Foundation Collegiate Academy civic program develops minds and supports community
A confluence of enterprise. entrepreneurship and education delivered a successful Civic Service Learning program as Foundation Collegiate Academy junior students delivered project ideas to impact local communities.
Students had developed grant proposals for the past three months and last week ten groups pitched their ideas and initiatives to about two dozen non-profit representatives, business leaders and other community supporters with $3400 in play to support their projects.
“I came to Foundation three years ago and started the pilot program. It’s continued to grow and build,” said Kimby Heil,” service planning coordinator for Foundation Academies.
“We started with ten panelists and now we’re up to 20. Thirty student groups have participated over those three years with about $6,000 worth of funding made available. Project funding is based on the strength of the students’ proposals and presentations.”
Students were allotted 15 minutes to provide overviews for their projects. Presentations were followed by questions for students who hoped to gain funding for their projects although no guarantee existed that panelists would deliver financial support for ideas that involved a wide range of social game changers.
A How Our Minds Eat (HOME) presentation offered tutoring in safe working environments, in this case, the Trenton Coffee House and Records shop located at 750 Cass St. The initiative includes bi-weekly gift cards for students who excel in reaching grade targets.
“The people of Trenton must step out of their homes and fight for a better education,” Salvador Xe, who showcases a clean disciplinary record and 3.95 GPA, said. Xe spent 60 hours tutoring for a summer school project. His HOME mates included Jose Guerra, Marwa Reshid, Monica Martinez and Henry Deleon.
The HOME group espoused a belief that tutoring efforts outside students’ residences would “eliminate all distractions” of home life. This education quintet presented a $150 but panelists awarded them $300. All projects received financial support.
“That’s never happened before,” Heil said. “We are so excited about the hard work of our students, and the opportunity they now have to effect change in their community. The students will have one week off for Thanksgiving and then return to being implementation of their projects.”
Here’s a thumbnail sketch of each project with list of students and monetary award received.
Improved Support: Improved Mentalities: Creating and opening doors for mental health support in education. (Aniya, Jackie, Lilian, Josh R., Nikkia) $523.50
Creative Changers: Using creativity in order to bring awareness to the violence in Trenton. (Josh Y., Nevaeh, Gilvert, Nat, Ja’Don, Josh B.). $413.48
The Unchained Vision: Missioned to give teens opportunities by getting them involved in after-school programs. (Cris A., Denajah, Kayla, Jaz) $480
X-Temptation: Create awareness of the dangers of drub abuse in our community in order to prevent youth from mistreating their bodies with drugs. (Rachel, Sierra, Taylor, Talisha, Darleny) $200
Perspectives Altered on The Homeless: Changing the perspectives of homelessness one story at a time. (Anely, Milton, Jasmine, Edin, Kathy) $275 Help Earth Recycle: Ensure our community is less polluted and cleaner through recycling. (Evan, Rashell, Nazier, TK, Aquil) $437.50 How Our Minds Eat: Supporting urban education by creating a safe outlet for students to study and learn. (Jose G., Monica, Marwa, Sal, Henry). $300 Valid Eats: Give students in Trenton access to fresh foods and healthy snacks and information on where to get them. (Jose M., Zion, Ashley, Darius, Tyneisha) $256.50 United Front: Create a united community by supporting solutions to problems. (Nelsy, Seth, Chris E., Gaby P.) $228 Financial Warriors: Ensure students in middle and high school are provided with the financial literacy education they need to help them in their financial futures.(Derrick, Tymir, Jhanaysha, Aniyah T., TyQuil) $348.15