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A Better Chance at Life

KAAL TV did a story on the Rochester Better Chance organization on February 21, 2008. View the story.

A Better Chance in Rochester...

In 1972, a local chapter of the Boston-based program, A Better Chance Inc., began working out of a classic three-story house on Second Street SW in Rochester. Since its beginnings, Rochester Better Chance (RBC) has enabled more than 100 academically talented inner-city youth to graduate from John Marshall High School with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Rochester's A Better Chance Foundation is one organization of 25 national participants (three of which are in Minnesota) in the A Better Chance Inc., Community School Programs.

Currently, the RBC house is home to 5 scholars who attend John Marshall High School, and the Resident Directors. A 1,500 square foot addition was recently added which doubled the educational facilities and increased the size of the living quarters allowing the agency to host six scholars during the school year. The RBC facilities are also utilized during the summer through a partnership with IBM on a program that mentors minority college co-ops while they work at IBM.

A philosophy that rings true for those associated with RBC is that everyone, at some point in his or her life, needs a mentor, perhaps just for a little boost or a better chance; and after benefiting from that boost, that person should do his or her best to give back and to help others. It's that simple.