Compete for Life: Where Paterson Students Prepare for What’s Next

NJCDC’s Compete for Life program — a federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative — delivers academic enrichment, youth development, and college- and career-focused programming during non-school hours for students at John F. Kennedy High School Educational Complex and at International High School through NJCDC’s Great Falls Teen Center.

What happens after the final bell rings can shape everything that comes next.

For nearly 800 students last school year, Compete for Life (CFL) became a steady, welcoming space to learn, grow, and plan for their futures.

In Paterson, only 14% of residents age 25 and older hold a college degree. That statistic reflects a challenge, but it also clarifies the mission.

Academic Support with Measurable Impact

At its core, Compete for Life delivers what many students need most: consistent academic support.

Through daily tutoring across subject areas, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, SAT prep, and academic enrichment clubs, students receive targeted help that reinforces classroom learning and builds confidence.

The impact is measurable.

During the 2024–2025 school year, nearly 800 students engaged with Compete for Life at various points throughout the year, with more than half participating consistently for 30 days or more — well above the program’s required benchmark of 255 students. An analysis of report cards among this core cohort showed consistent academic gains across subject areas, with well more than half of participants maintaining or improving their grades in math and ELA.

The program also addresses one of the most pressing issues facing schools today: chronic absenteeism. At International High School, the overall chronic absenteeism rate stood at 38.6%. Among students participating in the CFL program, that rate dropped to just 8.7% — a 77% reduction compared to their peers.

Just as importantly, participation has grown steadily. What once saw fewer than five students staying after school now averages more than 20 students daily — a reflection of stronger culture and a space students want to be part of.

Creativity, Culture, and Career Pathways

Compete for Life recognizes that success isn’t built on academics alone.

Students can explore interests through clubs in culinary arts, fashion design, music production, DJing, visual arts, stepping and dance, cosmetology, and band. Partnerships with robotics, eSports, and credit recovery programs ensure students can participate in multiple opportunities across the school community.

Culinary Arts — led by longtime instructor Mr. Feoli — remains one of the program’s most consistent offerings, teaching practical cooking skills while sparking creativity and teamwork. Cosmetology continues to draw strong participation. Math tutoring remains a cornerstone of academic support.

And then there’s the marching band.

Once nearly 100 members strong, the JFK High School Marching Band dwindled following years of state-imposed budget cuts that reduced arts funding in Paterson Public Schools. Since 2017, Compete for Life has helped sustain the band’s presence at JFK.

Despite limited resources and worn instruments, directors Ivory “Porsha” Holliday and Zanir Frierson — both deeply rooted in the JFK tradition — stepped in to keep it alive. This past Thanksgiving, the band carried on one of Paterson’s oldest traditions, marching from Kennedy to Hinchliffe Stadium before performing at halftime of the annual rivalry game.

In January, marching band members received certificates recognizing their dedication during a 90s-themed celebration. Families joined as students celebrated with music, food, and a short band performance — a moment of pride that reflected months of hard work.

Opening Doors Through Experience

Exposure matters. 

Throughout the year, students participated in regular field trips designed to expand their view of what’s possible.

They toured college campuses and attended major college fairs, including a large regional fair at William Paterson University and an HBCU College Fair at Kean University, where some students connected directly with admissions representatives and even received on-site acceptances.

Students also explored destinations such as Central Park, Circle Line boat tours, Branch Brook Park, Eastern State Penitentiary, hiking trails, and recreational outings like snow tubing at Campgaw Ski Area. These experiences blend enrichment with relationship-building, helping students recharge, connect, and create lasting memories.

During the summer program, held July 7 through August 1, students participated in academic remediation to prevent learning loss alongside band, physical education, culinary arts, and off-site trips.

The message is clear: learning doesn’t stop when school is out.

Student Voice and Leadership

For some students, growth happens not only through textbooks and excursions, but through a microphone.

Through NJCDC’s The Loft Podcast, CFL participants found a platform to share their perspectives and build confidence. In November 2025, students took part in the inaugural Youth Podcast Competition, where teams pitched, recorded, and edited their own episodes. Topics ranged from Pokémon’s cultural legacy to the public fascination with true-crime media and the complexities of teenage friendship.

Outside of the competition, CFL students have appeared regularly on The Loft over the past year, weighing in on superhero media, summer movies and TV shows, surviving high school, artificial intelligence, anime, and what Black history means to them.

That platform has also connected students directly with public leadership. During a special taping, CFL students had the opportunity to interview former NJ Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, posing insightful questions about voting, civic engagement, and her journey to leadership.

For many participants — especially those who are typically quieter — the studio has become a space where their ideas are heard and their voices grow stronger.

Community Partnerships and Real-World Support

Compete for Life’s impact is strengthened through partnerships with institutions including Passaic County Community College, Rutgers University, New York University, Lehigh University, NJ4S, Oasis, and others.

In November 2025, Citizens Philanthropic Foundation awarded NJCDC a $25,000 grant to expand career exploration programming for Compete for Life participants and youth at NJCDC's Great Falls Youth Center. The funding supports career clubs in culinary arts, journalism, engineering, music production, fashion design, entrepreneurship, and more — alongside workforce-readiness programming, financial literacy workshops, and mock interviews.

The program also prioritizes social and emotional well-being. When motivational speaker Dr. Yvonne Williams — an Eastside High School alumna — addressed students in April 2025, her message of perseverance and identity resonated deeply.

And this month, a partnership with Styled With Love delivered curated clothing donations to girls in the program — a thoughtful gesture that boosted confidence and reminded students they are seen and valued.

A Space That Slows Things Down

At Paterson’s JFK and International High Schools, the day can feel fast, loud, and uncertain.

Compete for Life intentionally creates something different.

“I am incredibly grateful for the students who show up every day,” said Program Director Patricia Hernandez Mora. “There can be a lot of uncertainty and noise in a high school environment. Our goal has always been to create a space that slows things down — somewhere students feel included, relaxed, and free to be themselves. Seeing them continue to show up for one another is what keeps me encouraged.”

That sense of belonging may be the program’s most powerful outcome of all.

When students stay after school — when they practice, tutor, cook, record, explore, and plan — they are doing more than filling time.

They are competing for their future.

And increasingly, they are winning.

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Follow @icompete4life on Instagram to see Compete for Life in action