Doing the Most Good
Submitted by: Aisha Mohammed and Jamie Walsh, The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia
The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia has been aspiring to fulfill its promise to “do the most good” by serving the area’s underprivileged since 1879 in efficient, community-responsive and innovative ways. Last year, Salvation Army programs impacted tens of thousands of residents through nearly 350,000 points of service that address the community’s economic, educational, health, recreational, social and spiritual needs. One of The Salvation Army’s highest priorities involves partnering with civic, educational, corporate and philanthropic organizations to reduce the incidence of violence affecting Philadelphia’s youngest citizens. The Learning Zone, the Army’s enhanced after-school program, is successfully meeting the challenge of offering a safe, enriching educational environment for hundreds of at-risk Philadelphia youth.
The Army’s first Learning Zone program opened in North Philadelphia in 2004 with 12 students and a $15,000 grant from Citizens Bank. Today, 250 at-risk children are enrolled in the Learning Zone, thanks to $233,000 provided by the School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Safe and Sound, and other funding sources. Salvation Army after-school programs include literacy and math instruction, career development and retention, and creative arts opportunities. Educational programs at the Learning Zone are carefully aligned to reinforce and enrich the School District of Philadelphia’s core curriculum standards in reading, math, and science.
Two special enrichment programs are being offered this summer. Kindergarten Academy will prepare 60 students, ages 5-7, for first grade readiness by providing instruction in core academic areas, assigning computer-aided projects, and taking the students on field trips. Through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program, faculty will lead 20 students, ages 13-16, in exploring engineering concepts through hands-on experiments, team projects, and Power Point presentations. They will also visit a NASA location in Bethesda, Maryland.
The Learning Zone is flourishing in its original North Philadelphia location, The Salvation Army Temple Corps Community Center. In order to fulfill the Army’s goal of serving 400 at-risk youth throughout the city, four centers are offering Learning Zone programs. Thanks to additional funding, the Army plans to further enrich the educational experience of Philadelphia’s children and youth by implementing Learning Zone programs in eight more Salvation Army community centers. Please visit http://www.salvationarmyphiladelphia.org/Resources.htm to learn more about Salvation Army center locations and programs.
The Learning Zone program is set for an even bigger expansion in 2009, with the opening of The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Philadelphia’s Nicetown/Tioga section. Partially funded by the estate of Joan Kroc, widow of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to serve between 750 and 1,000 individuals every day in its first year of operation alone. In addition to a Learning Zone, the Salvation Army Kroc Center will offer a cornucopia of high-quality programs including job training, music and performing arts opportunities, swimming instruction, adult education, recreation and fitness, a health clinic, a culinary arts training program, community gardening, and much more. To learn more about The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, please visit http://www.salvationarmykroccenter.org.
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