2008 LITERACY INITIATIVES Recreate Educate Motivate

1. 2008 LITERACY INITIATIVES Recreate Educate Motivate Mecklenburg County Literacy Collaborative Summer Programs & Activities

2. Vision … Most Literate Community • Greatest Opportunity Summer programs & activities • Biggest Challenge Attracting youth to participate • Adopted Strategies: • Promote the importance of literacy • Provide and promote targeted outreach & mentoring • Provide supplemental programs for at risk youth • Continue partnership efforts among stakeholders • Leverage resources within community

3. Summer Literacy PARTNERS • Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation • Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) • YMCA of Greater Charlotte

4. Park & Recreation Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department recognizes that there is opportunity to incorporate literacy and youth empowerment activities into its camp programs. As a result, Park & Recreation staff designed a three-pronged program: Recreate, Educate & Motivate

5. Education & Motivation Components • Education • Youth will participate in daily literacy activities to include, but not limited to, reading and discussion, journaling, dramatization and computer activities. • Motivation • There will be a series of workshops focused on empowering youth with topics on • Goal setting • Self-esteem & confidence • Positive attitude & hard work • Public speaking • Peer pressure • Anger management

6. Amay James 2425 Lester Street Charlotte, NC 28209 Southwest Charlotte Bette Rae Thomas 2921 Tuckaseegee Road Charlotte, NC 28208 Southwest Charlotte Greenville 1330 Spring Street Charlotte, NC 28206 Northwest Charlotte Hickory Grove 6709 Pence Road Charlotte, NC 28215 Northeast Charlotte Recreation Sites: Southview 1720 Vilma Street Charlotte, NC 28208 Southwest Charlotte St. Paul “Ray of Hope” 1401 Allen Street Charlotte, NC 28205 Central Charlotte West Charlotte 2400 Kendall Drive Charlotte, NC 28216 Northwest Charlotte Sites selected based on neighborhoods with low reading, writing and math scores.

7. Amay James Superlative Child Ages 5 - 12 Bette Rae Thomas Athletes United for Youth Ages 7 - 16 Greenville Fighting Back Ages 7 -12 Hickory Grove Eastside Business Ages 11 -15 Summer Camps: Southview Mecklenburg Teen Apprentice Ages 12 - 17 St. Paul “Ray of Hope” XTreme Teens – Media World Ages 13 -15 West Charlotte Teen Excel Ages 13 -17 These summer camps will reach on average between 225 and 300 youth per week.

8. Public Library PLCMC staff assessed its summer reading program and determined they are not effectively reaching the youth who need reading support the most. Instead of relying on youth to visit the public libraries, staff believe they must go to them. Hence, the Public Library will pilot a: Mobile Literacy Outreach Program

9. Mobile Literacy Outreach Program Overview The program is not an exact replication of the bookmobiles that were popular in the 20th Century which generally only delivered and picked-up books. This program will offer book deposit collections to child care centers and library card registration as well as present meaningful learning experiences that will include storytime activities, interactive computer learning experiences and book giveaways/exchanges.

10. Mobile Literacy Outreach • Target Population • 2nd – 4th grade students (approximately 500) • Hot Zones • Targeted areas include underserved neighborhoods with low reading, writing, and math scores. • For example: • Allenbrook Elementary • Briarwood Elementary • Druid Hills Elementary • Hickory Grove Elementary • Hornets Nest Elementary • Nathaniel Alexander Elementary Sites would be visited at least once a week for 2 -4 hours at a time over an 8-week period.

11. YMCA Research shows students who do not develop literacy skills in their early childhood struggle to academically succeed through high school. In fact, 27% of CMS 1st – 3rd graders tested below the 18th percentile on standardized reading and comprehension tests. To address this, the YMCA created a summer literacy program. Starfish Literacy Camp

12. Starfish Literacy Camp Program Overview Starfish Academy is a literacy-based summer camp that serves 1st & 2nd grade students who are performing below grade level on standardized reading and comprehension tests. Funding will support expansion of the program by increasing staff necessary to accommodate an additional 40 students. Additionally, it will bring the program to full capacity at 290 students.

13. Starfish Literacy Camp • Sites • Camps located at the following Title I and Achievement Zone CMS Schools • Albemarle Elementary • Billingsville Elementary • Hidden Valley Elementary • Shamrock Elementary • Thomasboro Elementary

14. 2008 Literacy Initiatives Summary These programs have been identified by the Literacy Collaborative as innovative approaches to reinforce the importance of literacy throughout the summer. The programs will operate 6 – 8 weeks reach over 1,000 youth collectively be evaluated to determine effectiveness

15. 2008 Literacy Initiatives Park & Recreation $ 50,000 Public Libraries $ 50,000 YMCA $ 50,000 GRAND TOTAL$150,000