About UAA
UAA founded in 2012 is a 501© (3), non-profit community-based organization located in Oak Park, Sacramento, California. UAA strategically coordinates and aligns resources of an entire community together to increase the educational success for all students in the Promise Zone, Sacramento’s federally designated high-poverty areas.
MISSION
Urban Advocates & Achievers (UAA), mission is to provide students and families with a holistic and personalized approach that empowers and uplifts both the student and their family in their pursuit of academic achievement, excellence, educational equity, and economic sustainability for an improved quality of life.
VISION
UAA’s vision is that all students and families receive an equitable educational experience, the best resources and support for academic achievement, economic stability, and personal development regardless of race, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, ability/disability, and/or socioeconomic status thereby improving their quality of life.
BELIEF
“Every child deserves a world-class equitable educational experience”.
PHILOSOPHY
“It takes a village to raise a child, and a community to uplift a family”.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
UAA’s focus and main priority is “Saving Educational Lives & Student Wellness”© for students in the Promise Zone Areas and underserved areas of Sacramento County. How does this happen, it happens with the Gifted & Talented Achiever Program, (G-TAP) ensures Early Achievers in Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade are doing well and are proficient in reading, writing, math, science and in alignment with Common Core Standards. G-TAP also ensures students are proficient with California Career Technical Curriculum Standards and meet the A through G course requirements for college admission.
For Student Achievers ages 18 through 26 years of age, UAA focuses on transitioning and introducing participants to workforce development opportunities, construction careers, and/or other vocational career training opportunities to help them thrive in adulthood and economic sustainability.
UAA participants receive the G-TAP Educational Equity Antidote©, that provides access to valuable career training pipelines, services and resources. Participants are prepared to make decisions based on their career assessment, interests and build a pipeline in areas of apprenticeships, internships, and entrepreneurial development. The outcomes for participants are self-sufficiency, economic sustainability and to live their American Dream.
The end results are Student Achievers are educated leaders from their communities, productive citizens that contribute to society, stimulate California’s workforce and economy. UAA connects employers with an educated, skilled workforce of leaders and college graduates prepared to meet the demands of the changing labor market.
Education 1st Responders
Alecia K. Eugene-Chasten
“Urban Trailblazer”
Founder/Chief Executive Officer
Tinisha Davis – “Tenacious T”,
Deputy Director Programs & Services
Jackie Buchanan
“Urban Operator” Deputy Director Operations & Development
Alecia K. Eugene-Chasten
Founder/CEO
Our Urban Trailblazer’s Story
Alecia K. Eugene-Chasten is the Founder/CEO of the Urban Advocates & Achievers.
The creation of UAA was inspired by the lack of educational equity in many
school districts across the United States, the lack of 21st Century Learning
opportunities that continues to affect outcomes for many students and families
of color and to
STOP the School-to-Prison-Pipeline and
START-the-Pipeline-to-Educational Opportunities.
Ms. Eugene-Chasten, a parent of three children in the education gap had
spent over $15,000 at Sylvan Learning Center to help her children.
However, it did not help until Alecia researched, learned, and self-trained
herself on how to advocate on behalf of her children and received the
needed resources to support her children’s educational success! The
outcomes for Eugene-Chasten’s three adult children produced productive
citizens and college graduates from Mills College, California State
University, Eastbay and San Jose State University.