POP College Access Program

🌆❤️🖤 POP College Access Program Takes On Chicago🌆❤️🖤

From Thursday, April 9th – Sunday, April 12th, our POP College Access mentees had an incredible and memorable experience exploring four amazing universities across the Chicago area:

• Loyola University Chicago
• Northern Illinois University
• Northwestern University
• The University of Chicago

This trip was more than just campus tours — it was about exposure, connection, culture, and community. Our mentees had the opportunity to picture themselves on college campuses, ask questions about their futures, and take important steps toward their next chapter.

We also had the chance to explore Navy Pier, which was a huge highlight of the trip! The mentees enjoyed taking in the views, spending time together, and experiencing another special part of Chicago.

And of course… the Chicago food experience did NOT disappoint! 😄🍴
From grabbing a surprisingly good lunch at a gas station on the road, to enjoying an unforgettable home-cooked meal prepared with love by Ms. Thomas (Jalen’s mom) and Collis’ Aunty — featuring turkey legs, baked mac & cheese, greens, famous peach cobbler, and banana pudding that the mentees made sure didn’t go to waste! ❤️

We also stopped at Cleo's Southern Cuisine, a Chicago favorite, where the food and customer service were absolutely amazing. Before heading back to Wisconsin, we wrapped up the trip with breakfast at Honey Jam Cafe that definitely left us in full food comas! 🥞😂

A HUGE shoutout to our College Access Coordinators — Collis & Jalen — for organizing another powerful and impactful college experience for our mentees. Your dedication continues to open doors and create opportunities that change lives.

POP proudly provided lodging, transportation, and meals to help make this experience possible — and we’re just getting started. The future is bright! 🎓❤️🖤❤️🖤🎓

Congratulations Novi!!

#11

Letsss Goooo Novi.

So proud of you.

Great Job Khalil.

Keep Stacking Wins Young Man

Our favorite scene of the night. Our College Access students got a chance to show off their aspirations.

Shoutout to the team that makes all of this possible.

Congratulations Khalil,

Your hard work and dedication to your future is paying off big time. We are extremely proud of you and cannot wait to see what’s next!

❤️🖤Alumni Spotlight❤️🖤
We are incredibly proud of our Alumni mentee Khalil Mouttaki for earning a spot on the Dean’s List for the Fall semester at Texas Southern University! 🙌🏽

Khalil is a proud graduate of our POP College Access Program, and his dedication, focus, and hard work continue to pay off. This achievement is just one of many milestones he’s reaching on his academic journey.

With this kind of momentum, there’s no telling how far he can go—and we can’t wait to see what’s next! ❤️🖤❤️🖤

❤️🖤POP College Access Alumni Check-In❤️🖤

Moments like these remind us why the work matters. So proud of Novi & Khalil and grateful for mentors who continue to show up beyond the program. 💪🏾🎓✈️

❤️🖤Full-Circle Moments Like This Mean Everything❤️🖤

Yesterday we had the opportunity to grab a bite at Fuji Sushi & Steak House - Eau Claire and catch up with two of our POP College Access Program alumni, Novi and Khalil, alongside POP mentors Dre, Willie and Jalen. It was great sitting down, reconnecting, and hearing about their first semester of college — and we couldn’t be more proud.

Both Novi and Khalil are doing extremely well and finished the semester with GPAs over 3.5 👏🏾📚

Novi attends Anoka-Ramsey Community College, where she’s balancing academics as a student-athlete and absolutely crushing it on the court.
Khalil attends Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, majoring in Aviation and continuing to soar toward his goals.

To make the moment even more special — today is Khalil’s birthday! 🎉🎂 Join us in wishing him a very happy birthday and continued success.

Moments like these — mentors, alumni, and shared community — remind us why the work matters. Watching our mentees grow, succeed, and thrive beyond POP is what this mission is all about. 😁✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽😁

Registration closes in 1 week from today.

Please be sure to get your student registered!!

Village | College Access Program 2025-2026 Test des...

The Time Has Come...

Registration for the POP College Access Program is now open.

Registration Link: https://www.village.com/programs/MdU5zX

Registration closes on Wednesday, September 24th.

This program is designed for high school students (9th–12th grade) who want to explore college and post-secondary education pathways. Whether you’re in the Eau Claire Area School District or beyond — ALL students are welcome and encouraged to join!

📍 Who Should Join?
High schoolers in the Eau Claire/Chippewa Valley and surrounding areas who want to:
✅ Learn more about college options
✅ Get support with planning their future
✅ Connect with peers and mentors

💰 Pricing:
• POP District Students: $50
• Students outside of POP: $250
Payment plans available during registration!

📬 Have questions? DM us here or email: [email protected]

We can’t wait to support and uplift the next generation of leaders! 😁✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽😁

Village | College Access Program 2025-2026 Test des...