Cumberland summer learning program gets a funding boost

CUMBERLAND – The Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Learning (OCYL) announced that its summer initiative, Cumberland Leadership Academy, recently received a $50,000 grant from United Way of Rhode Island.

This is the fourth year of the Cumberland Leadership Academy, which partners with Blackstone Valley Middle School, Joseph L. McCourt Middle School, North Cumberland Middle School and Cumberland High School.

United Way of Rhode Island CEO Anthony Maione said in a news release, “Service learning is an essential part of each funded site’s curriculum, and this year’s projects will focus on health and wellness, whether physical, community-based, or environmental—all of which helps kids fall in love with learning.”

OCYL is one of 14 sites across Rhode Island for the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative. United Way of Rhode Island describes it as “a six-week summer model that offers Rhode Island children a thrilling learning opportunity that combines hands-on experiences with real-world applications.”

Other Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative sites in the Blackstone Valley include Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls, Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, Coleman Elementary School (through Connecting for Children and Families) and the C3 Center (through NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley).

The Cumberland Leadership Academy grew out of the Summer Leadership Academy, which began at OCYL in 2008, and the Cumberland Youth Commission.

To OCYL director Liz Lemire, the Cumberland Leadership Academy is valuable for its blending of civic engagement, learning and student growth.

“For students, having community connections, mentors, a sense of belonging and a place in the community is vital to their engagement in school and society,” she said. “Attending the CLA may well be one of the most memorable years for these students.”

Lemire added that students who attend the Cumberland Leadership Academy become more engaged in school, and that Youth Commission membership increases each year.

Any Cumberland resident entering grades 6-9 can apply