Alumni reach back to recall value of mentor program

Twenty years after their induction, about 40 alumni gathered at Simmons College a week ago to discuss the future of the organization that many say changed their lives.

As teens, they all joined the Project REACH program. From 1988 until 1994 the program, an acronym for Road to Educational Achievement, took high school students of color from Boston neighborhoods and gave them tools to succeed in college and beyond.

The program helped guide teens on how to deal with and not be defeated by setbacks, and also offered financial aid for college.

In exchange, program organizers got a promise from the roughly 300 young people who passed through the doors: They'd return to Boston and be leaders in the neighborhoods where they grew up.

Giving back was on the minds of the alumni last weekend. They included a nurse anesthetist, several teachers, and a lawyer. One reason for the gathering was seeking ways to continue the program's legacy.

During small-group discussions, participants set goals, including someday opening a school based on Project REACH principles. The program ceased operations in 1994 due to lack of funds.

The group also honored former leaders of REACH, including John Sims and Blanche Pringle. The alumni gave tear-filled testimonials about the support they received.

Sims returned the gratitude. "You have no idea the kind of investment it took to get this started," he said. "But compared to where you all are today, it was small."

KIMBERLY SANFELIZ