Merze Tate Explorers Program Partnership

What began as a local newspaper story about a little known African American educator has grown into an official non-profit organization dedicated to providing young girls with educational and travel opportunities called the Merze Tate Explorers.

Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Merze Tate Explorers provides youth with educational, cultural and arts exploration through the use of multimedia. These students produce cable television, radio, print and online media in this hands-on S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Media) centered initiative.

In addition, their travels will take them to places where they interact with professionals and experiences what they experience through writing, videography and photography for the annual Girls Can! Magazine and other online sources.

“Never underestimate the power of college archives,” said founder Sonya Bernard Hollins. “While working as a reporter at the Kalamazoo Gazette, I decided to write about the first African Americans of Western Michigan University. After receiving a list from the alumni department some names rang familiar. There was Ira Murchison, an Olympian, Loretta Moore of Sesame Street and even John Saunders, a former college hockey player who went on to become an ABC sports commentator.”

No matter how impressive the names where, one name did not sound familiar, which led to a Bernard Hollins search. “My quests to learn of Merze Tate began with three boxes of items that were not yet catalogued by the university; the college where she was the first African American to earn a BA in Education. I later learned other firsts about her that led me on a mission to tell her story and use her as a “shero” to inspire girls to travel the world and make strides in areas they otherwise could never imagine.”

Now the Merze Tate Explorers are partnering with Kalamazoo Valley Community College on a 10 month initiative called the Merze Tate Explorer College Academy. Selected students participate in weekly interactive activities designed to introduce them, particularly girls of color, to the college culture and to provide exposure to a college curriculum that will allow students as early as 6th grade to earn credit toward a college degree or trade program.

“We are more than delighted to be in partnership on this project,” said Dr. Deborah Coates, Dean of Early Middle College at Kalamazoo Valley. “The goals of the Merze Tate Explorers dovetail nicely with the mission of the college. These students will officially enroll at Kalamazoo Valley and take a college- level course designed to help them further explore careers.”

According to Bernard Hollins, “During the weekly hands on classes held at the college and other locations around the community, students will use a specially designed workbook. The workbook and other resources will assist the students develop stories for a number of traditional and digital media sources.”

The partnership was celebrated during a kick-off dinner on Friday, Oct. 11 where college president, L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., spoke. “Investing in the lives and education of young people is core to our mission,” he said. “I look forward to the contributions these scholars will make to our community.”

For more information visit www.merzetateexplorers.com