Building Bright Futures - Ready for Success

www.CollectiveForYouth.org

Collective for Youth is an intermediary organization that creates and fosters community partnerships, develops committed leadership, and builds a comprehensive system that supports quality out-of-school-time programming for all youth. To strengthen the out-of-school-time community, Collective for Youth provides leadership for the following areas: quality standards, professional development, multi-year planning, program expansion, use of reliable data, advocacy and community support.

In a review of literature and with input from the community, Building Bright Futures found that from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. youth are most likely to be engaged in risky behaviors. During this time period, youth are also more likely to perpetrate or become victims of crime, be in or cause an accident, smoke, drink, use drugs or encounter other negative life influences.

To meet the needs of the community, the Middle School Learning Center Initiative (MSLCI) was created. This is a collaborative effort between the mayor’s office, the Sherwood Foundation and Omaha Public Schools. The MSLCI focuses on building and maintaining quality, free after-school programs within designated school buildings. Youth development agencies, enrichment providers and teachers deliver quality programs to students at the school. These high-quality, after-school programs are directly tied to the school day curriculum and focus on recreation, academic enrichment, nutrition and cultural activities based on the needs of the participants and their communities.

Program Goals

Provide targeted middle school students with after-school opportunities
Building Bright Futures is in partnership with Collective for Youth to support a comprehensive approach to after-school time through the MSLCI sites, that can be replicated in other middle schools. One of the program’s goals is to develop a system to incorporate after-school programs from PK-8th grade.

Develop committed relationships among community agencies and Omaha Public Schools for the benefit of students

Create an infrastructure to support both agencies and schools as they work to develop best practices for middle school after-school opportunities

MSLCI Sites
The seven Middle School Learning Center Initiative (MSLCI) sites, including their nonprofit community partner, are:

• King Science and Technology - Bethesda Urban Community Development Corp.
• Lewis and Clark Middle - Nothing But Net Foundation
• Marrs Magnet Middle - Camp Fire USA
• McMillan Magnet Middle - The Y
• Monroe Middle - Urban League of Nebraska
• Morton Magnet Middle - Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands
• Norris Middle - Camp Fire USA

Collective for Youth contacts

Megan Addison
Executive Director
402-932-2025 x 1003
maddison@collectiveforyouth.org

Cary Mohiuddin
Operations Coordinator
402-932-2025 x 1004
ctobin@collectiveforyouth.org

Bob Whitehouse
Omaha Public Schools
Public Schools Liaison
402-932-2025 x 1001
bob.whitehouse@ops.org

Barb Farho
City of Omaha, Mayor’s Office
Education Initiatives Director
402-444-5151
bfarho@ci.omaha.ne.us

Nicole Everingham
Development Director
402-932-2025 x 1005
neveringham@collectiveforyouth.org

Farren Ronning
AmeriCorps VISTA
402-932-2025 x 1000
fronning@collectiveforyouth.org

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

There are over 1,000 high school students in the two-county area not meeting standards in reading and over 950 not meeting standards in math.

The overall graduation rate in the Omaha Metropolitan Area is 80%, leaving 20% of students not graduating on-time, having dropped out or having pursued a GED.