MAAC October Newsletter 2026

4 days ago

4 min read

Updated: 15 hours ago

Between the Boxes and the Becoming

It’s been a while since we’ve been in your inbox – and there’s a reason. A lot has been brewing at MAAC. The past few months have brought tremendous change, transition, and new beginnings, and while we’ve been quiet on the newsletter front, a world has been taking shape behind the scenes. This summer brought our scholars together for a powerful season of learning, while a new home for MAAC began coming to life in Montclair. As we settle into the fall, we’re witnessing the seeds planted in recent months take root, with new possibilities coming into view. There is much to share! We’re excited to open the door and invite you back in.

Welcome to the Future Home of MAAC

We’re designing a place we can dream together! Introducing the future MAAC Montclair, a center intentionally built on the foundations of love, learning, and community. Envision a welcoming sanctuary where young people are nurtured in their fullness, with space for creativity, healing, reflection, and respite from the demands of daily life. An HQ that will include the MAAC Community Garden, Sonia’s Garden, named in honor of my mother, where we’ll co-create a nourishing place for scholars and their families, partners, and neighbors to gather and grow together.

The HQ will also serve as a supportive off-campus home for Montclair State University’s Red Hawks Rising Scholars, offering them high-touch support as they navigate college, explore careers, and overcome the complexities that often accompany the educational journey. From mentoring and career support to wellness and community connection, this space will extend the work MAAC has always done by creating an environment where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to flourish.

We’re working toward opening our doors in 2027, and while there is still much to do, we’re gaining momentum, daily. Soon, the only thing missing will be you!

Left: A first look at the future home of MAAC Montclair. Center: A MAAC Scholar at our future MAAC HQ. Thanks to the generosity of several MAAC supporters, Otisha is receiving the resources and support she needs as she continues her college journey. Right: The MAAC HQ back patio, made for soaking up the sun and imagining what’s to come.

Summer Bootcamp: A Season of Possibility

This summer, MAAC brought together young scholars for a four-week Summer Bootcamp designed to make the college application process more accessible and help students approach their next chapter with confidence. Together, scholars prepared for the SAT/ACT, worked on college essays, explored scholarship opportunities, and had candid conversations about the realities of financing college and navigating family expectations. Along the way, they built meaningful connections with peers, mentors, and impressive guest speakers who helped them imagine and prepare for the road ahead.

One of the most meaningful parts of MAAC programming is watching young people expand their sense of what is possible. This summer, that possibility expanded for MAAC, as well, as we brought together scholars from five states across the country for the first time, carrying a wider range of perspectives, experiences, and aspirations into the community.

One scholar’s summer journey took her all the way to UNC Chapel Hill, where she had the opportunity to meet Dr. Nadine Verna, an active MAAC Board member, after also participating in the Johns Hopkins Summer Program. Experiences like these are at the heart of what we hope to create through MAAC: opportunities for young people to see themselves in places they may not have envisioned, and to know that they belong there.

Top Left: MAAC Board Member, Dr. Nadine Verna, with a MAAC Scholar, 2026. Bottom Left: A glimpse into MAAC Summer Bootcamp’s virtual workshops, connecting scholars with tools and guidance for their next chapter. Top & Bottom Right: MAAC scholars & Andrea, building community and preparing for college at Science Park High School, 2026.

LEVEL UP: Digital Learning with a High-Touch Approach

LEVEL UP is thriving! This year, 25 scholars took part in MAAC’s self-paced digital college and career readiness program, showing us that even when learning happens online, meaningful connections make all the difference. Through monthly check-ins, our staff and mentors brought MAAC’s signature “high-touch” approach to life, celebrating scholars’ progress and offering encouragement along the way.

We also brought LEVEL UP beyond the screen with visits to Science Park High School in Newark and East Orange Campus High School in East Orange, creating opportunities to connect with students face-to-face and strengthen our relationships. They were eager to share their experiences, and their feedback gave us valuable insight into what’s resonating and how we can continue to evolve alongside them.

Now, we’re building on that momentum with new 11th and 12th-grade modules, expanding LEVEL UP to support scholars as they take their next steps toward college and career. We’re thrilled to lean into a new season of connecting with more schools, districts, and community partners who share our commitment to youth and who want to make critical resources accessible to more of them. Because we know that a young person’s journey is about more than just completing a module or accessing the right resources; it’s also about having the right people in their corner.

Left: Amazon gift cards awarded to students for participating in Level UP. Right: Andrea and MAAC Scholars at East Orange Campus High School.

A Thought to Carry With You

At MAAC, we’re not just helping young people find a seat at the table – we’re empowering them to build new ones, rooted in the richness of their heritage and the strength of their stories. We believe every challenge holds the potential for growth, and every scholar has the power to shape what comes next.

Sometimes, becoming means making room for what we never imagined. May we give ourselves and our young people the grace to grow, the courage to begin again, and the space to discover all that is possible. Because every young person deserves the resources, relationships, and opportunities to shape their own future. Your support helps MAAC make that possible, from college and career readiness to the welcoming spaces and community that help scholars thrive.