Recent Youth Program Grants
The Potter’s House
Reading Recovery Program
The Potter’s House provides a Christ-centered PK-12 education to children of all ethnic and income backgrounds in an urban environment. They serve 515 students annually, 55% that come from minority backgrounds and 60% from low-income or poverty-level households. Ninety-five percent of the students receive tuition assistance. The Reading Recovery Program is an intervention program for the students assigned to the lowest achieving 1st grade class. This might include students that are learning the English language. The students that qualify receive one-to-one instruction in reading and writing daily for 12-24 weeks. The goal is to have 1st grade students reading and writing at the appropriate grade level. To measure this program, the teacher maintains a daily running record of each child's progress to help make future lesson plans. Teachers are trained in Clay's Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement to assess each child's strengths and confusions.
http://www.pottershouseschool.org/
Young Life Greater Grand Rapids
Urban Young Life Program
The Urban Young Life program in Grand Rapids focuses on developing relationships with about 150 middle and high school students attending Grand Rapids Public Schools. The program focuses on sharing a message of God’s hope and love through fun-filled club events and meals, as well as coaching, mentoring, tutoring and small groups. At the heart of their program is a focus on one-on-one relationships with the kids. As a result of these relationships the Young Life staff was called in by the schools following a gang-related killing to help the kids process what had happened and deal with grief. Eight of the gang members went with the staff for a weekend camp to think about changing lives. It’s about relationships…between the kids, leaders, and God.
http://sites.younglife.org/_layouts/ylext/default.aspx?ID=C-1118
Camp Tall Turf
General Operating Support
Camp Tall Turf ministers to the needs of inner city youth and single parent families by providing a camping experience and follow up programs throughout the year. The ABC’s of Tall Turf’s core vision are: Advancing Reconciliation, Building Faith, and Creating Leaders. Programming runs throughout the year with a significant increase during the summer camping season. Year-round programs include tutoring and mentoring, The LIT Program hires 14 high school aged youth each summer. Designed to motivate teens to make positive choices and live lives of service, this program requires participants to serve others, mentor youth campers and peers, increase life and entrepreneurial skills, and prepare for college and various careers. This program takes place both at camp and away from camp on various service trips.
http://www.tallturf.org/
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