The Friends of Phillis Wheatley High School aims to serve Wheatley students experiencing poverty, food insecurity, and/or homelessness, by stocking at the school such critical items as food, clothing, hygiene products, and educational supplies. Our Mission:
The Friends of Wheatley High School aims to serve Wheatley students experiencing poverty, food insecurity, and/or homelessness, by stocking at
the school such critical items as food, clothing, hygiene products, and educational supplies. We also plan to support the students' academic progress, for example, through free SAT prep classes. Phillis Wheatley High School
Located in the Fifth Ward of Houston, this high school is named after Phillis Wheatley (d. 1773), who was born in West Africa, sold into slavery at age seven or eight, and became a published poet, the first African-American to achieve this distinction. Ninety-four per cent of Wheatley students meet the income criteria for free/reduced lunch. Our History:
In January 2021, Diane Wolfthal, upon her retirement as a professor at Rice University, wanted to help public school students in need. She decided to model her organization on the very successful Student Support Network in Maryland, founded by Laurie Taylor-Mitchell. Leah Wolfthal, Program Manager at the Center for Urban Transformation served as liaison to the Wheatley High School, who welcomed the idea of a partnership.
