Tag Archives: youth development

Photo of the Month: Thank you, Council Member Ung!

December 31, 2024 | Leave a reply

Spreading toys and joy this holiday season

Council Member Sandra Ung poses with T'yana Coutrier, program director, and students of The Child Center of NY's COMPASS program at P.S. 24Q in Flushing, Queens

Council Member Sandra Ung (left) and COMPASS Program Director T’yana Coutrier (far right) with participants of The Child Center of NY’s COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 24Q.

‘Twas truly the season for joy, giving, and gratitude at The Child Center of NY! Friends and supporters showed up for our families in a big way, leaving no doubt that there is a whole community that cares about them and considers them part of our larger New York family.

With this Photo of the Month, we especially want to thank New York City Council Member Sandra Ung, who stopped by our DYCD-funded COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 24Q in Flushing to deliver toys and sports equipment to our children for the holidays. As you can see, Council Member Ung delivered not just presents, but smiles, too!

“Government and government officials, and what they do, can seem abstract to children this age,” says T’yana Coutrier, the COMPASS P.S. 24 program director. “This was a wonderful way to talk to the children about public service and what it means to be part of a community—and, most important, for them to experience joy!”

Between individual efforts like Council Member Ung’s visit and The Child Center’s annual holiday drive, we truly had kids covered this season!

The holidays can be a difficult time for families who face daunting financial challenges but, like all of us, want their children to have a gift to unwrap. The Child Center of NY’s holiday drive aims to bridge the gap and bring unexpected joy to our families by offering new, unwrapped toys and gift cards during this special time of year. Thank you to all who contributed to our drive and played a part in creating a season of giving and a lifetime of smiles!

Editor’s Note: While our holiday drive has ended, you still can bring joy to a child’s life and contribute to the spirit of giving by supporting our programming. A gift of any size helps children grow emotionally, thrive academically, and reach their full potential.

Ashely’s Story

December 10, 2024 | Leave a reply

Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center Youth Council President Ashely wearing the Rock in the Right Direction shirt designed by the youth council

Ashely rocks the “Rock in the Right Direction” shirt she and other youth council members designed. “We call it ‘Rock in the Right Direction’ because we’re from Far Rockaway,” Ashely explained, “and because the council is dedicated to supporting teenagers in the direction they want to go.”

My name is Ashely, and I’m a senior in high school. I’m also the president of the youth council at Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center. The role is about giving young people a safe place to have fun and make friends. It’s also so much more.

One day I was walking down the street, and Ms. Kia* said to me, “Ashely, I think you should come back with me to the center.” I had never been to the center before. But I’m always willing to do new things, and I’m not going to lie, I usually just would come home from school and do nothing. So I went to the center and met Ms. Nydriah** and Mr. Dennis*** and learned about the youth council. Ms. Nydriah explained that the youth council was an opportunity for teens to make decisions and develop leadership skills. We get to decide what’s important to us, what we want to do and learn about. It sounded beneficial, so I decided to join and serve as vice president of the council. That was in April, and now I’m president.

It’s a fun role. We have a say in the events we want to do and the trips we want to go on. We organized a couple events called Family Day. The whole community came together as one and celebrated like family. We also started a fundraiser for trips. We had a meeting about entrepreneurship to discuss things like, if you have a dollar, how can you use that dollar to make another dollar? We use the money to go on trips, like to RPM Raceway and Launch.

So the youth council is about having fun after school, but it’s also much more than that. It’s an opportunity for us to talk about what matters to us and make decisions that will move us forward in life, toward our own goals. Everyone needs a push in the right direction. What that direction looks like is different for everyone. As president of the youth council, I can help all of us teens find our own path—the one that’s best for us as individuals. Maybe it’s college; maybe it’s trade school. I want to talk about things that will benefit us in life. For high schoolers, we’re about to graduate, and we need to start thinking about this type of stuff before we get out to the real world.

Members of the youth council working on the shirts they designed.

Youth council members working on the “Rock in the Right Direction” shirts they designed.

That’s why one of my goals for this year is starting a podcast. We’ll invite teenagers to talk about career goals, the future, and our opinions on things that are important to us. It’s good to hear other people’s opinions on the issues affecting our world and learn about where other people stand and why. We had a meeting and came up with a lot of topics and learned that the center has the equipment for us. I’m ready for it to start! I have a lot I want to say, and I’m sure everybody else has a lot they want to say, and I’m excited to begin, because everyone should be able to have a voice.

Another goal I have is to promote the youth council to other students and try to get it bigger. Two weeks ago, we invited middle schoolers to listen in. They’ve come back to spend time at the center, which I think is great. The youth council is open only to high schoolers for now, but I told them, when they’re ready, the door is always open. For now, just the fact that they decide to come here to the center every day means a lot. They decide to come here and do something productive.

When Ms. Nydriah first started the youth council, I didn’t know anyone. Being on the council brought me closer to the people here and gave us a bond. I really enjoy being around them, even if we’re just playing a video game or hanging out in the game room. You can always meet new people here and make connections. Everyone deserves a safe space they can come to where they can make friends, because it’s not easy out there for us teenagers. I’m so glad this is a safe space for us to come if we need to talk. We are always here for them.

*Ms. Lakia Echols, community school program director, Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability

**Ms. Nydriah Collins, program coordinator, Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center

***Mr. Dennis Williams, security guard, Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center

Photo of the Month: Annual Report Photo Shoot at Ocean Bay Cornerstone Community Center

November 30, 2024 | Leave a reply

Child Center of NY Afterschool Group Leader and Creative Artist Shaymon Thomas-Simmons with two afterschool program participants engage with shadow puppets.

Photo credit: Kyo Morishima Photography

Every year, The Child Center of NY presents an annual report to share the stories and accomplishments of the past 12 months with our community members, friends, and supporters. We also enlist a professional photographer to document what really goes on in our programs! This year, among the sites we photographed was Ocean Bay Cornerstone Community Center in Arverne in the Rockaways.

Cornerstone Community Centers, supported by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and private donors, are special places where community members of all ages, from children to seniors, can come together to learn new things, build bonds, and have fun!

This Photo of the Month features Afterschool Group Leader and Creative Artist Shaymon Thomas-Simmons with two of our afterschool program participants, Jordyn (left) and Meneyelik (right), both in kindergarten. Here they are engaging with shadow puppets, which present a hands-on way to teach children scientific concepts of light and shadow, promote language development and storytelling, and hone fine motor skills—not to mention instill a sense of curiosity and wonder!

Special Team Spotlight! Kwan Wong, Associate Vice President of Youth Development, Celebrates 30 Years at The Child Center

September 25, 2024 | Leave a reply

We are excited to share an impressive team milestone at The Child Center: Kwan Wong, Associate Vice President of Youth Development, celebrated his 30-year anniversary with us this month. Kwan currently oversees our School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) program, which provides vital mental health counseling to students right where they are every day.

To honor this incredible achievement, we sat down with Kwan for a brief interview to reflect on his decades with us and the impact he’s made.

The Child Center of NY: Can you share a bit about how you started your career here and what attracted you to The Child Center of NY?

Kwan Wong, LCSW-R: I started with The Child Center of NY, formerly known as the Queens Child Guidance Center, on September 6, 1994, with the Asian Outreach Program in Elmhurst, Queens. Previously, I was completing my master of social work internship at the immunology clinic at Elmhurst Hospital [now NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst], where I provided mental health counseling to HIV-infected children while they underwent medical treatment. It was a rewarding experience supporting these children and their families. Around that time, The Child Center received the Ryan White grant to establish a mental health program aimed at supporting the emotional and mental health needs of Asian clients and families infected or affected by HIV. When the opportunity was presented to me, I was excited to join the agency and knew I wanted to continue this important work.

What are some of the most memorable moments, valuable lessons, or milestones from your time with us?

Over my years at The Child Center, I have worked in five different programs. I feel all the experiences and lessons learned at each of my positions helped to better prepare me for the next program. I have worked in the mental health clinics; Parsons Beacon, which was the first Beacon center of TCCNY; and for the past nine years with School-Based Mental Health. All of these roles helped to expand my skills and knowledge. The time spent with the clients, families, as well as colleagues at each program helped my growth as a clinician and later as a supervisor.

Teammates from the original Asian Outreach Program in Elmhurst, Queens, c. 1997.

How has the organization changed over the years, and what are the most significant transformations you’ve witnessed? What do you think is in the future for TCCNY?

The agency has changed greatly over the years that I have been working here. I believe there are only a handful of staff who have been here over 30 years. Significant changes that occurred were all related to the growth and expansion of services we provide to families. One change was the rebranding of the agency. The agency was known as the Queens Child Guidance Center when I was hired, then later rebranded to The Child Center of NY. The name change was needed to more accurately reflect our breadth of services and our expansion beyond the borough of Queens. Another significant change was the relocation of the central administration office. When I started, I believe the administrative offices were located within the Flushing clinic. It then moved to the same building as the Jamaica clinic, the Firehouse. Afterwards, we relocated to the basement at the Big Six Plaza in Woodside, Queens, and finally to the current location at Forest Hills.

Through the years, The Child Center has provided important and impactful services that communities need. I know this agency will continue to serve our clients and families through our current programs and services, and grow with new initiatives in the future.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working here for so long?

The most rewarding experience working here so long is knowing that you were able to help some of the clients and families that you provided treatment to. Changes the clients made to improve their mental health and family relationships, knowing they reported feeling better after their time with you versus when they started with you is the true reward.

Currently, I supervise some of the staff at School-Based Mental Health. Knowing the difference that this incredible team is making with the students they see every day, as well as supporting the school communities they serve, brings the same feeling and reward I felt when I first started with the agency.

The School-Based Mental Health Team at Gantry Park in 2021. The team had just completed professional development presentations that were developed to be used at school sites.

Photo of the Month: Beating the Summer Slide with Literacy Fun

July 30, 2024 | Leave a reply

By Nicole Freudenberg
Literacy Instructor, COMPASS at P.S. 24Q

Students can lose up to two months in reading achievement and 2.6 months of math skills over a single summer. Over time, this translates to two years of learning loss by middle school. This decline in academic skills, which is especially pronounced for children from low-income families, is known as the summer slide. The Child Center of NY’s summer programs for elementary and middle schoolers, made possible with funding from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and the generosity of private funders, are here to help.

At P.S. 24, where I serve as a literacy instructor, we are combatting the summer slide with fun literacy games for students in grades K-5. Participants in grades K-1 are focusing on sight words through games and Disney read-aloud books. That’s because if children recognize sight words—the 220 words that account for 60 percent of all the words in print—by the end of first grade, they are well on their way to fluency and being on grade level for literacy. The ability to read at or above grade level by third grade is a significant predictor of school success and high school graduation.

This month’s photo of the month shows one of the fun literacy games our children love: the sight word tower. This game provides children an opportunity to build their teamwork skills by working together to build a cup tower and supporting each other if someone is struggling to read a word. The game is played in teams, and the aim is to build your team’s tower first. To build your tower, each team member must read the word on the cup first. The first team to build their tower wins. (Teams must watch out, though; if your tower falls, your team needs to start all over again!) As you can see by the smiling faces, “making learning fun” isn’t just a slogan at P.S. 24!

Grades 2-5 are taking small word board games, such as Boggle and Tapple, and turning them into full classroom games. Children work in teams to win each round, which helps build teamwork and vocabulary. Students will also be playing games such as Taxi: Each team has a driver, and the driver’s team has to explain a place using details in order to get the driver to guess where they are going. This game helps students learn to use describing words and smaller details to build vocabulary as well as critical thinking. These are skills that can be used when having to retell a story or using evidence when writing paper.

By making continuous learning fun and part of summer routines, we help children retain knowledge, and even achieve learning gains, so they are poised to succeed in the upcoming school year—all while building summer memories to last a lifetime.

Alejandro’s Story

July 18, 2024 | Leave a reply

Alejandro, a student at August Martin High School who was a WIOA participant and will be a freshman at Cooper Union, stands outside The Met to receive his St. Gaudens Medal.

Alejandro at The Met to receive his St. Gaudens Medal

When I was in middle school, my mother and I moved to the United States from Haiti. It was initially exciting to live in new places, but I also felt sadness due to missing my close family members back in Haiti. The COVID-19 pandemic made things more difficult, especially as a ninth grader at August Martin High School. I found it challenging to adapt to remote learning and didn’t feel like I could express my true personality.

In 10th grade, I discovered a passion for architecture through a Google quiz. I spent the entire summer researching and learning about architecture, which ultimately led me to make a firm decision to pursue a career in this field. Despite facing obstacles in my art classes, I was determined to pursue my goal.

In my 11^th grade year, I encountered some unexpected obstacles on my path to pursuing art. Despite the initial setbacks, I remained determined, which ultimately led to a remarkable opportunity. After showcasing my artwork to the art teacher, she offered me the chance to take AP Art, which was a level above what I had originally intended. Being the first student at my school to take AP Art in junior year was a proud accomplishment for me.

Also that year, I was exposed to two programs offered by The Child Center of NY at August Martin: Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and WIOA. SYEP allowed me to spend the summer gaining professional skills and hands-on experience while working as an office assistant. It was a chance to learn various professional skills, enhancing my knowledge and capabilities. Additionally, I seized the opportunity to take a class at The Cooper Union over the summer, further expanding my skills and knowledge.

I was just months away from officially starting my senior year when the WIOA staff reached out to me with an opportunity to join the program. Upon hearing about the program offerings, which included earning college credits, gaining internship experience, receiving financial literacy support, and even earning a stipend, I eagerly signed up. I was motivated to prepare for my future career and college journey.

Ms. Roberta, the WIOA program case manager and college advisor, provided invaluable assistance with college applications and played a pivotal role in guiding me through the FAFSA process. Her support and mentorship helped me navigate through the complexities of the college admissions process, easing my worries and boosting my confidence, especially in preparing for my Cooper Union interview.

Participating in the workshops that WIOA offered opened up new learning opportunities for me. I gained insights into financial matters such as credit cards, loans, and credit scores. Additionally, the workshops focused on professionalism and proper work attire, equipping me with important life skills. Moreover, my involvement in the ambassador program at school, under the guidance of Mr. Herman [Fogah, assistant principal], helped me develop crucial leadership skills. The culmination of these experiences led to me being elected as the student leader and serving as the media co-president. These leadership roles further honed my abilities and instilled a sense of pride in being able to make a positive impact within the school community.

I know these skills will help me in college—which is where I will be in September. I am excited to report that I was admitted to Cooper Union, my dream school, with a full scholarship.

I am also proud to share that I recently received an art award from the School Art League at The Met. It’s called the Saint Gaudens Medal, and it’s awarded to seniors in New York City public high schools who have completed an art program with excellence.

As I begin a new chapter, I know I am fortunate to have had so many people support me on my journey. Ms. Roberta’s unwavering belief in me and her guidance and encouragement were instrumental in my success. Her assistance extended beyond academics, helping me navigate challenges related to mental health and self-advocacy. My mother, Alexandra Joseph, has been one of the greatest support systems in my life. She has been there for all my adventures and has seen me fall away and climb back up. Her encouragement has helped me push through. I am filled with gratitude for my mother, mentors, and the invaluable experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.

Team Spotlight: 2024 Russell L. Carson Visionary Award Winner Simeon Pollydore

June 14, 2024 | Leave a reply

Listen to Simeon’s thank you speech upon receiving the Russell L. Carson Visionary Award.

Since 2015, the Russell L. Carson Visionary Award has been awarded every year to a Child Center of NY employee who performs above and beyond expectations, initiates creative solutions despite limited resources, and demonstrates entrepreneurship in increasing the accessibility to services and opportunities for children and families. The award recognizes employees who propel The Child Center forward—much like the contributions of Mr. Carson, a steadfast supporter of The Child Center, have advanced our work. Candidates are nominated by their colleagues, and any member of the Child Center team can nominate an employee for the honor.

This year’s award went to Simeon Pollydore, program director of Redfern Cornerstone Community Center.

Cornerstone Community Centers, supported by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and operated by community-based organizations like The Child Center, are located in public housing developments and offer community members of all ages a place where they can engage in dynamic, enriching activities, including high-quality afterschool programs, so everyone can rise together.

Redfern Cornerstone Community Center epitomizes this concept, and it’s in no small measure because of Simeon’s deep dedication and hands-on leadership. Watch the above video to hear Simeon talk about what the Carson Award means to him, and read on for more about Simeon’s amazing story!

The Child Center of NY: Tell us about the journey that led you to The Child Center.

Simeon Pollydore: My literal journey began in a small town called Buxton in the country of Guyana in South America. I was 18 when I immigrated here. I came with my mother, straight to New York and lived right here in Far Rockaway. We already had some family living here.

My career journey started when I was a child. I always had a strong drawing to children and was doing this work even when I was a child myself! I played with my cousins after school in Guyana, and one of our favorite games was “school.” It was literally an afterschool program! We would come home and play school, and they would push me to be the teacher. I guess I had a natural knack for that, so I would always be the one teaching the class, and they were the students. It was so educational and fun, and we loved learning. Since I was blessed to go to a better school, I got more information than they would. It was a wonderful way I could share with them, and they shared with me what they learned and knew.

What did you study in college that prepared you for this work?

I double majored in dance and theater at Queensborough Community College. A year after graduating from QCC in 2012, I began working at Redfern, which was run by a different organization at the time. I started as an activity specialist for dance, so this position was a perfect melding of my two passions, dance and working with young people. I worked in various positions for the organization that previously ran Redfern before I became Redfern’s program coordinator, which is an assistant director position. That’s the position I held when The Child Center took over the operation of Redfern. I became program director in 2019.

Can you describe for us what you do as Program Director of Redfern Cornerstone Community Center—both big picture and day to day?

Big picture, I help provide quality, life-sustaining programs to the entire community. We serve from twinkles to wrinkles, from 5 years to if you’re 99, 109, we have something for you!

Adults gather at Redfern Cornerstone Community Center for a Sit and Paint event.

A Sit and Paint event at Redfern (see below)

Day to day, it’s about quality programming for elementary, middle, and high school participants during the week and teens and adults on evenings and weekends. We also have a senior program where older adults share food, play cards. … It’s just the place where seniors come to fellowship and have a really good time!

Parents come in, stakeholders come in, and we partner with other community organizations who bring in workshops. We’ve had turkey giveaways, coat drives for the entire family, GED classes, and fun things, like during the winter holidays we have a sit and paint where participants create artwork. We have Saturday Night Lights, which focuses on our teens and offers sports programming from 5 o’clock to 9 o’clock weekly. A few weeks ago, we went on a trip to Dave and Busters. We’re open six days a week throughout the school year and seven days a week in the summer.

Can you describe a particularly memorable experience as Program Director of Redfern?

One of the most memorable that I still hold onto was in 2020, literally months after I was ordained as director, being able to give children of this community iPads. That was one of the biggest highlights of my career. I’ll never forget that. Through DYCD, we offered YMI [Youth Mentoring Initiative] every year. We had 12 middle school participants. The program focused on mentoring, who they want to be when they’re a little older, and preparing them for high school and life. They also got to do special things like cook and go on trips. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, one of the things we felt a lot of participants did not have was advanced technology in their home. A lot of them were still waiting for Chromebooks from the school. I got the OK to use funding for iPads to give to the participants to continue their schooling and also as a token of the work they’d been doing in YMI because even after the pandemic hit, we were still meeting with them online and they were continuing to do the work. I remember personally when I was their age, I was so into computers, and that helped me because everything we do now is on computers. It’s how we navigate the world. They had never received such a gift like that. They were stunned. The fact that a program was giving them something so exceptional, it was really an abundant blessing for them and made them feel valued.

Simeon poses with two Redfern Cornerstone Community Center YMI participants upon receiving their iPads.

Simeon (center) with YMI participants Samira (left) and Samir (right) upon receiving their iPads

It was also memorable for the staff. Only I knew about it at first, and the higher-ups who had to approve it. But on the day of the event… oh, they were blown away. It’s something we all held onto for a long time in such gratitude. It’s something I still hold so dear and memorable just because of the impact, both personally and professionally.

What would you like to say about your team at Redfern?

I definitely have to talk about my team because God blessed me with them! I still have three staff members I inherited from my early days. I have an amazing team, both people I inherited and those I found on my own … people who really want to do the work and care so much about the children and people in general. There’s Keith, our evening/weekend program coordinator, who is so invested in the well-being of our teens. Hunter, who works with middle schoolers, created an amazing vision board activity with them recently, and does workouts with K-2 participants. Shakia, who is now our office manager, started out as an arts specialist; she still does art and decorates the center so beautifully. Shakia worked diligently through the pandemic, even with the introduction of learning labs: For that year, we were this full-fledged school from 8 a.m. to 10:00 at night, Monday to Friday, and 10 to 5 on Saturdays, still serving twinkles to wrinkles, serving food and meals, distributing cleaning supplies and PPE [personal protective equipment], while still helping children, afterschool programming … all possible by my entire team. It took a huge team effort, even the people that are not here with us right now. I’m so thankful and appreciative of the time they spent with us, especially during that time. We are still doing amazing work!

One of our most dedicated staff members, Miss Loretta, passed away in December. She contributed so much to the center and to the lives of everyone who passed through our doors. She is dearly missed and still lives on in those who knew her.

I just count my blessings from God and know how blessed I am to be in a position to serve others and leave my mark on the world and make my corner of the world a better place. I’m very much grateful to God to be chosen as the vessel to do all that I do.

Jismerlyn’s Story

June 3, 2024 | Leave a reply

Jismerlyn is a first grader in The Child Center of NY’s COMPASS program at P.S. 56, in Richmond Hill, Queens. When Jismerlyn was in kindergarten, she was unable to read at grade level. She participated in our Literacy Leaders program. Now a first grader, Jismerlyn is reading above grade level and knows all 190 sight words. This is important because sight words provide the foundation for reading on grade level and keeps students on track toward reading proficiently by the end of third grade, which is an important predictor of academic success, high school graduation, and other long-term benefits. For more information, please read our “Literacy Leaders” blog post. We asked Jismerlyn about her experience in the sight word program. Here’s what she told us.

The Child Center of NY: What do you like about the sight word program?

Jismerlyn: What I like about sight words are all the new words that I am learning! It’s good for me, and if I read a lot of books, it helps me be better at reading.

What is your favorite sight word game?

I like to play the word match game. It’s so fun, and I like it! It’s fun when you get a match.

What do you think you might want to be when you grow up?

A doctor because if somebody is sick, they can be better.

Do you have a favorite book?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Literacy Leaders

June 3, 2024 | Leave a reply

Spotlight on our sight word program, and a 6-year-old who shows its importance

Jismerlyn and Emma, participants in Literacy Leaders, sit at their desks and complete worksheets.

Six-year-old Jismerlyn (center) and fellow student Emma are participants in Literacy Leaders.

Did you know that 60 percent of all the words in print come down to the same 220 words? Those magical 220 words are known as sight words. They are common words that can be difficult to “sound out” (think “could” and “does”); but if children recognize them by the end of first grade, they are well on their way to fluency and being on grade level for literacy.

That’s why The Child Center of NY piloted a sight word program for kindergartners and first graders at seven of our afterschool programs for elementary schoolers. Reaching 280 kindergarten and first grade students, the program helped 76 percent of participants improve their sight word skills, and 60 percent of participants were reading at grade level by the end of the program. This means they are on track to outperform the citywide average of 49 percent in third grade (the first year that standardized testing is administered).

“These results are especially impressive considering our afterschool programs often serve children with the greatest learning barriers in the school,” says Senior Program Director Frances Keogan. “Barriers such as poverty or a family who lacks familiarity with the public school system frequently translate into children starting out their education already behind—and then it can snowball, making the child feel like it’s impossible to catch up. At Child Center afterschool programs, we counteract this by offering targeted academic and emotional support, measuring our results, and scaling up what works.”

Keogan is thrilled that the sight word program is having such a positive effect on children just beginning their academic journeys. “Not only will this help them stay on track,” says Keogan, “but it will also give them a good feeling about school, and their own ability to succeed.”

One first grader who is well on her way is six-year-old Jismerlyn, a student at P.S. 56 in Richmond Hill, Queens, and a participant in the sight words program at The Child Center’s COMPASS afterschool program there.

“Jismerlyn was having a difficult time,” says Assistant Program Director Cesar Guzman. “She struggled with sight words in her first year in the program. She had a hard time advancing to the next level. It’s tough for students like Jismerlyn who may only speak Spanish in the home. But after working with her teacher, Ms. Stephanie, and Ms. Jamelia, our literacy specialist, Jismerlyn began to improve. Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Jamelia make learning fun with different games and by reading books with sight words in them with the students. Over the past few months, Jismerlyn has improved greatly! She knows all 190 sight words and has surpassed grade-level expectations for her sight word knowledge as a first grader. She is well on her way to being able to read at or above grade level by third grade, which is an important predictor of school success and high school graduation.”

The sight word program is the first part of a suite of literacy initiatives The Child Center offers through our afterschool programs. Once sight word recognition has been achieved, our literacy initiative continues with Ready Readers for second and third graders. Ready Readers focuses on highly engaging grade-level texts and read-alouds that get students excited about reading.

“We are so proud of our Literacy Leaders and Ready Readers teams, and all they are doing to help children begin their literacy journeys on the right foot,” says Nicholas Ferreira, Senior Vice President of Youth Development at The Child Center. “These programs and children like Jismerlyn stand as testament to the fact that with the right support, children of any background can achieve academic success and thrive.”

Read this Q&A with Jismerlyn to see what she likes about the Literacy Leaders program and learning to read.