Quality Life Center Of Southwest Florida Inc

TO STRENGHTEN AND INSTILL PRIDE IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT CULTIVATE SELF-DEVELOPMENT, TEACH SELF-DISIPLINE, BUILD CONFIDENCE AND PROMOTE CUTURAL AWARENESS.

IN 2022, THE QUALITY LIFE CENTER'S ACE PROGRAM WAS ACTION-PACKED. IN ADDITION TO THE CORE COMPONENTS PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ACADEMICS, AND LEADERSHIP, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER DRUMMING, PIANO, UKULELE, DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS AND STEM. AS PART OF LEADERSHIP, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER STRATEGY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION, NUTRITION, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING TRAINING, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IN THIS YEAR, OUR YOUTH PERFORMED IN 12 QUALITY LIFE CENTER AND/OR COMMUNITY EVENTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE THE MLK DAY PARADE, ARTFEST FORT MYERS, LEARNING FOR LIFE TALENT SHOW, DIVERSECITY PERFORMANCE, ANNUAL GALA AND MORE. AT THE LEARNING FOR LIFE TALENT SHOW, OUR YOUTH WON 4 TROPHIES, INCLUDING THE GRAND PRIZE. THE BIGGEST SHOW OF THE YEAR WAS OUR SUMMER CAMP SHOW (THE EVOLUTION OF MUSIC). THIS SHOW HAD OVER 100 YOUTH PERFORMERS, AND SEVERAL HUNDRED ATTENDEES. DURING SUMMER CAMP, OUR STUDENTS WERE EXPOSED TO A VARIETY OF MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES, OUTINGS AND/OR ACTIVITIES. THESE EXPERIENCES AND/OR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THERAPEUTIC THEATER, FINANCIAL LITERACY WITH REGIONS BANK AND HYM ENTERPRISES, GOODWILL RESUME WRITING WORKSHOPS, TOUR OF THE ARTHREX HEADQUARTERS, CAPTIVA CRUISE AND MORE. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CAPTIVA CRUISE WAS THE INFORMATIVE AND FUN WAY OUR YOUTH GAINED EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE AREA'S MARINE ENVIRONMENT. THE OUTINGS INCLUDE, ROLLER SKATING, BOWLING, TRAMPOLINE JUMPING, ARCADE PLAYING AND BUMPER CAR RACING, AND SWIMMING. DURING THE SUMMER, OUR FIRST TEEN COHORT COMPLETED FILMMAKING FOR GOOD, AN ONLINE TRAINING INTENSIVE THAT EMPOWERS EDUCATORS TO TEACH THEIR STUDENTS TO PRODUCE SOCIAL JUSTICE VIDEOS AND USER-FRIENDLY DIGITAL CONTENT. THE FIRST SOCIAL JUSTICE STUDENT VIDEO FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT GEOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE CAN HAVE ON INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AND THE COMMUNITY. ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR WAS THE GEOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE TRAINING OUR STUDENTS AND SELECT STAFF RECEIVED. AS PART OF THIS TRAINING, OUR STUDENTS AND SELECT STAFF CREATED TENS OF GROW-CUPS (BASIL, SUNFLOWERS, GREEN BEANS, PEAS, ETC.). OUR YOUTH JUST RECENTLY STARTED THE THIRD GEOAG GROW-CUP HARVEST. THE STUDY OF GEOAG IS NOW A PART OF OUR STEM COMPONENT. AS PART OF OUR TEEN PROGRAM, OUR LITE COUNCIL AND TEENS WENT ON 4 COLLEGE TOURS, ORGANIZED 4 TEEN SOCIAL OUTINGS, AND HOSTED 2 REVENUE-PRODUCING "PARENT'S NIGHT OUTS" (GAMENITE W/ LITE). THE PARENT'S NIGHT OUT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP VENTURE ALSO KNOWN AS GAMENITE W/ LITE GROSSED 1,720, OF WHICH THE COUNCIL ELECTED TO DONATE 17% TO THE ACE PROGRAM. OUR TEENS ALSO HOSTED A POETRY SLAM EVENT AND HAD A PRESENCE DURING ALL OF OUR HURRICANE IAN RELIEF EFFORTS (HURRICANE IAN RELIEF DISTRIBUTIONS, TOWN HALL). CURRENTLY, 7 TEENS ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE QUALITY LIFE CENTER. THESE TEENS WORK IN FRONT DESK, IT, FOOD SERVICE, LOGISTICS, INSTRUCTORS AND DATA ENTRY. DURING THE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM, UP TO 15 TEENS EARNED WAGES AND/OR STIPENDS AS PART OF OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2021-2022, ACE STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM: "69% INCREASED THEIR MATH SKILLS OR MAINTAINED AN A OR B GRADE LEVEL. "74% INCREASED THEIR READING SKILLS OR MAINTAINED AN A OR B GRADE LEVEL. "77% INCREASED THEIR READING SKILLS OR MAINTAINED AN A OR B GRADE LEVEL. "90% INCREASED THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND DEMONSTRATION OF POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, TEAMWORK & SOCIAL SKILLS. QUALITY LIFE CENTER YOUTH ARE ASSETS TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY RESIDE.