Expanding Opportunities for Learning
As part of the I Believe I Become collaborative, United Way Schools of Hope after school programs are working to help close the achievement gap in four Grand Rapids zones by 2020.
The Schools of Hope after school initiative is based on the successful, research-based Youth Education for Tomorrow (YET) model from Philadelphia.
The model provides four days of instruction for 90 minutes each day focusing on literacy for children in grades 1-3. The model provides a balanced literacy approach and incorporates five components that are critical for literacy development:
- Read Alouds
- Shout Out (Oral Comprehension)
- Writing
- Vocabulary
- Independent Reading using the 100 Book Challenge
In three years, children who participated for the full program year achieved an average of 1.2 years of reading growth.
Currently, 19 after-school sites in neighborhood churches, schools and community organizations serve students from targeted elementary schools. To ease transportation, each site is less than one mile from the school(s) served.
Schools of Hope After School Partners
1257 E Beltline Avenue NW
Serving students from and operating program at Sibley, Burton, Dickinson and Cesar Chavez schools.
Church of the Holy Spirit
1200 Post Drive NE
Serving students from Comstock Park, Chandler Woods Academy and Rockford schools.
City View Church
960 Alpine Avenue
Serving students from Harrison Park elementary.
Divine Grace Church
755 Fuller Avenue
Serving students from Campus elementary.
Grand Rapids Dreams
419 Norwood Avenue SE
Serving students from and operating program at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy.
Messiah Missionary Baptist Church
513 Henry Avenue SE
Serving students from Martin Luther King Jr. Academy.
Neland Avenue Church
940 Neland Avenue SE
Serving students from and operating program at Campus elementary.
New Hope Baptist Church
130 Delaware Street SW
Serving students from Campau Park elementary.
Promise of Hope / True Light Baptist Church
900 Thomas Street SE
Serving students from private and charter schools.
Redeemer Lutheran Church
1905 Madison Ave SE
Serving students from Buchanan elementary and operating program at Iglesia Missionaria.
Roosevelt Park Church
811 Chicago Drive
Serving students from Cesar Chavez elementary.
The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
2500 South Division Avenue
Serving students from Burton elementary.
Trinity Reformed Church
1224 Davis NW
Serving students from Harrison Park elementary.
Trinity United Methodist Church
110 Lake Drive SE
Serving students from and operating program at Congress elementary.
United Church Outreach Ministry
801 Oakland Avenue
Serving students from and operating program at Southwest Community Campus.
