This program engages elementary and middle school aged students through positive activities after school. Each day the students receive a meal and participate in an activity that allows them to release any built up energy. They are then broken up into small groups to begin working on homework. After the students finish their homework they can play games, listen to music, watch movies or return home. In addition the students are taken on a variety of scheduled field trips once a month.
Center of Life continues in its commitment to strengthening families in Hazelwood and other under served communities. This year, COL organized regular meetings with block-club leaders, community activists, local pastors, business owners and local universities. Through these gatherings, needs and resources are brought together to empower the heads of households with practical education that can be applied to their everyday experiences. The following are some of the issues that are addressed:
-Teaching parents how to help their children with homework
-Family resources in and outside of the greater Hazelwood area
-Managing wealth
-Neighborhood safety
-Opportunities for adults to continue their education
-Civil rights
-Entrepreneur opportunities
Center Of Life continues its efforts to empower families by encouraging them to become homeowners. This year we offered group and individual financial literacy education through the resources of PNC Bank and Prudential Investment Services. Residents are learning about the various kinds of financial instruments that are available to help them identify and manage wealth and get out of debt. In addition, Center Of Life is collaborating with the Hazelwood Initiative to identify Hazelwood residents who are presently renting and encourage them to own one of the newly built homes in the community.
The father-son basketball and career development program is designed to provide outreach to boys ages 13 to 18 and young men ages 19 to 25. Center of Life recruits men from various walks of life and engages them in building relationships with the boys and young men. The program is three tiered: outreach, mentoring and leadership development.
The participants meet once a week on Fridays at Mifflin Middle school from 6:30pm to 9pm. Each night a guest speaker shares his life experience including the path that lead to his education and career. The guest speaker also provides educational and career resources for the boys. Afterwards, a basketball tournament is held. The evening ends with a father-son meal at Keystone Church.
Through this program, boys are taught how to fill out job applications, create resumes, develop career paths, fulfill parole obligations and register to vote. The boys are also paired with men who assist them with the process of applying for college.
Center of Life supports the partnership of Keystone Church of Hazelwood with the BRESMA Orphanage and Jamie and Ali McMutrie by providing space on this website. For more information about Haiti and the work that these young women are doing at the BRESMA Orphanage in Port-au-Prince, click here.