Filling the Need for After-School Enrichment
Children living in poverty are often raised by single parents, who must work longer and longer hours to make ends meet. When the school day ends, many young people are left with no supervision and nothing to occupy their time. The result: kids on the street with little to do - and plenty of opportunity for trouble.
The Urban Dove is uniquely filling the gap left between school and working parents by providing quality programs for more than 1,000 at-risk young people. Its diverse program components are designed to engage 8 - 18 year-olds in positive activities during the crucial after-school hours.
Recreation, Life Skills and Inspiration
The Urban Dove is a unique organization that employs older students to help younger ones. Working with New York City public schools, Urban Dove's HiRisers program educates high-school students in academics, sports and mentoring. Once trained, these HiRisers become tutors, coaches and role models for younger at-risk students in elementary and middle schools, and earn a stipend for their efforts. Meanwhile, younger participants receive the support, energy and attention they need to be successful - in school and in life.
Urban Dove participants are also invited to attend Camp Lenox in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, where many of them experience the joys of camp and a rural setting for the first time. Net Gain, another Urban Dove component, secures free court space for 16 New York City public schools that do not have their own gymnasiums so that more than 400 students can compete in after-school basketball programs. Urban Dove's College All-Stars program provides year-round college prep classes for high school students, including SAT prep, college tours and financial aid workshops.
The Urban Dove is taking young people off the streets, out of danger, and on to a bright future.
"With Urban Dove, I have a place to go after school and I get to feel good about myself - good about what I'm doing."
-Tyquan Marshall, Age 16, HiRisers Youth Staff
http://www.urbandove.org/
Contact Urban Dove |
