Who is The Butterfly Affect?

If you’re a parent, student, potential stakeholder, or a resident of the Newark community, you may be asking: Who is The Butterfly Affect? Why does it matter?

The Butterfly Affect Inc. is a movement born from the long-standing relationship between the Newark community and education, and from the realization that something vital has been missing for years.

Newark is rich in resources that are meant to support high school students as they transition into college. Yet, there’s no clear or accessible path to those resources. Many students are left navigating the journey to college and through college alone.

Our Why

A 2011 study highlighted a troubling pattern:

Newark Comprehensive Public School Students are less likely to enroll and persist in college.
(Source: ECCYCNJ)

In 2018, Mayor Ras Baraka emphasized the need to boost college enrollment and college attainment for Newark students, saying we must build long-term plans to support students not just in getting into college but staying in and graduating.
(Source: Episode 1: Newark - The North | Newark)

To this day, there is no comprehensive, up-to-date public study that tracks college attainment for Newark high school graduates. However, firsthand accounts from local students make the situation clear: many feel unprepared for college when they arrive on campus. The result? Low confidence, unclear direction, and higher dropout rates.

Our Solution

The Butterfly Affect exists to change that.

Our goal is to equip Newark high school students with a holistic, hands-on curriculum that prepares them for the full college experiencem academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our first goal is to offer a cohort-based program that:

• Helps students research colleges and majors that fit their interests and goals

• Teaches them how to navigate 2-year and 4-year college campuses

• Shows them how to advocate for themselves, represent their identity, and ultimately graduate

• Exposes them to campus resources, support systems, and strategies most traditional programs overlook

Our students won’t just survive college they’ll own their experience. 

We also understand that some student do not feel like college is for them, so we also help with career transiton after college.

Join the Movement

Be part of the change:

• Tell a friend

• Volunteer your time or expertise

• Invest in the mission of college attainment for Newark youth

• Explore out website

The Butterfly Affect is here and we’re just getting started.