After-School Program Builds Community For Homeless Kids And Families

At PS 636 in Brooklyn, one in five kids are homeless. But one after-school program, NYDailynews.com reports, is helping almost every kid at this school feel at home. While other after-school programs in the area have been cut from lack of funding, the year-old, mostly grant-funded program is transforming the children's academics, attitudes, and the community around them.
Fist-fights in the halls on campus have stopped and test scores are rising. Parents are also using the school as a resource and support system. All at a cost of $1,700 per student per year through the federal grant from The After-School Corporation.

"This is the best thing that could have happened to us," said Lakisha Samuels, whose third-grade daughter, Jolissann, and first- and fifth-grade sons, Kevin and Ludlow, attend the school.

The After-School Corporation, a leading New York intermediary, has organized an advocacy program to create and maintain more programs like the one at PS 636. Join their After-School Action Network and you can receive regular updates on after-school program issues. They also make it super-easy to contact your local officials about after-school and education issues that concern you.

Comments

[PressPassTV]

How inspiring. It's horrible that in a country like this so many families could have so little, but it's important that we come together in times like these.

[yemaya]

twenty years ago, there were few homeless families. I remember working at a shelter and seeing one family w/children. It broke my heart. Now there are so many. Is this how we measure our society's progress?

[OldTart]

No, progress is measured by the wild success of the financial industry and the soaring wealth they have siphoned away from working families so they can experience what it is to be homeless. Pardon my cynicism, but I have rarely been so angry. And nothing is done to stop it!! The administration can't but we the people can.

[jack7576]

WOW :-)