A Ladder to the Top Tier: How TEAK Unlocks Students’ Potential

The mission

Talented students from low-income backgrounds face multiple barriers to realizing their potential. The mission of The TEAK Fellowship is to offer motivated, high-achieving students opportunities to change their lives, overcome economic hardships, and build a brighter future.

That means providing intensive support so they can gain an outstanding education – but also building the social networks that can help propel them to success.

The TEAK Fellowship is a free, 10-year educational access and success program that starts in 7th grade. TEAK provides year-round intensive afterschool and summer classes that prepare students to gain acceptance into the most selective high schools and colleges. TEAK continues to support students in their independent high schools and top selective New York City high schools, all the way to college graduation.

The results are impressive. Through 16 classes, every TEAK Fellow has matriculated to a four-year college; entering top-tier schools, including 30% into the Ivy League. 89% of TEAK alumni are now college graduates and leaders in professions including public policy, finance, medicine, and journalism.

The program also holistically strives to fill all the gaps in students’ experiences, including cultural and arts events. “Once a month, we plan something great in the city – a Broadway play, a concert, an introduction to pottery,” says Denise Brown-Allen, Executive Director.

“It’s not just about the academics, it’s about making sure students will feel confident having conversations with their peers in their new schools and colleges who will have had such a wide range of experiences.”

The RBC Foundation USA is proud to support TEAK's mission to help young people carve out promising futures.

The programs

The RBC Foundation USA’s funding support is helping TEAK to expand its annual student intake, ultimately raising overall numbers from just over 300 to 450 students. But “RBC is not just a check-writer: they are true partners,” says Denise.

RBC contributes to the organization’s direction through leadership roles, and many RBC employees have served as TEAK Benefit Committee members to help raise funds and awareness. Others act as professional coaches for rising college junior Fellows, or mentors for middle school Fellows.

Mentors become an active part of their mentees’ support system – meeting with them at least six times a year and staying in touch via phone or email.

“The folks who volunteer from RBC are essential to our ability to deliver the program that has such an impact on the students and their families,” says Denise.

RBC is also part of TEAK’s Changemakers program, which gives Fellows a “summer immersion” in corporate life. RBC was one of four companies hosting last summer’s sessions. Over the course of a week, participants gained an insight into the workings of an investment bank, as well as insights on RBC-specific initiatives such as its Employee Resource Groups, and chats with employees in various roles.

“What struck me on talking with the students afterwards was that they were really impressed with the value of people and culture at RBC,” says Lauren Girshon, TEAK’s Deputy Director of External Relations.

For some students, it’s the start of a long-term relationship with the investment bank. Many TEAK Fellows in RBC’s intern class go on to join RBC’s full-time analyst program.