HBCU Advocates
Educational Consultants
Welcome
to Our Site
Welcome to HBC&U Legacies (Historically Black Colleges and yoU). We are an educator-led college access organization committed to ensuring that HBCUs are visible, accessible, and normalized within College & Career Readiness efforts. Based in Detroit and serving communities both in person and virtually, we support students, educators, and families through the full HBCU postsecondary navigation process—from exploration to enrollment. We’re glad you’re here and invite you to explore how HBC&U Legacies helps turn awareness into access and legacy into opportunity.
Overview of HBC&U Legacies
HBC&U Legacies (Historically Black Colleges and yoU) is an educator-led college access organization committed to ensuring that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are visible, accessible, and normalized within College & Career Readiness (CCR) systems. Founded in 2017 and based in Detroit, Michigan, HBC&U Legacies provides services both in person and virtually, supporting students, educators, schools, organizations, and communities locally and beyond.
What distinguishes HBC&U Legacies is its comprehensive approach to HBCU advocacy. While many efforts focus primarily on exposure or campus tours, HBC&U Legacies intentionally supports the entire HBCU postsecondary navigation process—from exposure and exploration to enlistment and/or enrollment. This end-to-end model ensures that students are not only introduced to HBCUs, but are also equipped with the knowledge, planning tools, and guidance necessary to successfully access and persist in these institutions.
Through its Strategic Advisory Team (S.A.T.), HBC&U Legacies delivers HBCU-specific exploration, application, and financial planning resources; professional learning and conference sessions for counselors and educators; student-centered match-and-fit advisement; and community-based initiatives that promote an HBCU-inclusive CCR culture. Grounded in lived experience, professional expertise, and national CCR frameworks, HBC&U Legacies works to close information gaps, shift narratives, and expand postsecondary opportunities—ensuring that all students can make informed, empowered decisions about their futures.
Vision Statement
We envision a future where HBCUs are fully embedded within College & Career Readiness systems nationwide, where educators are equipped to guide with accuracy and intention, and where all students—particularly those historically underserved—have the knowledge, access, and confidence to pursue postsecondary pathways that affirm identity, purpose, and success.
Mission Statement
HBC&U Legacies strengthens College & Career Readiness systems by equipping educators and communities with accurate, HBCU-specific resources that affirm identity, expand access, and preserve legacy—ensuring Historically Black Colleges and yoU are no longer overlooked or misunderstood, but visible, accessible, and normalized as viable, empowering postsecondary options for all students.
HBC&U Legacies
Vision Statement
We envision a future where HBCUs are fully embedded within College & Career Readiness systems nationwide, where educators are equipped to guide with accuracy and intention, and where all students—particularly those historically underserved—have the knowledge, access, and confidence to pursue postsecondary pathways that affirm identity, purpose, and success.
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Mission Statement
HBC&U Legacies strengthens College & Career Readiness systems by equipping educators and communities with accurate, HBCU-specific resources that affirm identity, expand access, and preserve legacy—ensuring Historically Black Colleges and yoU are no longer overlooked or misunderstood, but visible, accessible, and normalized as viable, empowering postsecondary options for all students.
About Our (S.A.T.) Strategic Advisory Team
The HBC&U Legacies Strategic Advisory Team (S.A.T.) is based in Detroit, Michigan, and provides services both in person and virtually, allowing for local impact and national reach. What distinguishes the S.A.T. is its comprehensive approach to HBCU advocacy. While many efforts focus primarily on exposure or campus tours, HBC&U Legacies is committed to supporting the entire HBCU postsecondary navigation process—from exposure and exploration to enlistment and/or enrollment. This intentional, end-to-end support ensures that students and educators are equipped not only to learn about HBCUs, but to successfully access and navigate them as viable postsecondary pathways.
Rakiba Mitchell, MA, LPC, NCC
Founder & CEO/School Counselor
Rakiba Mitchell, Founder & CEO of HBC&U Legacies, established the organization in 2017 out of both professional necessity and personal legacy. She also serves as the Strategic Advisory Team (S.A.T.) Lead, guiding the organization’s mission and impact.
With 25+ years of experience in public education, Rakiba is a Certified Teacher, School Counselor (NT, LCC, NCC), College & Career Readiness Lead, and Adjunct Professor who teaches and advises Counselors-in-Training (CITs). She was born, raised, and educated in Detroit Public Schools (K–12) and continues to serve students within DPSCD, grounding her work in deep community knowledge and lived experience. She also has been a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated since 2002.
A fifth-generation educator, Rakiba’s connection to HBCUs is both professional and personal—her parents met at Tuskegee University, and her family legacy informs her commitment to access, excellence, and opportunity. As an expert in postsecondary planning, she specializes in helping students develop passion-driven, needs-based career plans and has successfully guided students to—and through—the HBCU application and enrollment process.
Through her work as an educator, presenter, and advisor, Rakiba recognized a critical gap in college promotion and advising. She observed that students can only make informed choices when they are aware that options exist—and that many counselors lack knowledge of HBCUs, particularly in states like Michigan, where HBCUs have limited visibility. As she often notes, “There are counselors who do not know HBCUs exist and therefore aren’t able to advise their students properly.”
HBC&U Legacies was created to address this gap—ensuring that HBCUs are promoted as viable postsecondary options for all students, and that educators are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to guide students toward informed, empowered decisions.
Tracey Penick, M.Ed, LLPC
Vice President & HBCU Culture Consultant
Tracey Thomas serves as Vice President of HBC&U Legacies and as the organization’s S.A.T. HBCU Culture Consultant. With over 25 years of experience in public education, she is a Special Education Teacher, School Counselor (NT), and holds credentials in Elementary and Middle School Administration (ES). She currently serves as a Middle School Counselor, bringing a student-centered, access-driven approach to her work.
During her tenure as a high school counselor at Cody High School, Tracey partnered with community organizations to design and lead a mini HBCU college tour to North Carolina, intentionally selecting institutions that aligned with her students’ admissibility and affordability. Students were selected based on established criteria and participated at a cost of just $50, demonstrating her commitment to equitable access. She has also successfully assisted numerous students to—and through—the HBCU application and enrollment process.
A proud graduate of Tennessee State University, Tracey credits her HBCU experience with shaping her professional philosophy. As she reflects, “I didn’t think it was possible for me to graduate from TSU because I needed to return home, but my advisor had a vested interest in my success.” This level of care and family-centered support, she notes, exemplifies the difference between many PWIs and HBCUs. Tracey has been a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated since 2007, further reinforcing her lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and community uplift.
Allan Washington, MEDL
Match & Fit Consultant
Allan Washington serves as the HBC&U Legacies S.A.T. HBCU Match & Fit Consultant, bringing over 20 years of experience in public education as an Elementary (K–8) Teacher, Elementary/Middle School Administrator (ES), and Assistant Principal. He also serves as a Student Information Systems Lead and Partnerships & Pathways Lead, where he is highly skilled at leveraging relationships and building community partnerships that expand student access and opportunity.
A graduate of Kentucky State University, Allan uses his personal journey to connect authentically with students. He openly shares that he was not an honor student and initially failed to apply himself academically; however, his participation in choir—not athletics—earned him an HBCU scholarship. As he often reflects, “It was at Kentucky State that I grew up and learned how to be a man.” Allan challenges students to use their passions—whether band, choir, dance, sports, ROTC, or the arts—to uncover pathways to scholarships and postsecondary success. He has been a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated since 2002, and is deeply committed to helping students understand not only that opportunities exist, but how to access them strategically.
Leonard Rusher, MBA
Financial Planning Consultant
Leonard Rusher serves as the HBC&U Legacies S.A.T. Financial Planning Consultant, bringing deep expertise in military-affiliated education pathways and postsecondary financing. A Detroit native, Leonard served 33 years in the Army National Guard, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He joined the Strategic Advisory Team during his tenure as an ROTC Instructor at Cody High School in Detroit, where he worked directly with students exploring college and military pathways.
Leonard’s areas of expertise include HBCU military programs, ROTC scholarship requirements, the benefits of military service, and multiple financing options for attending an HBCU. His guidance spans HBCU institutional scholarships, in-state tuition waivers, and the USDA 1890 Land-Grant Scholarship, ensuring students and families understand a full range of accessible funding opportunities.
Beyond formal advising, Leonard actively engages with HBCU culture by visiting campuses, touring historic Black history sites, and participating in Homecoming experiences. His “Boots on the Ground” photos and videos provide HBC&U Legacies followers with authentic, real-time exposure to HBCU life and tradition. Leonard has been a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated since 2003, reinforcing his commitment to leadership, service, and community uplift.
Sonya Griggs, MA, LLPC
School Counselor
Sonya Griggs serves as the HBC&U Legacies S.A.T. HBCU Best Practices & Resources Consultant, bringing over 20 years of experience in education as an Elementary (K–8) Teacher and School Counselor (NT, K–12). She currently works as a High School Counselor, where she supports students through comprehensive College & Career Readiness planning.
Born and raised in Albany, Georgia, Sonya brings a distinct and invaluable perspective as the only member of the Strategic Advisory Team who was fully immersed in HBCU culture from childhood. She grew up participating in auxiliary teams, listening to the Albany State University Marching Band, and attending football games with family and friends—experiences that shaped her understanding of HBCUs as vibrant academic, cultural, and community-centered institutions. These early influences informed her decision to attend and graduate from Albany State University, grounding her advocacy in lived experience rather than theory.
Through her work with HBC&U Legacies, Sonya provides educators and session attendees with best-practice strategies and practical resources to create, implement, and sustain an HBCU-inclusive College & Career Readiness (CCR) culture. She often incorporates storytelling and visuals to deepen understanding, helping educators move from awareness to intentional practice when supporting students’ postsecondary options.
Our Services
S.A.T. Summary of Services
The HBC&U Legacies Strategic Advisory Team (S.A.T.) provides comprehensive, HBCU-centered advisory and support services designed to strengthen College & Career Readiness (CCR) efforts for students, educators, and school communities.
S.A.T. services include:
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Development and dissemination of custom-designed, HBCU-specific exploration, application, and financial planning resources
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Facilitation of HBCU-focused professional learning sessions and conference presentations for counselors and educators, centered on effective CCR implementation
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Strategic guidance for students in creating intentional, HBCU-aligned postsecondary plans
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Ongoing support for HBCU initiatives at Pershing High School and Southeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan, including program design, resource alignment, and implementation support
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Advocacy and promotion of HBCUs as viable, competitive, and empowering postsecondary options for all students
S.A.T. Summary of Services
Historically Black Colleges and yoU — Access. Identity. Legacy.
SERVICE PILLAR 1: Student-Centered Planning
Outcome: Students make informed, confident decisions that include HBCUs as viable pathways.
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HBCU-specific college exploration
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Application guidance and timelines
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Financial planning and scholarship resources
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Development of intentional, HBCU-aligned postsecondary plans
SERVICE PILLAR 2: Educator & Counselor Support
Outcome: Educators are equipped to integrate HBCUs into everyday postsecondary advising.
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HBCU-focused professional development sessions
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Conference workshops centered on CCR implementation
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Tools and context for delivering accurate, resource-rich HBCU information
SERVICE PILLAR 3: Resource Development
Outcome: Consistent, high-quality resources that eliminate misinformation and access gaps.
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Custom-designed HBCU exploration resources
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Application and admissions tools
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Financial aid and funding guides
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Educator- and student-facing materials
SERVICE PILLAR 4: Community & School-Based Initiatives
Outcome:
A cohesive College & Career Readiness culture—across schools and communities—that is intentionally HBCU-inclusive, with a focused impact in the Metro Detroit area.
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Strategic support for students, schools, organizations, and community members engaged in HBCU-focused College & Career Readiness efforts
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Planning and implementation support for HBCU initiatives across educational and community-based settings
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Targeted support for Metro Detroit–based schools and programs, including Pershing High School and Southeastern High School
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Alignment of HBCU programming with school-, organization-, and community-wide CCR goals
SERVICE PILLAR 5: Advocacy & Visibility
Outcome: HBCUs are normalized—not marginalized—in postsecondary planning spaces
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Promotion of HBCUs as competitive, empowering options
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Narrative shifting in college-going culture
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Equity-centered postsecondary advocacy
Awards & Recognitions
HBC&U Legacies has been recognized for its sustained commitment to advancing equitable college access and promoting Historically Black Colleges and Universities as viable postsecondary options for students, educators, and communities.
2019 — Target I Community Superstars Awardee
Awarded at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated’s 88th Great Lakes Regional Conference in Detroit, Michigan, this recognition honors outstanding community leadership and service in accordance with Target 1: HBCU for Life—A Call to Action. Target 1 is a key initiative dedicated to promoting and financially supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through student enrollment encouragement and the establishment of scholarship endowments at each accredited HBCU. This recognition affirms HBC&U Legacies’ early and ongoing commitment to HBCU sustainability and access.
2021 — Spirit of Detroit Award
Presented by the Detroit City Council, the Spirit of Detroit Award recognizes exceptional achievement and outstanding dedication to improving the quality of life for residents of the City of Detroit. This honor reflects the organization’s impact within the community and its leadership in postsecondary access and advocacy.
2024 — Achievement Award
HBC&U Legacies received an Achievement Award from the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC) in recognition of its commitment to establishing a program that significantly supports students in the transition from high school to college, with a specific focus on HBCU-inclusive College & Career Readiness.
December 2024 — Black Leaders Detroit Grant Recipient
HBC&U Legacies was awarded a grant from Black Leaders Detroit to expand HBCU-specific resources, increase access, and strengthen support for educators, students, and families. This investment supports the organization’s mission to normalize HBCUs within College & Career Readiness systems across Metro Detroit and beyond.
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Jay Mille-Collins Allen
"They are amazing and all they do to inspire others is awesome and much needed in our community."
Kevin Gary
"I love HBC&U. Thank you for an excellent mission."
Alise Bufford
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"Supporting HBCU events and colleges is paramount to their continued success."
