First Glance Student Center

CREATED AS A NON-PROFIT TO CONNECT STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO CHRIST AND THE CHURCH, THROUGH REAL, LOVING, NON-THREATENING AVENUES. THE MAJOR SOURCE OF FUNDING INCLUDES LOCAL GRANTS, FOUNDATION REVENUE CONTRIBUTIONS.

RECREATIONAL PROGRAM INCLUDE REC NIGHT, SKATE NIGHT AND THE ALLEY. THESE PROGRAMS GIVE STUDENTS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND HANG OUT WITH BOTH THEIR FRIENDS AND ADULT MENTORS. AVERAGING 100 STUDENTS EACH WEEK AGES 12 TO19, IT GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND MENTORS THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BASKETBALL, DODGEBALL, DANCING, VIDEO GAMES, AND MORE. SKATE NIGHT GIVES STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO SKATE AND HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS AND MENTORS. BEING THE ONLY INDOOR SKATE PARK IN THE AREA, SKATE NIGHT HAS THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN SKATERS SPECIFICALLY, AND GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE NEW TRICKS, REPAIR SKATE EQUIPMENT, AND BUILD RAMPS ALONGSIDE VOLUNTEER MENTORS. THE PROGRAM AVERAGES 20 STUDENTS EACH WEEK AND IS OPEN SEASONALLY OCTOBER THROUGH APRIL. THE ALLEY IS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS ALL OVER GREATER AKRON TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO HANG OUT, HAVE FUN, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. IT IS A TEEN NIGHTCLUB THAT HAS A LIVE DJ, DANCING, FUN DRINKS, GAMES, AND MORE. THE PROGRAM AVERAGES 50 STUDENTS ONCE A MONTH.

MOMS PROGRAM THE CONNECT IS A PROGRAM OF FIRST GLANCE WHICH INSTRUCTS YOUNG MOTHERS IN BASIC LIFE AND PARENTING SKILLS SUCH AS FINANCES, COOKING, SEWING, AND PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN. THOUGH BEGINNING SPECIFICALLY FOR TEEN MOTHERS, THE PROGRAM ALSO MINISTERS TO YOUNG ADULT MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN. TINY GLANCERS, A SUBSECTION OF THE PROGRAM, IS OFFERED TO THE CHILDREN OF THE MOMS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THE CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THE ALPHABET, BASIC MATH, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND ART. BOTH THE CONNECT AND TINY GLANCERS PROGRAMS AVERAGE 10 STUDENTS EACH WEEK.

MENTORING IS A PRIMARY FOCUS OF EACH OF FIRST GLANCES PROGRAMS. THE STUDENT LEADER PROGRAM AVERAGING 10 STUDENTS IS A CO-ED PROGRAM THAT SPECIFICALLY DEALS WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO BE LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS AMONG THEIR PEERS OR WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THOSE WITH THAT POTENTIAL. LADIES NIGHT OUT AVERAGING 25 STUDENTS WEEKLY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TO DEAL WITH THE VERY REAL RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES THAT ACCOMPANY THEIR AGE. MAN UP AVERAGING 20 STUDENTS WEEKLY FOCUSES ON ENCOURAGING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TO BECOME MEN OF CHARACTER. YOUNG ADULTS AVERAGING 15 STUDENTS IS FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO EXCEED THE AGE LIMIT OF OTHER PROGRAMS. ALMOST LEADERS IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TRANSITION FORMER STUDENTS INTO THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEER MENTOR, ALLOWING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND PAIRS SEASONED LEADERS WITH EACH PARTICIPANT. HIP HOP NIGHT AVERAGING 5 STUDENTS PAIRS ADULT MENTORS WITH YOUTH WHO SHARE AN INTEREST IN CREATING MUSIC BEATS, AND WRITING LYRICS TO SONGS.