06/01/2026
Cohort One Is Complete.
By Shayna Jones | Founder, 9 Acres & A V.I.BE LLC
Something worth celebrating happened in Newark recently. The first cohort of the PATH-W.A.I Social & Emotional Learning Program—developed under my company, 9 Acres & A V.I.BE LLC, and delivered in partnership with Mentor Newark—has officially completed the program.
PATH-W.A.I is an HBCU-themed Social & Emotional Learning and college-readiness program inspired by Haymer University, my fictional HBCU comic book series. Through an immersive college experience, students explore emotional self-awareness, identity, leadership, conflict management, and post-secondary planning while learning about the rich culture and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The first cohort demonstrated exactly why this work matters.
By the end of the program, every student reported being able to recognize and name their emotions. Interest in HBCUs increased from 78% to 100%. Students who entered the program with uncertainty about college left with greater clarity and confidence about their futures. More importantly, they left with a stronger sense of self.
One student captured the impact best:
“Nobody can tell me who I am. I know who I am, and no one can dictate me because nobody else is [name withheld].”
That statement reflects the heart of PATH-W.A.I. The goal has never been simply to prepare students for college. The goal is to help them understand who they are, recognize their value, and make informed decisions about their future from a place of confidence rather than fear.
This program required a tremendous amount of time, dedication, patience, and collaboration to bring to life. I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, resources, and support to help launch this first cohort successfully. Most of all, I am proud of the students who committed themselves to the process and completed the program.
This is only the beginning.
Cohort Two is coming.
PATH-W.A.I is developed under 9 Acres & A V.I.BE LLC in partnership with Mentor Newark.
