ABSTRACT
The only prerequisite, apart from neighborhood residence, parental or guardian permission, and commitment to full participation, is that students express an interest in going to college and respond to a writing prompt asking them about the community and their readiness to participate. Although many students have some familiarity with the physical environs of the campus, their time in residence and interacting with faculty and staff helps make the idea of college more concrete and accessible. When Adam Achievers write about “their interest in the community” as part of the application process for the Adam Achiever program, they echo the perspectives of other Main South students. They view their community with a mixture of pride and gratitude, over and against the perceptions others may have, but also with active concern and hope. The academic focus of the program is a community-based investigation.
