Describe and evaluate starbucks innovation, motivation, and people

Describe and evaluate starbucks innovation, motivation, and people Describe and evaluate starbucks innovation, motivation, and people strategy. YOU MUST ALSO Includes publicly available information including Securities and Exchange Commission filings and introducing new products or services â€" Essay Example > Analysis of Starbucks’s Innovation, Motivation, and People Strategy Case Study Strengthening its core and, at the same time, innovating its product portfolio, Starbucks launched a healthy and complementary array of products between 2008 and 2010. Some of these products are the Mastrenaâ€"an improved espresso machine that sped up and simplify the making of espressos while leaving quality unchangedâ€"and the Pike Place Roastâ€"a more moderate mix of coffee as an outcome of customer suggestions (Aiello Dickinson, 2014). Starbucks also engaged in building a new kind of Starbucks store, known as the Mercantile Stores. These Mercantile Stores offer wine and beer and include new coffee preparation methods and a proletarian structural design. Apparently, Starbucks is moving beyond its regular coffee shop and espresso bar to provide greater customer experience (Barth, 2012). However, the major problems confronting Starbucks were its efforts to expand drastically and launch new innovatio ns. The desire to expand may make the company more vulnerable to risks. In the meantime, motivation, just like innovation, is a vital part of Starbucks’s success. Howard Schultz, Starbucks’s CEO, acknowledges that the determining factor for Starbucks’s success is not its products but its people. He absolutely believes that the life-force of the organization is its employees and feels proud about the importance and worth of its people (Schultz, 2011). The company develops an interactive system that highly motivates its employees. Other major strategies employed by the company to raise employee motivation are the following: (1) appropriate welfare policies (medical insurance, commodity discounts, vacations); (2) Starbucks’s manager treat all employees equally; and (3) the company has a highly open and efficient communication system for employees (Plog, 2005). When it comes to people strategy or raising not just employee skills, Starbucks has a broad range of techniques to offer. For instance, Schultz closed down all Starbucks shop in the U. S. for a day so as to “perfect their espresso making ability” (Schultz, 2011, 5-6). This move costs Starbucks $6 million, yet Schultz response was “How could it be wrong to invest in our people? ” (Schultz, 2011, 6). This commitment to career training and development has been perfected by the company. It continuously offers complete healthcare compensation for full-time and part-time employees, as well as equity through stock options for all employees. According to the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (2007), all of these policies are undertaken by Starbucks in order to enhance its brand recognition all over the world. To attain this objective, the company aims to expand its retail activities, to magnify its Specialty Operations, and to launch new products and create new distrib ution channels (USEC, 2007, 3). A prime example of Starbucks’s persistent commitment to innovation is it Verismo coffeemaker. The company has been on the edge in the past few years, trying to expand its sources of revenue. Several product innovations were made; some successful, others miserably failed (Barth, 2012). Even though it is still uncertain whether customers will get the hang of the Verismo pods, Jeff Hansberry, head of Starbucks’s emerging brands and channel development, reported to The New York Times that one-cup coffee sales increased by 143 per cent in 2011 (Barth, 2012, para 3). Apparently, Starbucks is still facing major challenges in its goal to innovate, motivate, and gain greater competitive advantage. References Aiello, G. Dickinson, G. (2014). Beyond authenticity: A visual-material analysis of locality in the global redesign of Starbucks stores. Visual Communication, 13(3), 303-321. Barth, C. (2012, September 20). Starbucks’s New Verismo Sinks Green Mountain. Will You Buy It? Retrieved from: http: //www. forbes. com/sites/chrisbarth/2012/09/20/starbucks-new-verismo-machine-sinks-green-mountain-will-you-buy-it/ Plog, S. (2005). Starbucks: More than a Cup of Coffee. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration, 46(2), 284-287. Schultz, H. (2011). Onward: How Starbucks Fought for its Life without Losing its Soul. UK: John Wiley Sons. U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2007). Starbucks Corporation. Retrieved from: http: //media. corporate-ir. net/media_files/irol/99/99518/200710K. pdf

Slavery Essay - 915 Words

Slavery Slavery is a social institution defined by law and custom as the most absolute involuntary form of human servitude. England entered the slave trade in the latter half of the 16th century. In 1713 the exclusive right to supply the Spanish colonies was granted to the British South Sea Company. The English based their trading in the North America. In North America the first African slaves landed at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. Brought by early English privateers, they were subjected to limited servitude, a legalized status of Native American, white, and black servants preceding slavery in most, if not all, the English colonies in the New World. The number of slaves imported was small at first, and it did not seem necessary to†¦show more content†¦Statutory recognition of slavery, however, occurred in Massachusetts in 1641, in Connecticut in 1650, and in Virginia in 1661. Abolitionists, reformers of the 18th and 19th centuries dedicated to eliminating slavery, especially in the English-speaking countries. Although the Quakers had long opposed slavery, abolitionism as an organized force began in England in the 1780s, when William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect—a group of wealthy evangelical Anglicans—began agitating against the African slave traffic. Their success (1807) stimulated further political assaults on slavery itself. With compensation to owners and apprenticeship arrangements, Parliament abolished West Indian slavery in 1833. British example, Quaker traditions, evangelical revivalism, and northern emancipations (1776-1827) aroused interest in abolitionism in the United States. The abolitionists differed from those of moderate antislavery feelings in that they called for an immediate end to slavery. The most extreme abolitionists denied the validity of any laws that recognized slavery as an institution; thus, they systematically violated the fugitive slave laws by organizing and operating the Underground Railroad, which concealed and transported runaway slaves to Canada. The activities and propaganda of the abolitionists, although discredited in conservative northern quarters and violently opposed in the South, made slavery a nationalShow MoreRelatedSlavery And The Slavery Of Slavery Essay2080 Words   |  9 PagesThere has been an ongoing debate on whether Christianity condoned or condemned slavery. In this essay, I will discuss how slave owners used biblical context to uphold the institution of slaver y. I will begin analyzing scriptures in the bible that pertain to slavery. It is in my belief that the Bible did not condone slavery in the way that slave owners upheld slavery. I do not argue against that there were not slaves by bondage but they were not enslaved against their will but through the will ofRead MoreSlavery And Its Effects On Slavery Essay1202 Words   |  5 Pages This was the period of post-slavery, early twentieth century, in southern United States where blacks were still treated by whites inhumanly and cruelly, even after the abolition laws of slavery of 1863. They were still named as ‘color’. Nothing much changed in African-American’s lives, though the laws of abolition of slavery were made, because now the slavery system became a way of life. The system was accepted as destiny. So the whites also got license to take disadvantages and started exploitingRead MoreSlavery And Its Effects On Slavery999 Words   |  4 Pagesresearch and taking the Slavery footprint quiz I realized just how much my life and lifestyle depended on slavery. I, like most people, do not think about where my clothes came from or where the diamond in the engagement ring came from; subsequently, I alone depend on 43 slaves. 43 individuals somewhere in the world are being forced to work or work for little to nothing. I cried after reading about prese nt time slavery because like most people in today’s age, I believed slavery ended in President Lincoln’sRead MoreSlavery And The Slavery Of Slavery933 Words   |  4 Pages Slavery, up to this point has progressively gotten weaker. In 1787 slavery is made illegal in the northwest territory. In 1793 Eli Whitney made the cotton gin making the demand for slaves increase. In 1820 the missouri compromise was written to ban slavery in all states above the northern missouri border. In the year 1831 Preacher Nat Turner starts a rebellion that is known to be the largest slave uprising in American History. also that year William Lloyd Garrison started publishing the LiberatorRead MoreSlavery And The Slavery Of Slavery Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesto resist their masters, and the institution of slavery in a subtle or a suicidal way. The visions of freedom varied throughout time periods and regions; in 1739, you have the Stono Rebellion, people used laws to argue their cases o f injustice, such as Emanuel Pieterson and Dorothy Angola, who fought for the freedom of their child and David Walker, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacob who used literature to speak against the institution of slavery. Another aspect was that freedom had a differentRead MoreSlavery And The Abolition Of Slavery1166 Words   |  5 Pagesmain issue of controversy that contributed to the split of the Union: slavery. Lincoln explicitly expressed that slavery should be abolished for several reasons, recognizing the practice as an extreme violation of human rights and American republicanism. Despite his advocacy for abolishment, Lincoln’s politics on racial justice were still problematic. While Abraham Lincoln recognizes basic human rights, and advocates that slavery is an obvious violation of these basic principles, I argue and characterizeRead MoreThe Slavery Of African Slavery1128 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery is one of the most inhumane acts the world has ever known. African s were kidnapped and forced into slavery by Europeans; they were separated from their families and forced to work on plantations. They were placed in unbearable conditions and the prevalent racism attached onto this system fueled the mistreatment and oppression of black people for years to come. The origins of the widespread African slavery in America as we know today started in early colonial America when people needed cheapRead MoreSlavery, Racism, And Slavery Essay1779 Words   |  8 PagesSlavery began before racism in North America. To prove this I will provide an analysis of chronological events that displayed acts of slavery and racism. With that being said, Initially I will be delving into the earliest implementations of slavery in North America. That being Jamestown Virginia 1619. Secondly, analysing an extract from 1655, where an African man named Anthony Johnson claimed to own another black individual, John Casor as his property. Subsequently, moving onto Winthrop D Jord anRead MoreThe Slavery Of Slavery And Slavery944 Words   |  4 Pagescondemn slavery. The South also used religion as their argument, but instead, they used the Bible to argue that slavery was an acceptable part of life. People have questioned whether it was right or wrong of the South to use the bible to support their beliefs in slavery. Some would say that pro-slavery southerners had every right to use the Bible to support their beliefs. When Northerners began to use the Bible against slavery, southerners used this same argument to support it. Slavery was a practiceRead MoreSlavery : Slavery And Slavery901 Words   |  4 PagesSlavery in America started in 1619 when settlers brought over African Americans to Jamestown, Virginia. The slaves came to Jamestown to work on the tobacco plantations. The slaves were also sent to other colonies such as South Carolina to work on the cotton plantations. Slaves were people who worked for no pay. This caused the land owners to make more profit from their plantations because they didn’t have to pay their workers. Southern slave owners, specifically in South Carolina, relied on slavery

Honors American Government - 1133 Words

What If . . . Every Lobbying Contact Had to be Reported? 1. An advantage of requiring lobbyists to report each contact with a government official is that voters would know which lobbyists tried to influence their elected officials and it might slow down the process of raising money through afternoon cocktail parties. 2. A disadvantage of requiring lobbyists to report each contact with a government official is that it could lead to a feeling of loss of privacy by lobbyists and elected officials and gathering information would be a logistical nightmare. Introduction 1. A lobbyist is an individual who attempts to influence policy. 2. An interest group is an organization that actively attempts to influence government policy makers.†¦show more content†¦16. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) generally enters into legal disputes related to Bill of Rights issues. 17. Foreign governments often gain influence within Congress by hiring former members of Congress as lobbyists. What Makes an Interest Group Powerful? 1. Interest groups attain a reputation for being powerful through their membership size, their financial resources, and their strategies and tactics. 2. A measure of an interest groups cohesion is the ability of the group to get its members to contact officials quickly and the ability of the group to get its members to contribute extra money when needed. Interest Group Strategies 1. The key to success for interest groups is the ability to have access to governmental officials. 2. Successful interest groups and their representatives try to cultivate long-term relationships with legislators and government officials. 3. Direct techniques used by interest groups include lobbying and providing campaign assistance. 4. Indirect techniques used by interest groups include strategies that use the general public or individuals to influence the government for the interest group. 5. One of the ways in which lobbyists make themselves valuable to decision makers is by providing information and expertise whenever asked. 6. TheShow MoreRelatedIndian Mascots Vs. Racial Discrimination1200 Words   |  5 Pages representing a Native American is showing honor and respect. In society, communities take it as offensive and racist towards Native Americans. The government recognizes the positive representation of Indians and has given them more rights than state citizens. Considering the history, what it means, and general attitude, Indian mascots should be allowed. A common question about this topic is, â€Å"Insult or Honor?† Professional clubs aren’t the only ones with Native American names and mascots. TeamsRead MoreA Great Of Honor Great Americans973 Words   |  4 PagesA Great Way to Honor Great Americans If you were given the task to build a museum to honor Great Americans, how would go about it? How would it look? Who would be featured? How you wanted to be perceived? Founder of the Hall of Fame had the honor to build such a museum. The Hall of Fame for Great Americans was created around the early 1900s, on land that used to be New York university’s campus. The Hall of Fame honors Ninety-eight men and women who were; inventors, educators and authors to nameRead MoreThe Prisoner s Fight, Patriotism, And Duty946 Words   |  4 PagesDo the terms honor, patriotism, and duty defines a soldier’s hardships and struggles that he encounters during times of war? Defiant, recreates the experiences of eleven men captured during the Vietnam War and sent to the various camps like Hao Lo in North Vietnam. While there the American prisoners’ commitment to their honor, patriotism, and duty would be put to the test through the harsh living conditions and torture inflicted upon them both physically and mentally. Townley’s use of William Henley’sRead MoreA Veterans Honor 1275 Words   |  5 PagesHonor is the pride and respect of veterans who served their country and kept it safe. How one person thanks the veterans is different from another. However, honor and morals sometimes get confused during the time of war. The Navy sometimes names their ships after war heroes for their actions and bravery. However, shouldn’t the military do that for all veterans alive or dead? Some veterans don’t even get the honor and respect they earned for serving their country. When Veteran’s Day became an officialRead MoreReagan s Impact On America967 Words   |  4 PagesReagan As the creator of Reaganomics, former president Ronald Reagan was elected to office in the year 1981. Reagan was extremely focused on strengthening the economy of the United States while also preventing the government from being overly involved in the daily lives of the American people. He was the former governor of California; during that time he had many issues with creating an effective budget. There were many attempts to fix the budget but it only hurt the California economy even moreRead MoreThe American Revolution978 Words   |  4 Pagesperiod prior to the American Revolution saw the formation of the thirteen colonies through which United States was governed as a British colony. The actual revolution refers to a period through which a political upheaval was experienced, and this was through the period between 1765 and 1785 (Irvin, 5). During this time, Americans rebelled against the aristocratic and monarchies instituted by the British in the thirteen colonies. The rebellion led to the overthrow of the government of Great Britain throughRead MorePolitical Climate of the 1970s Paper1047 Words   |  5 Pagesfor the United States of America was a time of recession, war and a world famous government scandal. The war in Vietnam left the people of the nation in disarray and turmoil. The government took a great deal of abuse from the people with the decisions made during the Vietnam War. President Nixon attempted different strategies than used before to end the Vietnam War with little success. The public’s image of the government was distorted when the Watergate Scandal was made public and Richard Nixon wasRead MoreThe Impact Of Local Government On The Assimilation Of This Community997 Words   |  4 Pages1. The role of local government in shaping the assimilation of this community is to honor both parties of citizens. Government is the leaderships of group of people with the power to make decisions and carry them out and enforce the law. It exist to control people actions and behaviors. Government also has to give support and protection to citizens. The role of government should give hope and opportunities also. To accommodation cultural assimilations occurs when immigrants adopt their new country’sRead MoreThe History Of Colonial Latin America1322 Words   |  6 Pagestraditions such as that of honor. The history of colonial Latin America gives many questions related to the understanding of honor. The culture of honor during this period of time was pivotal as it provided a set of values that organized society and individual lives. Legal codes, social gatherings, seating arrangements were all mixed in with cultural meanings, which helps define status within a system of honor. Honor is also seen within fiction produced from the colonial Latin American period with the productionRead MoreEssay The American Civil War1217 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Civil War In May of 1861 five states in the upper south United States seceded from the Union and joined the seven states already seceded and created the Confederate States of America. This was the beginning of the Civil War; it was the Union against the Confederates. Many People believed that the war would be over quickly they thought it was more of an uprising then a full on war. Nobody expected it to last four years and take so many lives. The Civil War was a serious test for

Ind Aff Free Essays

Katie Cornblath Ms. Moore English IV Dual Credit September 30, 2009 IND AFF The narrator’s relationship with Peter is a trying to outdo your sibling relationship with an attractive older man and he regards her as a relief from his problems in his current marriage. The narrator’s sister married a weedy academic professor and the narrator is dating a muscular academic profession which between her and her sister is considered the better of the two academic professor types. We will write a custom essay sample on Ind Aff or any similar topic only for you Order Now The narrator eventually realizes that she does not have the â€Å"inordinate affection† she thought she had. Peter is having difficulties with his wife and having a love affair with a young student is letting him have temporary breaks from his marriage. â€Å"It was a silly sad thing to do, in the first place, to confuse mere passing academic ambition with love: to try and outdo my sister Clare. † The narrator stating this above shows the root of the reason she was in love with Peter because she wanted to outdo her sister’s relationship with her professor. Peter being a muscular academic professor makes him attractive because â€Å"everything works well from the brain to the toes. This makes him good all around while her sister’s weedy academic professor doesn’t have â€Å"enough vital energy† left because the brain uses it all up. The narrator is attracted to Peter because he is better than her sister’s husband making her even more attracted to him other then â€Å"his dexterity and patience. † The narrator comes to her senses when the olde r and gentler looking waiter gave her a reproachful look wondering why she is with this old guy with plenty of young ones out there. This is demonstrated by the good looking waiter that makes her think in a world full of good looking guys what [am] I doing with this man with thinning hair? † That ended the love student professor love affair because the narrator came to the realization this is not true love. Peter, being in a troubling relationship with his wife makes the narrator a relief from his worries and problems. â€Å"Peter liked to luxuriate in guilt and indecision† which is the main reason he had feelings for her as well. It was either between the narrators or his wife and Peter having that indecision show he is still loves his wife even if he doesn’t realize it. There would be fearful personal and practical upheaval entailed if he decided to leave permanently and shack up as he put it with me. † Peter tells this to the narrator but if they were tr uly in love with each other then the â€Å"upheaval† wouldn’t matter to him because he says he doesn’t love his wife so he shouldn’t care what other people think about his actions since he is out of love. The hesitation there, and the caring, and worrying of what others think still shows he has feelings for his wife or otherwise he wouldn’t care if he â€Å"shacked up† with the narrator because he would have loved her more than his wife of 20 years. The narrator loved her professor in order to outdo her sister with the â€Å"attractive muscular academic† and ends up falling out of love when an attractive young waiter makes her question her judgment on Peter. Peter loves her because she is the break he needs from his failing relationship even though he still loves his wife of 20 years deep down because he is undecided to leave his wife for her or not. This was a typical student-professor relationship in the end, no more, no less; just personal reasons tangled up between few people that created â€Å"inordinate affection† between Peter and the narrator. How to cite Ind Aff, Papers

Metamorphic Insight Into Dreams Essays - Dream, Sleep, Parasomnias

Metamorphic Insight Into Dreams Dreams play a large role in many people's lives. They can reflect and pertain to all aspects of life, and can have a deeper meaning than might immediately be realized. The following paper contains an in depth look at and the meaning that dreams have for many individuals and how they have affected people both in the past and present. Many dreams have are really symbols representing significant influences and events in the lives of those who have them. The following paragraph is an example of a dream that a young boy or girl, or anyone for that matter, might experience. A cool breeze flows gently through the trees while the hot summer sun shines down on a gathering of family members. A young boy happy with excitement finds himself surrounded by the people he loves at a family reunion. While the adults reminisce on past times, the children are found enjoying a game of kickball in the field. As the little boy becomes a spectator absorbing all of the joy and warmth from his family's party, he awakes from his night's sleep to find out that he has been dreaming. This pleasant dream is just one example of the many different types of night visions people encounter. Was this boy imagining a life with his family that might not really exist? Is this child abused or neglected and using dreams as an escape, or is this reality and the child is simply reliving pleasant experiences? The metamorphic process of paralleling the symbolism of our dreams to our everyday lives has contributed to learning more about our individualistic personalities. Over the years, the mysteries of why and how we dream have captured the imagination of everyone from playwrights and poets to psychologists and scientists. However, the main objective of this paper is to illustrate that there are significant purposes to dreams. From laboratory experiments to primitive cultures, the interpretation of dreams is a powerful tool used to help understand ourselves. Rosalind Cartwright, a dream expert, separates the significance of dreams into four categories. According to Cartwright, dreams serve to review, revise, rehearse, and repair ourselves. To fully grasp the importance of these four R's and the understanding of dreams, researchers must first study sleep patterns. In order to study the stages of sleep, patients are tested with a device called an electroencephalograph (Myers 210). This machine measures brain wave activity, eye movements, and muscle tension through electrodes. Other similar devices are used to record heart rates, respiration rates, and the degree of genital arousal during sleep. After collecting all of this data, researchers are able to analyze patients' dreams. According to David G. Myers, a professor of psychology at Michigan's Hope College, there are four stages associated with sleep prior to Rapid Eye Movement, REM sleep. In Stage 1, breathing rate slows and brain waves slow down even further. During this light sleep, fantastic images similar to hallucinations are experienced. Sensations such as falling or floating are usually felt during this two- minute stage. Soon after Stage 1, a greater sense of relaxation settles in. This is the beginning of Stage 2. This stage, lasting about twenty minutes, is characterized by bursts of rapid brain-wave activity. Because of this sudden surge of brain waves, sleep talking becomes prevalent. Stage 3 and 4 are often linked together because of their similarities. They last for about thirty minutes and are called slow-wave sleep because of the slow delta waves the brain emits during these stages. Delta waves have a frequency of 3.5 cycles per second, which makes them much slower than the beta wave of fifteen cycles per second. Because of these slow delta waves, it is especially difficult to wake the sleeping person from the third and fourth stages of sleep. Children may also wet the bed or begin sleepwalking at these stages. About twenty percent of 3 to 12-year-olds have at least one episode of sleepwalking, usually lasting two to ten minutes; some 5 percent have repeated episodes (Myers 212). As Stage 4 comes to a close, the patient begins the important rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During REM sleep, genitals become aroused even when the dream's content is not sexual (212). Myers states

Classroom Safety Essays

Classroom Safety Essays Classroom Safety Essay Classroom Safety Essay The first element of classroom safety is intentional design. Using the positioning of your desks, displays, storage and equipment to create a warm and welcoming room for the students lets the parents as well feel that their child is being left in a safe and caring environment. When the students are comfortable with the surroundings, they feel safe and want to be involved with learning. The expectations for behavior should be made clear at the beginning of the year by reviewing these rules with students. Classroom rules must have concrete consequences. Having a regular daily schedule helps you and your kids prepare for upcoming tasks. The children will adjust to the daily routine and behaviors will be kept at a minimum because they know what is expected of them. Children should be involved in safety practices by being assigned roles such as trash monitor, door monitor, or safety patrol team so they can practice being safe and school. These skills will show up at home as well because the child feels that he is important to the smooth working of the classroom. Children who are excited about the things they are learning at school cause parents to want to see what is going on in the classroom. Protective factors are conditions in families and communities that, when present, increase the health and well-being of children and families. These attributes serve as buffers, helping parents to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress. Research has shown that the following protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect: * Nurturing and attachment Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development * Parental resilience * Social connections * Concrete supports for parents Amador, C. , Daeschel, I. , Sorte, J. (2011). Nutrition, Health, and Safety for Young Children. Pearson Education Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Seven Key Elements for Effective Classroom Management | eHow. com ehow. com/list_6562940_seven-elements-effective-classroom-management . html#ixzz1aHd0f2yn

A Better Chance Helps Students of Color Attend Top Schools

'A Better Chance' Helps Students of Color Attend Top Schools The scholarship organization A Better Chance (ABC), founded in 1963, has provided many students of color with the chance to attend college-prep private schools and public schools across the country. Their mission clearly illustrates the goal of the organization: Our mission is to  increase substantially  the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society.  Since its founding, ABC has grown greatly, first starting out with 55 students enrolled at nine schools to now more than 2,000 students enrolled at nearly 350 of the best private schools and public schools, as of the 2015-2016 school year (ABCs website has not been updated since we initially reported this statistic in July 2016).   United States President Lyndon Johnson meets with African American and white political figures from New Jersey, discussing aspects of his War on Poverty legislation. Afro Newspaper/Gado  /  Getty Images A Brief History   Originally, the program involved identifying and selecting talented students of color and providing  scholarships  for them to attend  private day  and  boarding schools. In the first year, even before  President Lyndon B. Johnson  announced his War on Poverty, 55 boys, all poor and mostly African-American, took part in an academically rigorous summer program. If they completed the program, the  headmasters of  16  private  schools agreed to accept them. In the 1970s, the program began to send students to competitive public high schools in areas such as New Canaan and  Westport, Connecticut; and  Amherst, Massachusetts. Students lived in a house staffed  by program tutors  and administrators, and the local community provided support for their house. In addition, many  colleges across the country, from Stanford in California to Colgate in New York state, have partnered with ABC to express their interest in promoting diversity. Racial Diversity   The current program is focused on increasing diversity at educational institutions.  While the majority of students enrolled are African-American, today the program also includes a wide range of diverse students. In addition to racial diversity, ABC also has increased its assistance for students of varying economic backgrounds, helping not only students who have significant financial constraints, but also middle-class students. The program offers to subsidize tuition for these students based on demonstrated financial need.   ABC notes that its scholars are a racially diverse group (figures approximate):   67% are African-American16% Latino7% Asian American1% Native American9% multi-racial or other Tracy Chapman. Chris Carroll/Getty Images   A Strong Alumni Base As a result of their dedication to making a quality education possible for students of color,  ABC can boast an alumni base of tens of thousands of individuals who are active in many fields.  According to President Sandra E. Timmons, there are over 13,000 alumni and alumnae of this program, and many are influential in the fields of business, government, education, the arts, and other areas. The organization includes among its famous alumni  Governor of Massachusetts  Deval Patrick, who was raised on the South Side of Chicago by a single mother. One of his middle school teachers recognized his talent, and Mr. Patrick was able to attend Milton Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts, on a scholarship. He later went on to attend Harvard College and Harvard Law School before becoming governor of Massachusetts. Another notable ABC alumna is  singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman,  who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the Wooster School in Connecticut on a scholarship. The Wooster School is a private co-ed pre-K through 12  school. After she graduated from the Wooster School in 1982, Ms. Chapman went on to  Tufts University  near Boston, where she majored in African Studies and Anthropology. She also started to perform at local venues, and she was discovered by a classmate whose father helped her get her first recording contract, though she insisted on graduating from college first. She is famous for singles such as  Fast Car  and  Give  Me One Reason. Program Requirements and Fees The College Preparatory Schools Program (CPSP) of ABC works to identify, recruit, place and support deserving students of color in college prep middle and high schools. Students applying to ABC must currently be in grades 4-9 and be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Students must also be academically strong, maintaining an overall average of a B or better and rank within the top 10% of their class. They should also participate in after-school activities, demonstrate leadership potential, and have good character. They must also receive strong teacher recommendations. Interested applicants must submit an inquiry online and later create an application, as well as write an essay,  ask for letters of recommendation, and be interviewed. Member schools may require additional steps as part of the overall application process, such as standardized testing or additional interviews. Acceptance at ABC does not guarantee admission at a member school. Participation in ABC is without cost, and the organization offers fee waivers for its scholars to take the SSAT and to apply for financial aid. Member schools do charge tuition, but all offer financial aid which is usually based on a familys personal financial situation. Some families may find they must contribute some funding towards a private school education, which can often be paid in installments. Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski