Oakwood Grow Center

THE OAKWOOD GROW CENTER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, BIBLE CHARACTER LESSONS, SNACKS, SUPERVISED PLAY TIME, AND PRACTICAL SKILL LESSONS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF THE OAKWOOD TERRACE APARTMENTS IN CHARLESTON, WV. THE PROGRAM RUNS FROM MONDAY TO THURSDAY THROUGHOUT THE KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROGRAM HAS 18 ENROLLED STUDENTS, 12 OF WHICH ARE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND 6 WHO ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. HALF OF THE STUDENTS ARE BLACK, 1/4 ARE WHITE, AND 1/4 ARE MIXED. ALL STUDENTS FALL UNDER THE LOW-INCOME CATEGORY. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO FACILITATE LOVING, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OAKWOOD TERRACE STUDENTS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY. ANOTHER GOAL IS TO AID IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF GRADES AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN THESE STUDENTS' LIVES HOPEFULLY AROUND 10%. LONG TERM, THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO SEE THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE OF THESE STUDENTS TO INCREASE TO 10-20% HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BEING THE FIRST YEAR, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ATTENDANCE OR GPA RATES HAVE INCREASED. HOWEVER, IT IS CLEAR THAT SOME STUDENTS HAVE PERFORMED BETTER IN SCHOOL AS THE YEAR CONTINUED (EST. 10% INCREASE FROM 4 OF 18 STUDENTS) AND THAT THERE ARE NO STUDENTS IN DANGER OF VIOLATING TRUANCY GUIDELINES. THE CHILDREN CLEARLY LOVE THE PROGRAM, THE PARENTS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE ENGAGED AND ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE PROGRAM WHICH IS COMMUNICATING HOPE TO THE COMMUNITY.