Executive Director Camara L. Jackson launched Elite Learners, Inc. in 2016. Two years later, the youth mentorship and community development organization received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status.

Based in Central Brooklyn, our mission is to build a community support system that will positively impact future generations.

We envision a community of mentors who partner with our youth, improve the neighborhood, and nurture socially, emotionally, and mentally prepared leaders. The inspiration to start Elite Learners came when Ms. Jackson served as a volunteer at her daughter’s elementary school. She observed that overworked teachers had a shortage of supportive services.

Most of the school districts that partner with Elite Learners are in low-income, high-crime communities. Far too many of their students are disconnected youth who perform below academic standards. Making matters worse, many of them experience food insecurity and periods of homelessness.

Elite Learners is a contract vendor to New York State and the New York City Department of Education. That status allows our organization to offer a range of supportive services to students in elementary through high school. It is important to Elite Learners that we collaborate effectively with the schools we serve. Accordingly, one of our first steps is to introduce ourselves to the principals, teachers, and parent-teacher associations (PTA) to find out exactly how we can help.

Our slogan is “Each One, Teach One to Reach One.” It underscores that mentorship is at the heart of our mission. As a community, we need to teach one another and continue the cycle of educating our young people.

Elite Learners also has an anti-violence component that provides violence intervention, conflict mediation and conflict resolution to gang-affiliated juveniles and young adults.