Weekly Media Roundup: December 11, 2019

Jennifer Harris Leads Rainey Institute, Helping Youths Explore the Arts, The Plain Dealer (Ohio)

At the Rainey Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, students can learn graphic design, hip-hop, ballet, orchestral instruments, theater and more. The nonprofit serves nearly 3,000 children through afterschool, weekend and summer programs at schools, recreation centers and its own facility. All of its programming emphasizes creativity and social and emotional development. “Children learn through doing. Not only do they learn their instruments, they have to memorize. They have to communicate with one another. They know their team is counting on them,” Executive Director Jennifer Harris told the Plain Dealer.

Gwen's Girls Serves 100 Girls a Day in After-School Programs, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)

Founded by a retired police commander, Gwen’s Girls is an afterschool program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where girls ages eight to 18 can get help with their homework, eat healthy snacks, and learn about topics ranging from science and technology to conflict resolution and dance. Later this month, students from the program will visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Students will also soon receive Christmas gifts thanks to a partnership with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Goodfellows Fund. CEO Kathi Elliot told the newspaper, “We are so grateful when we do get this opportunity to be able to pass along gifts. And sometimes we get financial donations, or food baskets, to be able to provide families with things so that they don’t need to be stressed out … because financially they can’t make ends meet.”

‘Invest Time in the Kids of Today,’ The Charlotte Gazette (North Carolina)

The Bowtie Boys Club is a club funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant at Bacon District Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its focus is character development. Recently, members of a nearby high school’s baseball team visited the club to discuss gratitude, play games and teach the elementary school students to tie neckties. “We are thankful for the opportunity to come and just spend some time with these boys. I think our guys did a great job of making this opportunity personal to each participant as they held detailed conversations in a one-on-one setting while teaching how to tie a proper tie,” baseball coach Josh Barmoy told the Charlotte Gazette.

Haverhill Y Opens ‘STEAM Lab’ After-School Learning with Covanta Help, 97.9 WHAV (Massachusetts)

Waste management company Covanta recently presented a $10,000 donation to the Haverhill YMCA’s newly opened STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) lab in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The afterschool program features hands-on activities meant to spark students’ interest in STEAM and develop their skills. “We see a high level of engagement. We see a low number of behavior issues because they’re really enjoying the time they’re spending together and having fun doing it without really realizing that they are learning,” Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller told 97.9 WHAV.