I Am College is a non-profit organization geared toward inspiring young men of color to believe they have what it takes to be successful in life. The core values of the organization are mentorship, leadership, achievement, commitment, education, and service.
The I Am College organization was created in 2008 on the campus of Albany State University initially to address the consistently rising high school dropout rates among African- American males. Stephen Churn, the organization’s Founder and Executive Director, was moved by the defeatist mentality of some his peers he encountered upon his frequent trips home from college. Some of which hadn’t graduated high school or decided not to further their educational career. He discovered a general consensus among them, they didn’t perceive themselves good enough to achieve a higher level of success, or in the words of his younger brother, to be ”college material”. Inspired by what he discovered Stephen returned to Albany to start the organization. The name “I AM COLLEGE” originally derived from the affirmation “I am college material” and meaning that everyone posses the means to achieve a higher level of personal success.
The overall purpose of I Am College is to embolden young men of color to recognize that they have enormous potential just waiting to be realized. To provide them with the essential resources and guidance they will need to achieve life long success. Encouraging them to use education as a tool to accomplish their goals, and community service to build their character.
It is the belief amongst the memebers of this organization that within every young person exists excellence, and the opportunity for success regardless of the their own perceived limitations. By consistently making positive choices the outcomes of each of their lives can be infinitely better. The joint effort of support from the community, partners, and volunteers will make it possible for the I Am College organization to make an enormous impact in the community.