To launch the 2025-2026 academic year, the Joining Hands for College Committee hosted a successful Mock Admissions Workshop on September 10 at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Beltsville, MD. The event welcomed students and families for an interactive session that demystified the college admissions process.

We’re grateful to the dedicated college representatives who made the event possible:

• Local reps: Rebecca Halaney (Towson University), Caitlin Henry (University of Maryland, Baltimore), Johnnie Johnson (Washington College), and Rosemary Martin Edwards (University of Maryland, College Park)
• Regional reps: Kiara Alexander (University of Pittsburgh), Emma Pace (Butler University), Heather Pearson (Juniata Coll
  ege), and Jeff Smith (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

Through mock application reviews and open dialogue, families gained valuable insight into how admissions decisions are made at four-year colleges and universities.

Joining Hands for College is a subcommittee of the Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee, dedicated to expanding college access through meaningful partnerships with local communities.

The Psi Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., organize and facilitate an HBCU College Fair for students and families in Baltimore City.

Students attend the Washington Wizards Sports Career Day in Washington, DC.

Joining Hands for College assisted in providing information to high school athletic coaches on how to assist their student athletes during the recruiting process and better prepare them for college access by participating in the College Athletics Readiness Seminar hosted at Anne Arundel Community College.

JHC assisted in organizing a trip for 45 students to attend the Washington Wizards Career Day at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The trip consisted of a college fair, career in sports seminar, and tickets to the game that night.

JHC assisted in providing contacts and resources for a community HBCU College Fair in Baltimore, MD, hosted by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The event consisted of a fair featuring Historically Black Colleges as well as information sessions for students and families

Joining Hands for College collaborated with CollegeBound Foundation in providing resources and assisting in FAFSA work sessions and Financial Aid nights throughout Baltimore City High Schools.

JHC has assisted in organizing, and providing resources to events such as college fairs, campus tours, workshops, and seminars hosted by community organizations for students and families:

Other JHC Activity Suggestions

• College staff members can volunteer to help high school school counselors/ English teachers review/edit college essays at community events.
• College students who are education majors can contact partnering high schools and ask about volunteer/internship opportunities.
• In addition to college tours, shadow days can be scheduled for 9th/10th grade students who have the GPA to gain entrance into the particular neighboring college.
• Invite current college students who are from target area to partnering high school for a roundtable- college discussion.
• Invite college mascot to high school to take pictures with students
• Colleges can give pens, pennants, t-shirts and any other branded materials to high school.
• Inquire about college staff/students that will be willing to tutor high school students.

How to Participate

If you'd like to join our JHC team or you have an idea for a JHC activity at your school or in your community, please contact Charlain Bailey at [email protected]. Your suggested activity should include:

• Event/activity idea
• Target Audience
• Location of event/activity
• How would you like JHC to assist you!