Keno Sadler

1997

Keno Sadler

Summerbridge Atlanta

http://www.breakthroughatlanta.org/

Atlanta, GA, USA

Education & Youth Leadership, Legal Advocacy

The Bold Idea:

OUR MISSION

Breakthrough Atlanta's mission is twofold:

• To provide a pathway to college for traditionally underserved Atlanta area school students.
• To provide an intensive hands-on teacher training experience for high school and college students.

CORE VALUES

reakthrough believes in the power of education to radically change young peoples’ lives. We believe the middle school years are the critical crossroads where students make choices that will dramatically affect their futures. We are passionate in our belief that every child deserves access to an excellent education and the encouragement to succeed.

Breakthrough celebrates excellence. The spirit of celebration is energetic, enthusiastic, and contagious. Young people, who would ordinarily downplay their interest in academics, discover that not only is it “cool to be smart,” but that learning is fun.

WHAT MAKES BREAKTHROUGH SPECIAL

Breakthrough is unique in that it has a dual mission: improving the educational trajectory of highly motivated middle school students, and inspiring young people to enter the field of education. Breakthrough’s success is due to a unique combination of elements that result in an exciting and energetic educational experience:

• Motivated students who are at the critical age when they are searching for role models, and making choices that will dramatically affect their futures.
• Enthusiastic and talented teachers who serve as mentors and role models who bring to life the idea that “it’s cool to be smart.”
• An academically rigorous program supplemented by creative arts, multicultural programs, and public speaking opportunities.
• An infectious spirit of fun, and a celebration of excellence.

Biography:

Keno Sadler is a social entrepreneur who has a drive and desire to make an impact on the community around him. Born in Connecticut and raised in Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, Keno enlisted in the United States Navy and was selected to participate in an officer candidate program which granted a full college scholarship to any who graduated from the academically and physically challenging 14 months of training. He did successfully graduate and chose to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. to pursue a degree in Mathematics. While at Morehouse, he co-lead Osei: A Rites of Passage Program and created LEAD (Leadership Enhancing Academics and Discipline). Both of these programs work toward shaping the lives of young African-American men through close guidance from older males. Keno also began his 14 year relationship with the Summerbridge (SB) program while in college by teaching in the SB Miami program (1992 – 1993) and the SB Fort Worth program (1994 – 1995). Upon graduation from Morehouse and with the support and urging of Summerbridge founder Lois Loofbourrow, Keno decided to decline his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps to instead create the Summerbridge Atlanta program at which he served as Executive Director from 1995 – 2002. He is now the Executive Director of the Summerbridge Breakthrough Alumni Network (SBAN), an international organization supporting over 3,000 members with a goal of eventually reconnecting with and supporting the over 20,000 alumni of the Summerbridge and Breakthrough programs.