Open Doors Of Asheville Inc

OPENDOORS OF ASHEVILLE'S MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY BY ELIMINATING THE RACE-BASED OPPORTUNITY AND ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR STUDENTS THROUGH EDUCATION.

ACADEMICS: WE SUPPORT STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL. DRIVEN BY INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS, WE PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL ADVOCACY, PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TESTING, PROFESSIONAL AND PEER-TO-PEER TUTORING, BESTFIT SCHOOL PLACEMENTS, COLLEGE PREP, AND HIGHER EDUCATION MENTORSHIP AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AS THE UMBRELLA FOR OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, OUR TO & THROUGH COLLEGE ACCESS AND COMPLETION INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON FOUR AREAS: 1) EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, TUTORING, AND BESTFIT SCHOOLS IN K-12; 2) INTEREST- ALIGNED STEAM ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN K-12; 3) COLLEGE PREPARATION, ACCESS, AND ADMISSION IN GRADES 9-12; AND 4) SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION AND POST-GRADUATION PLANNING.

ACADEMICS: WE SUPPORT STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL. DRIVEN BY INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS, WE PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL ADVOCACY, PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TESTING, PROFESSIONAL AND PEER-TO-PEER TUTORING, BEST-FIT SCHOOL PLACEMENTS, COLLEGE PREP, AND HIGHER EDUCATION MENTORSHIP AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AS THE UMBRELLA FOR OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, OUR TO & THROUGH COLLEGE ACCESS AND COMPLETION INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON FOUR AREAS: 1) EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, TUTORING, AND BESTFIT SCHOOLS IN K-12; 2) INTEREST-ALIGNED STEAM ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN K-12; 3) COLLEGE PREPARATION, ACCESS, AND ADMISSION IN GRADES 9-12; AND 4) SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION AND POST-GRADUATION PLANNING.

AVL RISE: THIS PEER-TO-PEER LITERACY INITIATIVE PAIRS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. WORKING THROUGH THE CURRICULUM IMPROVES THE READING SKILLS OF BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. THE HIGH SCHOOLERS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A BROAD SWATH OF PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE THEIR CONFIDENCE, EMPLOYABILITY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, SUCH AS CLASSES IN FINANCIAL LITERACY, MINDFULNESS, AND HIP HOP CULTURE AND HISTORY. THEY TAKE FIELD TRIPS TO VISIT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND PEERS DOING SIMILAR WORK IN OTHER CITIES. IN ADDITION, THE TUTORS EARN A LIVING WAGE FOR THEIR TUTORING WORK.

AVL RISE: THIS PEER-TO-PEER LITERACY INITIATIVE PAIRS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. WORKING THROUGH THE CURRICULUM IMPROVES THE READING SKILLS OF BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. THE HIGH SCHOOLERS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A BROAD SWATH OF PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE THEIR CONFIDENCE, EMPLOYABILITY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, SUCH AS CLASSES IN FINANCIAL LITERACY, MINDFULNESS, AND HIP HOP CULTURE AND HISTORY. THEY TAKE FIELD TRIPS TO VISIT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND PEERS DOING SIMILAR WORK IN OTHER CITIES. IN ADDITION, THE TUTORS EARN A LIVING WAGE FOR THEIR TUTORING WORK.

ENRICHMENT: OPENDOORS UNDERSTANDS AND CHAMPIONS THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING. AS A RESULT, WE WORK WITH PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH INTEREST-ALIGNED AFTERSCHOOL STEM AND ARTS PROGRAMMING AND DAY AND OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES. FEES, TRANSPORTATION, SNACKS, AND LUNCHES ARE PROVIDED FOR ALL ACTIVITIES. SUSTAINABILITY: SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMMING IS THE FOUNDATION OF OPENDOORS' WHOLE CHILD APPROACH. WITHOUT SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STABLE EMPLOYMENT, FOOD SECURITY, AND RIDES TO SCHOOL AND ENRICHMENTS, ACADEMIC SUCCESS REMAINS ELUSIVE. MOST OPENDOORS FAMILIES LIVE WELL BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. WHILE WE PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING AND FOOD EMERGENCIES, WE ALSO WORK WITH FAMILIES TO CREATE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND FINANCIAL PLANNING. TRANSPORTATION IS A MAJOR BARRIER TO OPPORTUNITY. FORTUNATELY, IT IS A BARRIER OPENDOORS KNOWS HOW TO SURMOUNT. OUR TEAM DELIVERS STUDENTS TO AND FROM THEIR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES (LIKE TUTORING, STEM, AND ARTS PROGRAMS), CAMPS, AND BESTFIT SCHOOL PLACEMENTS. OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILIES, AS 90% OF STUDENTS LIVE IN SINGLE-PARENT HOMES THAT ARE SHORT ON TIME AND RESOURCES.

ENRICHMENT: OPENDOORS UNDERSTANDS AND CHAMPIONS THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING. AS A RESULT, WE WORK WITH PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH INTEREST-ALIGNED AFTERSCHOOL STEM AND ARTS PROGRAMMING AND DAY AND OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES. FEES, TRANSPORTATION, SNACKS, AND LUNCHES ARE PROVIDED FOR ALL ACTIVITIES.