In celebration of supporting Black futures for the past 50 years, NAEA has set a goal to raise $65,000 in the days leading up to this year's GospelFest in October.

About Us

The Northside Association for Educational Advancement (NAEA) is a non-profit organization that promotes educational advancement for African American students by providing scholarships for high school graduating seniors and academic enhancement programs for middle and high school students.

How Your Donation Dollars are Used

With the help of corporate and individual donations, the NAEA has assisted 264 African American young people pursue higher education through its scholarship program. For students who receive the Kalamazoo Promise, our financial assistance is used to cover the expenses not covered by the Promise including books, course fees and room and board. We 
continue our mission of educational advancement by co-sponsoring college fairs and workshops on how to
complete a college application and FAFSA forms for high school seniors, NAEA has hosted writing workshops for
 eighth-graders planning to attend the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center. Recently, NAEA has initiated an
 "Along the Way" project for high school ninth graders who experienced difficulty in the transition from middle
school to high school.

GospelFest 2022

In 1991, NAEA sponsored its first GospelFest by organizing a multi-cultural gospel choir to perform in concert with
the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and a major recording artist. Over the years, the GospelFest Choir has
performed with award winning artists Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Donnie McClurkin, Lou Rawls, Jennifer Holiday,
Take 6, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Richard Smallwood, Men of Standard, the Harlem Gospel Choir and Neshama
Carlebach and the Glory to God Singers.  GospelFest 2022 celebrates 50 years of supporting Black futures. Save the date for October 6, 7 and 8, 2022.

All donations made to the Northside Association for Educational Advancement are tax-deductible.