b'College Success ProgramsExpanded College SuccessWhen our scholars enter college, they receiveAdvising Staffpersonalized guidance, one-to-one campus visits, financial assistance, and tools for In Spring 2021, Futures added an additional college and career success. College Success Advisor to staff funded by a generous gift from the Townsend Foundation. This expanded capacity will allow Futures to serve an increased number of students each Philadelphia Futures supports students well beyond collegeyear, in alignment with the strategic plan.acceptance and enrollment, making our organization Futures expects to serve 10% more students unique in the college access and success arena. As studentseach year for the next five years. navigate class registration, financial aid, residential life,relationships with professors, adjustments to campusculture, and the many other elements of college life, a College Success Advisor provides ongoing guidance andCareer Initiatives Directorconnections to necessary resources. This support continues throughout college, and includes post-graduation planningFutures provides personalized guidance in order to help for careers or further education. students develop the critical 21st century skills neededfor a successful transition into the workplace. BeginningCollege Success Advisors in ninth grade and continuing through college graduation, Philadelphia Futures offers a variety of career exposure,Our Advisors regularly provide personalized guidanceexploration, and development programming led by theconcerning academic, social, and personal issues, includingDirector of Career Initiatives. Students engage in earlyaccessing on-campus resources for tutoring and counseling;and ongoing career readiness programming to gainmanaging time, stress, and family matters; setting goals; a comprehensive understanding of the work worldand communicating with professors and administrators. to set realistic academic and career goals, and makeStudents participate in twice-yearly mandatory meetings a plan to achieve them. Career readiness is incorporated to monitor grades, review progress toward academic andinto college access programming and college successcareer goals, and to troubleshoot any financial barriers, asprogramming and tracked with key career readiness metrics.well as monitor school debt. The College Success Advisors also keep in touch regularly via phone, email, campus visits, and social media pages.Forward to the Future with College ConsultationsOur College Success Advisors, despite never setting foot on any college campus in 2020-21, were busier than ever. Staff expertly pivoted to virtual/electronic consultations, and simultaneously went paperless with all of the information collected from students in those meetings. Advisors fostered deeper relationships with students, as many checked in more frequently during the pandemic due to the effects of isolation during quarantine. Additionally, over 250 care packages were sent to students in the fall to combat the stress of finals week. Financial support for students technology, groceries, and travel to and from campus wasprovided from our Opportunity Fund.page 8'