Raise A Child Of The Carolinas

EXPOSE UNDERSERVED YOUTH TO EDUCATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NOT COMMONLY AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION USES A STREAM+ MODEL TO ENSURE CHILDREN IN GRADES K-12 HAVE ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

AFTERSCHOOL: THE RACC AFTERSCHOOL ACADEMY IN COLLABORATION WITH SUGAR CREEK CHARTER SCHOOL, A TITLE I SCHOOL SERVING 100% MINORITY STUDENTS AND 94% FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HOUSEHOLDS, THE RACC AFTERSCHOOL ACADEMY SUPPORTED 185 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING LEARNING LOSS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. OUR PROGRAM PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY TUTORING AND INNOVATIVE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, READING, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH TO HELP BRIDGE THE LEARNING GAP AND PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS RECEIVED ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND POSITIVE MENTORSHIP, BUILT FRIENDSHIPS, IMPROVED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, STRENGTHENED PHYSICAL FITNESS, EXPLORED ADVANCED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND DEVELOPED CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS. LESSONS INCLUDED AVIATION EXPLORATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DIGITAL LITERACY, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, CULINARY ARTS, AND HEALTH & WELLNESS. THE PROGRAM WAS STAFFED BY CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. STUDENTS WERE ALSO PROVIDED WITH FREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR DINNER AND SNACKS. THE IMPACT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT: OVER 75% OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RETURNED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, RATING THEIR OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRAM AT 8 OUT OF 10. WHEN SURVEYED, 95% OF FAMILIES REPORTED FEELING MORE STABLE AND SECURE SINCE ENROLLING THEIR CHILDREN IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY'VE WITNESSED POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, CHARACTER TRAITS, AND EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS. THEY CONSISTENTLY RATE THEIR EXPERIENCE AS EXCELLENT, EAGERLY REFER OTHERS, AND CONTINUE TO ENROLL YEAR AFTER YEAR. AMONG ENROLLED STUDENTS, 85% ATTENDED REGULARLY, 63% SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC GROWTH IN MATH AND READING TOWARDS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, AND 87% REPORTED THEY LOVE THE PROGRAM, FEEL HAPPIER AND LESS STRESSED SINCE PARTICIPATING, AND THAT THEY WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM TO THEIR FRIENDS.

SUMMER CAMP: IN COLLABORATION WITH PROJECT SCIENTIST AND TRANE TECHNOLOGIES, THE RACC HOSTED SUMMER STEAM LAB, A SUMMER CAMP FOR 30 GIRLS IN GRADES 2ND THROUGH 10TH. A FULL-DAY 2 WEEK PROGRAM WAS OFFERED WHERE GIRLS WERE IMMERSED INTO STEM EXPERIENCES. THROUGH HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AND ACTIVITIES, PARTICIPANTS WERE CHALLENGED AND INSPIRED TO BE INNOVATIVE SCIENTISTS AND PROBLEM SOLVERS. THROUGH THE SUMMER LAB, PARTICIPANTS INCREASED THEIR STEM UNDERSTANDING AND CONFIDENCE IN SOLVING PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGED TRADITIONAL GENDER NORMS.PARTICIPATING GIRLS FORGED NEW FRIENDSHIPS, LEARNED NEW SKILLS, AND MAINTAINED POSITIVE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. IN ADDITION, FREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS WERE SERVED FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, AND SNACKS IN BETWEEN MEALS. THE CAMP FOLLOWS THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATIONS GUIDELINES IN ENSURING THE VITAL COMPONENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION OF A CHILD ARE OFFERED. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE MAYOR'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, 2 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS JOINED RAISE A CHILD OF THE CAROLINAS SUMMER CAMP AS INTERNS WITH CAREER GOALS IN EDUCATION AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. THE INTERNS GAINED VALUABLE ON THE JOB TRAINING AND RECEIVED MENTORSHIP TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER.

HEALTH & WELLNESS: FOOD & NUTRITION - EACH PROGRAM ENSURES STUDENTS RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS. PROVIDING THESE MEALS ADDRESSES FOOD INSECURITY. IT GURANTEES THAT NO CHILD GOES HOME HUNGRY EACH NIGHT. ADDITIONALLY THE PROGRAM PROMOTES HEALTHY EATING HABITS, CONTRIBUTING TO PARTICIPANTS' OVERALL WELL-BEING.