WESTERN HEIGHTS TRANSFORMATION PLAN
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INCREASE AND CONNECT YOUTH TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING THAT REINFORCES AND ENHANCES LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT Transforming Western builds on existing programs for youth and creates new programs to ensure that students have safe education and productive enrichment options. Over half of the target households have children and there are 150 children age 17 and under living in Western Heights target housing. STRATEGY 1 Expand out-of-school learning opportunities for Western Heights children
138
|
» Create teen-specific programming to engage at-risk youth » Increase evening hours to accommodate parent work schedules » Increase virtual and site-based academic tutoring opportunities » Provide afterschool pick-up transportation and door-to-door drop-off » Enhance STEAM curricula, technology skills classes, economic literacy, and self-esteem enrichment programming » Promote paid externships, apprenticeships, and opportunities for youth entrepreneurship » Enroll Western Heights mentees in career readiness programming » Sponsor on-site scouting troops » Expose youth to urban agriculture through farm apprenticeships » Offer high school youth test prep, job shadowing, and coping skills training opportunities
The People Plan / Youth Development
STRATEGY 2 Provide continued and expanded opportunities to explore interest in the arts » Create a youth arts program for K-12 youth that offers activities and skill development in the performing arts, visual arts, applied arts, and creative writing using hands-on tools and technology » Offer arts-focused community summer camp scholarships to Western Heights youth » Develop a youth outdoor garden at the Western Heights Boys & Girls Club. Offer sitebased cooking classes and tasting sessions using grown produce and supply farm-fresh produce to families. » Expand performing arts programs to include dance and musical instruments » Give free music lessons and instruments for economically disadvantaged residents and neighborhood children » Have Artists in Residence provide classes on a sliding scale to the Western Heights residents STRATEGY 3 Foster a sense of safety and well-being among youth » Build a dedicated children’s playground outside of the Western Heights Boys & Girls Club » Increase slots for youth/mentee matches for Western Heights families » Create and support youth resident advisory councils for the Western Heights neighborhood
