The Afterschool Program takes place at our community center in the Edgewater neighborhood and is for students in 1st through 8th grades. ASP provides students with essential learning and bonding. Through a curriculum focused on STEAM and social-emotional development, participants interact through learning and play. Students also have fun with reading contests and physical activities both indoors and outside when the weather permits. For students who need more help with their English, there is a specific curriculum. If you know a student who could benefit from this program, please reach out to our Youth Education Manager, Mariam.

High school students meet weekly to talk about their shared experiences, get support from staff and each other, and establish and strengthen relationships with peers who have similar lived experience. There are also opportunities for students to hear from guest speakers and attend workshops, Teen Talks, on a variety of topics that address their socio-emotional wellness and support them in planning for their futures beyond high school. Participants also have the option to join interest-based clubs throughout the year. If your school would like to be a host site for these groups, please reach out to our Youth Education Manager, Mariam.

Coming of age is a challenging time for everyone but especially for youth and young adults who are also navigating life in a new country. Through our mentoring program, volunteers are individually matched with a refugee between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. They meet once a month to talk about future planning including higher education and/or career opportunities as well as general life skills support. There are also group field trips and community service opportunities. If you are interested in mentoring, please head to our volunteer page. For anyone interested in having a mentor, please contact our Youth Mentoring & Volunteer Coordinator, Maggie.

Our summer camps offer opportunities for youth in 1st through 12th grades to engage in safe and fun activities when school is out. For 1st through 8th graders, there are Arabic language classes to help youth who may have never experienced formal education in their native language learn to read and write. There are also opportunities for this age group to engage in other themed activities each summer and attend field trips. High school students meet weekly to continue learning about mental health, future planning, and to attend field trips. If your organization or company is interested in hosting one of these groups for a field trip or workshop, reach out to our Youth Education Manager, Mariam.

Moving to a new country can be hard for any family as they navigate an entirely new educational system. We recognize that students, parents, and school staff need extra support to further understand each other, the general expectations of students and families, and how to advocate for refugee and immigrant children who may need more resources than their peers. We bridge the gap between families and schools through our Education Case Management services which include, but are not limited to attending parent teacher conferences, providing guidance through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process, behavioral health and social-emotional guidance, assistance with school enrollment, and translation services. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, please contact our Education Case Manager, Kiersten.