Creative Connections
By Appointment Only
Earl Hagan founded Creative Connections in 2005 after he noticed a dearth of supplemental academic services in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. He told me that his goal was simply to prepare public high school students for the educational and career challenges that lied ahead. In less than a decade, his organization has partnered with over fifty public schools in the city, offering “success coaches” to help underserved students complete college applications and, in some cases, expose students who had not previously considered college to the possibility of higher education. In addition, the center provides workshops on resume writing, coaching for interviews and job training. Today, their laudable work serves approximately 3,000 students each year.