Ficklin Media Note: I had the chance to speak with Erik Clemons, LEAP Executive Director and asked him to share some info with my audience. We are in the midst of school reform, New Haven Promise, Boost, attempts to revive the "Q" house, fundraising for new youth ventures and more. It is my pleasure to share Erik's understandable excitement in making a difference.
“LEAP is in the Building!” by Erik Clemons
Here at the Roslyn Milstein Meyer LEAP Community Center, we provide our children and youth with a safe, caring environment in which to learn, grow, work together, stay fit, and express themselves – and have fun in the process.
Currently, in addition to our afterschool programming at Wexler-Grant, Conte/Westhills, and Roberto Clemente schools, LEAPers are engaged in healthy cooking classes, hip-hop and jazz dance, and developmental/instructional basketball classes. These beautiful faces speak for themselves!
Our Leaders-in-Training (LIT) program is on the upswing. LIT’s are (ages 13-15) our next generation of LEAP leaders. They assemble at the LEAP building, complete homework, engage a comprehensive, and powerful “Today’s Teens/Tomorrow’s Leaders” leadership development curriculum. Moreover, LITs collaborate with The Elm Shakespeare Co. (playwriting and drama classes), AIDS Project New Haven training, and the New Have County Bar Assoc. (mock trials, street law, courtroom visits) on weekly basis.
We also added a new wrinkle to the LEAP model; LEAP College Prep Scholars (CPS). CPS’ are high school students who have a desire to be prepared for, and attend higher education. They attend daily college prep, and SAT courses at the LEAP building, as well as teach, and mentor the little LEAPers in our afterschool program. Our CPS curriculum is designed to enhance the academic and social acumen of each participant. This is especially important, given the efforts of the New Haven Public School system’s “New Haven Promise” initiative. Our HOPE is that every LEAPer, child or youth, will be a recipient of “The Promise,” and a profound example of the transformative power of LEAP!
http://www.leapforkids.org/
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