Improve Your Tomorrow Brings Mentorship to Jackson

The nonprofit provides free academic support and career guidance to students at Blackburn Middle School.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of a pencil on a notebook, signifying mentorship and academic guidance for students. — Improve Your Tomorrow has expanded its mentorship program to Blackburn Middle School in Jackson, offering academic guidance to local students. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Since 2025, the nonprofit Improve Your Tomorrow has operated its College Academy program at Blackburn Middle School. This initiative provides free mentorship and academic support to students in Jackson.

Why it matters

The organization aims to increase college access for young men of color throughout the region. By providing career planning and guidance, they seek to place 600 students on a path to higher education by 2031.

The College Academy is provided free of charge to participants at Blackburn Middle School. The nonprofit is working toward a goal of assisting 600 young men of color in Mississippi by 2031.

The players

Improve Your Tomorrow

This nonprofit organization focuses on providing mentorship, academic support, and career guidance to students.

Blackburn Middle School

This educational institution serves as the current site for the College Academy program in Jackson.

Jackson Public Schools

This school district partners with local nonprofits to provide enhanced academic support and resources to students.

The details

Improve Your Tomorrow partners with Jackson Public Schools and city officials to offer mentorship, academic resources, and career planning. The program also facilitates parent involvement and coordinates college visits for students.

The College Academy began offering services at Blackburn Middle School in 2025.
The nonprofit has established a target to assist 600 students by 2031.

Culture Shift

This initiative follows the trajectory of community-based education models that aim to supplement traditional classroom learning. It extends the goals established by the Mississippi Every Student Succeeds Act state plan for improving student outcomes.

Families at Blackburn Middle School can access these mentorship and college-readiness resources at no cost. The program's expansion plans may provide similar opportunities to more students across the city in future years.

The takeaway

The program emphasizes long-term academic planning and career guidance to bridge the gap between middle school and college. Parents interested in these services should contact local district officials for information on potential program expansion.