After School
Youth in grades K-5 can take advantage of our computer lab, tutoring, homework help, arts and crafts, fine arts instruction and field trips. Our program runs from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays and 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. Activities are also planned from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on most school release days. There is a minimal fee for these programs.
Freedom School
Child Defense Fund Freedom Schools are 6-week summer programs that:
“…provide summer and after-school enrichment that helps children fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem, and generates more positive attitudes toward learning. Children are taught using a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment; parent and family involvement; civic engagement and social action; intergenerational leadership development; and nutrition, health and mental health.”
Summer Enrichment
Youth entering grades 1-8 can participate in hands-on academic activities, camping, fine arts activities, and lots of exercise! Our summer program runs from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. every weekday for more than 8 weeks. We provide breakfast, lunch and a nutritious snack every day. Our Summer Enrichment Program offers youth a chance to make friends and try new things, while learning about themselves and their community.
Kids College
Youth who are enrolled in our After School Program benefit from this literacy program, which focuses on coaching youth in specific reading skills and instilling a true love of reading. This program is unique because it centers on both reading fluency and comprehension. Each youth reads one-on-one with a tutor at least once a week. Youth are periodically assessed and rewarded for their progress.
Youth Action Crew
We see youth as part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Youth who participate in Oak Park Crew identify issues of concern to them, and come up with creative ways to address those issues together through service-learning projects. Completing these projects helps these youth realize their personal power to affect change, which has a positive lifelong impact.
FANS
FANS stands for Furthering Achievement through a Network of Support. This program helps prepare youth in 9th through 12th grade for college. Youth and staff work together and develop plans to achieve goals like delaying parenthood, resisting drugs, contributing to the community and going to college. The youth are also given opportunities to find scholarships, prepare for the ACT/SAT tests and look at career opportunities that fit in line with college programs. Participating youth who fulfill the requirements are eligible to earn college scholarship money upon graduating from high school.
Early Risers
A Targeted Early Intervention Program sponsored by Hennepin County for first and second grade children. The primary goal is to increase social adjustment, decrease negative behavior and improve academic performance. The program is located in four different public schools. Early Risers Advocates provide advocacy for the families that participate in the program, after-school social skills and reading enhancement groups for the children, and extra support in the classroom.
National and Global Youth Service Day
Coordinated nation-wide by Youth Service America, National and Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world — millions of youth across the globe participate in this event each April. In 2008, for the third year in a row, Pillsbury United Communities was selected as one of only fifty organizations nationwide to serve as a lead agency for National and Global Youth Service Day in Minneapolis. What makes this event especially unique to our city is that the youth involved are primarily young people living in poverty who are not traditionally called upon to serve or volunteer.
