Minds Matter Houston

Minds Matter connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world.

Minds Matter Houston (MMH) is the locally funded, volunteer-led affiliate of the national Minds Matter (MM) organization, which has grown to 14 chapters nationwide since its 1991 founding in NYC. We have served local students since September 2017, providing a unique college readiness program helping dedicated, low-income high school students in Houston successfully gain admission to a 4-year college. MMH students commit to a 3-year program from sophomore to senior year of high school, which includes Saturday Sessions during the academic year and a 1-3 week residential college experience during summers. The program is built on 3 key pillars:

1) Core Academics: reading, writing and critical thinking-based curriculum and SAT test prep delivered weekly during Saturday Sessions.

2) Social-Emotional Learning: Mentoring focused on personal/professional growth and essential practical skills development, also delivered during Saturday Sessions.

3) Experiential Summer Program: Collegiate residential summer immersion experiences at universities across the US. Students gain experience with travel, cross-cultural exchanges, and a formal school application process.

Participation in our 3-year program is free for students. MMH currently has a 100% 4-year college enrollment and graduation rate, vs. 38% college enrollment and 16% 4-year college graduation rate in the wider Fifth Ward student population (per City of Houston).