Men of color transitioning to college: The case for community assets, community programs, and social capital.

Transitioning from high school to college is a challenging time for young adults and can be more difficult for youth raised without a father. Leadership development programs provide youth with critical skills to navigate the college environment. Research by Hastings, Barrett, Barbuto, and Bell (2011) indicated actions taken by youth and adults in leadership development programs created connections and common ideas necessary for future social success and for the success of communities. The authors interviewed eight adult men of color alumni who had participated as adolescents in a cohort-based, six-month life-skill development program. The goal was to identify attributes of the program that aided in their transition to college. The findings suggest the program influenced their perceptions prior to entering college and provided skills to navigate the first year.