MINDS MATTER HELPS MAKE DREAMS A REALITY

Providing holistic mentoring and college prep to high-potential students from low-income families since 1991.

Since its founding in New York City in 1991, Minds Matter has achieved remarkable and consistent success:

The organization since has expanded to fourteen cities nationwide, beyond New York, and our chapter here in Chicago, to include Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, the Twin Cities, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Houston.

Through our intensive, holistic mentoring and college prep program, we're proud to foster a culture of excellence. Working together with our students, the mutual goal is to raise their expectations, broaden their dreams, and equip them with a toolkit for future success.

Becoming a graduate of the Minds Matter program is a mark of hard work, commitment and achievement to potential colleges and employers.

Our local chapter is committed to making higher education a reality for accomplished high school students from low-income families in the Chicago area.

minds matter chicago

A DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENCE.

Students of Minds Matter Chicago students are accepted into a four-year college or university 100% of the time.
Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college or university. In that way, the Minds Matter experience can help transform not just the lives of hardworking individuals but entire families as well.

What Makes Us Unique?

During our weekly sessions, students are paired with two mentors who regularly help them with coursework and other academic assignments. They help their students apply for summer prep programs during their sophomore and junior years. Our mentors are essential in the ultimate college application process during senior year.
The Minds Matter program includes free standardized test preparation, community service efforts, writing and speaking skills, and other skills that benefit the student academically. Ultimately, this plays a role in expanding personal life skills.
We send our students to academic summer programs in their sophomore and junior years at no cost to the student, their family, or their school. As with the rest of our program, these summer programs are fully funded by our organization through the generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors.
Minds Matter helps our mentees and their families navigate the often complicated financial aid process, ensuring that all funding is accessible to every student.