Minds Matter Houston (MMH) is the local chapter of the national Minds Matter organization, providing a transformative, holistic three-year college access program dedicated to empowering high-achieving, low-income high school students from the Houston area. Our students come from families with an average household income of $40,000 per year, and many are first-generation college applicants. The economically vulnerable communities our students grow up in often lack the necessary resources and experience to guide students toward successful acceptance to a four-year college.
Minds Matter helps students to overcome intergenerational poverty by opening pathways to higher education through knowledgeable support and financial resources. Our 26-week annual program spans from sophomore through senior year, and is focused on preparing students to apply and succeed in college. The program is built upon three core pillars:
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Core Academics: Focused, instructor-designed curriculum delivered during Saturday Sessions, including SAT preparation, critical thinking, writing, test taking, and public speaking.
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Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): In-person mentoring focused on personal and professional growth, covering time management, financial literacy, career exploration, résumé building, and college application guidance.
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Experiential Summer Program: Minds Matter has partnered with institutions across the country to provide discounted tuition for these programs, and all costs of attendance (including tuition and travel) are funded locally by MMH.
Our Proven Impact: Nationally, and in Houston, 100% of students who complete the Minds Matter program are accepted to a four-year college. 60% of Minds Matter students enrolled in a U.S. News Top 100 college.