Local Initiatives:
How to help kids when they're not in school? This was the problem facing Price Hill. Kids were hanging out on the street, lacking structured activities after school.
Local Initiatives:
Start strong. LISC partnered with Santa Maria and Community Building Institute to start problem-solving, using funds from JPMorgan Chase. 100+ people attended the kickoff session.
Local Initiatives:
Expand horizons. The group wanted to let families, especially recent immigrants, know about great programs like nature camps from Imago Earth, scouts, and sports leagues.
Local Initiatives:
Make the time. One remarkable program is the MYCincinnati youth orchestra, which requires students to meet and practice 10 hrs/week. Enrollment went up 42% in 2013.
Local Initiatives:
Brainstorm. Parents, school reps, churches, and others started meeting regularly to brainstorm ways to communicate opportunities to parents and fill gaps.
Local Initiatives:
Pick up the pace. LISC provided a summer intern, and then a full-time AmeriCorps member, to engage residents and create a complete resource for kids' activities in Price Hill.
Local Initiatives:
Give parents options. Once the program catalog is finalized, printed copies will be available to parents at community events and at Santa Maria, an immigrant services provider.
Local Initiatives:
Stay integrated. The AmeriCorps member stays in close contact with community members and leaders to disseminate opportunities to engage children.
Local Initiatives:
Keep it going. Families across the city would benefit from knowing where to find engagement and learning opportunities for kids. We hope this effort doesn't stop at Price Hill!