Steps to Success Inc.

Long-term, as a result of participating in STS, graduates from Brookline High School will have a post-secondary plan of their choosing, and enroll in and complete that plan (whether it be college, other post-secondary education or another pathway). In addition, most students will graduate from college within 4-6 years, obtain a full-time job or attend graduate school within 6 months after graduation, and no longer living in public housing 1 year after graduation.

Steps to Success is also a 3-way partnership among the Brookline Housing Authority, the Public Schools of Brookline and Steps to Success Inc., which is driven by a shared vision of Brookline as a community where all students can achieve their educational, economic and life potential into adulthood.

Steps to Success Inc. focuses on closing the opportunity gap for its students by providing the following services:
Enrichment Activities, including after-school programs, outdoor explorations, vacation programs and access to camps for students in grades 4-8.

Career and College Readiness including middle and high school internships, college visits, post-secondary applications & enrollment, mentorship, and professional development.
Post-Secondary and College Persistence (College Success Initiative) including college matriculation, enrollment, and persistence counseling and support, as well as professional development.

The collaborative Steps to Success partnership focused on this target population of children in Brookline is powerful, innovative and potentially a national model. Its key characteristics include a holistic, individualized, comprehensive, creative, and multi-faceted approach to service delivery.

Steps to Success has been in existence since 2001, and is comprised of 6 full-time staff and 4 part-time staff. STS, Inc. is led by its Executive Director, Shoma Haque, who has nearly 20 years of non-profit experience, including 8 years as the COO of BPE (formerly the Boston Plan for Excellence).

STS is governed by a committed 18 member Board of Directors comprised of Brookline residents, parents, alumni, and committees of volunteers who are deeply engaged in supporting the organization and its work.

Finally, the strong partnership between Steps to Success, Inc., the Brookline Housing Authority, and Public Schools of Brookline, enables STS to leverage our combined resources to provide comprehensive, integrated services and supports to achieve educational equity that will empower families and students who are low-income in the Public Schools of Brookline.

As a result of our long-term investment in our students starting in 4th grade, Steps to Success is proud to report that 87% of our College Success students are on track to graduate within 6 years.

The next three years will entail implementing our new strategic plan, which includes continuing to hone and refine our program strategy and impact per the outcomes stated above, increase the sustainability of STS as an organization through board and staff development, fundraising, and capacity-building, and deepening our partnership with the Brookline Housing Authority and Public Schools of Brookline to provide effective wrap-around supports for our students at home, at school, and during out of school time.