Faculty at Tacoma Community College (TCC) made a bold decision when they decided to start their newest summer programming.

Aimed strictly at one of the lowest performing academic populations, the inaugural year of Men of Distinction aims to address an issue that has become impossible to ignore, especially in Tacoma: the achievement gap.

African-American males’ performance in schools and participation in higher education is much lower in comparison to their non-black and female counterparts. So TCC faculty crafted a summer program targeted specifically at that demographic. The eight-week Men of Distinction summer academy is preparing 21 young adult black males for entry to, and success in, college.

“We’re trying to actively do something about a problem in society,” said Eric Davis, or Professor E, who was asked to teach this program. “I’ve been studying for years all the different challenges and struggles of black men: incarceration rates, struggles with education, absentee fathers… all these social statistics. It’s one thing we always talk about, but it’s time to do something about it.”

Davis is an adjunct professor of ethnic studies and sociology at TCC, Bellevue College and Pierce College.  

“It’s not ‘politically correct’ to do something specific for gender - or for color - but this is a group we’ve identified that is not succeeding at the rate it should be. TCC was bold enough to say: ‘We want to address it.’”

The first group of Men of Distinction at TCC runs from late June through mid-August, and the men range in age from 18 to 20. All have graduated from high school, except for one. And all have the desire to move forward with their education. Many of the students struggled in high school, and come from backgrounds that dictate poor learning environments.

In Professor E’s class, however, they are excelling.

The free classes are covered by a variety of funding sources, including TCC and the National Achieve the Dream initiative. The main goal is for the students, all of whom tested below college level in reading and writing, to finish the class ready and able to start at college level in September so they can immediately begin earning credit toward their degree, and move forward on a successful path for their future.

“Being thrown right into a college-level course can be a really tough transition,” said Joe Floyd, tutor and mentor for the Men of Distinction. “It gives them a crash course in college before they actually start.”

And in just a few weeks, the students have already demonstrated that they are working with the program, and the program - even though still in its infancy - is working.

“From day one, just about everyone has improved,” Floyd remarked. “A lot of them have gone up a grade level (in their ability) and there are a few here that are writing high 100-level papers. We’re hoping that with this, they will succeed easier.”

Tre Johnson is an 18-year-old Achievers Scholar who graduated from Lincoln High School in June. He comes from a tough family background and will be the first in his family to attend college.

He witnessed his three older brothers drop out of school and decided he did not want to do the same thing. He also wants to set a good example for his 13-year-old sister.

“I didn’t want to be like that. I already made it this far. I don’t want to struggle like a lot of people in my family are.” On July 26, Johnson held the top grade in his class and is set up to begin school at Green River Community College in September. After that, he may transfer to Morehouse College and study architecture or graphic design.

Twenty-year-old Desean Jones admitted he did not do that great in high school because he did not see the point behind the schoolwork. Now, he is intrigued by learning at TCC and is looking forward to starting and finishing his college degree.

“I always just took life as it came. Now I’m starting to realize what I need to do,” Jones said. “It’s interesting to see a lot of other brothers like myself taking this opportunity to come in and do this.

“In September I’ll be enrolling as a freshman in college. I have to say, I’m proud of myself. I never thought I’d actually be going to college.”