Harlem Educational Activities Fund Inc

THE HARLEM EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FUND (HEAF) CHANGES THE LIVES OF DESERVING YOUNG PEOPLE BEGINNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CONTINUING IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND THROUGH A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT APPROACH THAT INCLUDES RIGOROUS YEAR-ROUND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EXPOSURE AND CONSTANT INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION. HEAF IS COMMITTED TO CREATING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUAL CHANCES FOR OUR SCHOLARS.

HEAF'S ACADEMIC MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, CALLED HIGH EXPECTATIONS, PREPARES STUDENTS FOR ADMISSION TO COLLEGE-PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOLS. OUR STUDENTS RECEIVED INSTRUCTION IN MATH, ELA, AND HUMANITIES AS WELL AS PREPARATION FOR THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST AND PARTICIPATED IN ELECTIVES AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COURSES. RISING 9TH GRADERS PARTICIPATED IN A TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM - A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE ACADEMIC SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL. IN FY22 PROGRAMMING FOR ALL THREE SITES TOOK PLACE, VIRTUALLY, MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS 4:30 P.M. - 6:00 P.M., THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED 260 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. DURING THE SUMMER, WE OFFERED A FOUR-WEEK SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR 185 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, OPERATING MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS 9:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

HEAF'S ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, CALLED COLLEGE QUEST OFFERS A WEALTH OF ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSEWORK FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CLASSES, STUDENTS TOOK PART IN CULTURAL LITERACY, LEARNING FOR SOCIAL IMPACT (LSI) AND STEAM. HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ALSO PREPARED FOR THE SAT AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS BY STRENGTHENING THEIR PERSONAL STATEMENTS, BUILDING A LIST OF BEST-FIT" COLLEGES, AND EXPLORING A DIVERSE SET OF COLLEGES. SERVICES DURING FY22 WERE DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON, TAKING PLACE MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN FY22 WE CONTINUED OUR EXPANDED 4 WEEK SUMMER PROGRAMMING TO INCLUDE ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. DURING THE SUMMER, STUDENTS ATTENDED WORKSHOPS, RECEIVED COLLEGE APPLICATION HELP, SPECIAL PROJECTS, AND CAREER MENTORING AS NEEDED. IN FY22, HEAF SERVED APPROXIMATELY 180 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 150 COLLEGE STUDENTS.

HEAF'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SERVES AS AN INNOVATIVE LABORATORY FOR LEARNING AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHERE STUDENTS FEEL EMPOWERED TO BE THEMSELVES WHILE ALSO ACCESSING RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND GUIDANCE TO HELP THEM DISCOVER THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. YD TRANSCENDS THE IDEA OF A TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC CLASSROOM AND IS INSTEAD A SPACE THAT RECOGNIZES THE STUDENT AS THE EXPERT OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE AND PROMOTES THE SHARING OF ONE'S THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND IDEAS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTER BUILDING, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND SERVICE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES. WE DO THIS BY OFFERING GENEROUS ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP TIME PER STUDENT, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO A RICH MENU OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND COUNSELLING SERVICES, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP RETREATS, GENDER-SPECIFIC RESILIENCY PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH-LED SERVICE ACTIVITIES. IN FY22, THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SERVE ALL OUR STUDENTS FROM 6 THROUGH 12TH GRADES, AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 460 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. STUDENTS ATTENDED CLASS ONCE EACH WEEK; CLASSES WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.

ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES-PROFESSIONAL STAFF MUST MODEL A HIGH STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE, RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COLLEAGUES. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES ARE INTEGRAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS. IN ADDITION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STAFF, ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE GENERAL ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING COMMUNICATIONS, ALUMNI, AND VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES. AS OUR STUDENTS CONTINUED WITH REMOTE LEARNING, COMMUNICATION WITH OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WAS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAD NEEDED RESOURCES. ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS WITH CORPORATIONS, SCHOOL BOARDS AND OTHER COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. IN FY22 OUR ANNUAL COLLEGE DECISION DAY EVENT WAS BACK IN PERSON ALLOWING HEAF TO CELEBRATE HUNDREDS OF GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMS ACROSS NYC WITH THEIR FAMILIES.