Weekly Media Roundup: September 1, 2021

'We're fortunate': Clyde Erwin Elementary Lands Funding for Arts, Educational Support, Jacksonville Daily News (North Carolina)

Thanks to a $400,000 21^st Century Community Learning Centers grant, the Clyde Erwin Elementary Magnet School in Jacksonville, North Carolina will be able to expand its current afterschool programming to include music, arts, theater and family outings to college sporting events. “[The afterschool program] has to really be a whole program encompassing learning gaps with children, so our vision is to teach the whole child with this program and to include support for families,” Principal Dr. Crystal Howard told the Jacksonville Daily News. The afterschool program plans to work collaboratively with the New River YMCA as well as local ballet programs, performing arts centers and family development centers.

How this After-School Program Achieved a High Vaccination Rate in a Black Neighborhood Where Most Young Adults Are Unvaccinated, Washington Post (District of Columbia)

Mary Brown, founder of Life Pieces to Masterpieces afterschool program, was determined to get as many of her employees and students vaccinated as possible. “These kids have been through hell,” Brown told the Washington Post. “I am not letting anyone near these children who is not vaccinated.” She enlisted a Black scientist who volunteers at the program to educate staff and families on the importance of vaccinations and now all employees and volunteers are vaccinated and 60% of participating families are also vaccinated. The Life Pieces to Masterpieces afterschool program offers students educational support and enrichment through the arts as a pathway out of poverty.

Hillcrest YMCA Offers Free After-School Teen Café for South Euclid-Lyndhurst Middle Schoolers, Cleveland.com (Ohio)

This fall, middle schoolers in Lyndhurst, Ohio will benefit from a new Teen Café afterschool program, where they can get help with homework, talk about issues they are facing at school or in their community, and explore interests such as cooking, yoga, chess, and fitness training. “Out of School Time programs are essential to helping youth develop positive skills and provide a safe environment for learning and thriving,” South Euclid Community Services Director Keith Benjamin told Cleveland.com. “The launch of the Teen Café program adds another option for youth learning, recreation and engagement in South Euclid and joins other youth programs offered by the city and our non-profit and faith-based community partners.”

ACE Comes to PI-ISD: After School Program to Provide Extra Instruction, Activities, Port Isabel Press (Texas)

Students in the new Afterschool Centers for Education (ACE) program at Port Isabel Independent School District in Port Isabel, Texas will take part in a wide of variety activities including coding, folklorico dance, soccer, drone flying, book clubs, photography and more. The program will help students succeed in school and in life with financial literacy courses, tutoring, and ACT/SAT prep. Arleen Marin, the program’s new director, told the Port Isabel Press, “Right away … I connected with the people here. I come from a big district, so this is a little different for me. But it feels so homey.”