A Yonkers resident is educating young people about the importance of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

There are just over 100 HBCUs nationwide, but that number has decreased over time and now it has become one person's mission to change that.

Dennis Richmond Jr. leads the New York, New Jersey Historically Black Colleges and Universities initiative. His organization educates minority middle and high school students about the importance of attending college and debunks the myths about HBCUs. "The connection with historically black institutions, Black History Month, and everything going on in our political climate is very simple. The connection is that it is important that people realize that all cultures matter," says Richmond.

Richmond is helping a group of students from Yonkers and New Rochelle by getting scholarship books, FAFSA guides, and college brochures from over 20 HBCUs. "We could do anything if we want to. We just need the right resources and the city is offering many resources for us," says Melvin Mofus, Roosevelt High School senior.

HBCUs confer around 50,000 degrees of all types around the country every year.

Richmond hopes that reaching these students early in their school careers will give them a better chance to succeed once they get to college.