, magazine publishing, photography, visual arts, spoken word, and web design
  • Professional development forums for careers in business, medicine, law, entertainment, education and performing arts
  • Educational tours of New York City historical and cultural sites
  • The annual Youth Summit—a culminating presentation and celebration in May.

Recruitment:
The Junior Scholars Program invites nominations of potential participants from educators, teachers, youth organizations, as well as religious, civic and cultural institutions and organizations. The nominated youth must complete an application (including a written statement indicating the applicant’s interest in the program) and an interview.

Prospective participants will be selected based on their compatibility with the program and on their ability to take full advantage of this unique learning opportunity.

Application deadline: Applications for the 2008-2009 year are now being accepted. Click here for a Junior Scholars Application (PDF).

Visit www.thejuniorscholars.org for more information, or:
Call:     (212) 491-2234
Fax:      (212) 491-2011
Email:  dhollman@nypl.org
Write:  The Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program
            Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
            515 Malcolm X Boulevard
            New York, NY 10037

The Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program Staff
Carlyle G. Leach, Director, cleach@nypl.org
Deirdre L. Hollman, Associate Director, dhollman@nypl.org