Mollie Foust

Sports, Service, Ethics, and Sports, Service, Ethics, and Academics: A Multifaceted Academics: A Multifaceted

Approach to Youth EmpowermentApproach to Youth Empowerment

• Involved in education groups on campus Involved in education groups on campus (ED Alliannce, UR Tours Jr., etc.)(ED Alliannce, UR Tours Jr., etc.)

• Studied abroad in Kenya and connected Studied abroad in Kenya and connected with MYSAwith MYSA

• Learned about ROC E6 program in Learned about ROC E6 program in RochesterRochester

The IdeaThe Idea

Youth ProfileYouth Profile

• According to the Children's According to the Children's Agenda, in 2007, 230 after-Agenda, in 2007, 230 after-school programs served school programs served 8,000 children from ages 5 8,000 children from ages 5 through 17 in Monroe County. through 17 in Monroe County. That's just 6.2% of youth in That's just 6.2% of youth in that age group.that age group.

• A 2007 inventory of all Rochester afterschool programs confirmed that 93% of afterschool programs offer

athletic activities88% of afterschool programs offer some

form of academic assistance0% of academic programs target athletes 4% of those who participate in sports 4% of those who participate in sports

programs also attended academic programs also attended academic assistance programsassistance programs

• RCSD is home to over 34,000 youthRCSD is home to over 34,000 youth• 50% of schools at 90% poverty or higher50% of schools at 90% poverty or higher

– Highest poverty rate among NYS Big 5 districts Highest poverty rate among NYS Big 5 districts per capitaper capita

• Student performance declines between Student performance declines between 4th and 8th grade among those who were 4th and 8th grade among those who were meeting standards in 4th grade.meeting standards in 4th grade.

Youth Profile: AcademicsYouth Profile: Academics

Grade 3 - 6 ELA Performance

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2005-2006 2006-2007

% o

f stu

dent

s

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Grade 7 - 8 ELA Performance

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2005-2006 2006-2007

% o

f stu

dent

s

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Grade 3 - 6 Math Performance

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2005-2006 2006-2007

% o

f stu

dent

s

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Grade 7 - 8 Math Performance

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2005-2006 2006-2007

% o

f stu

dent

s

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Sources: RCSD website, The Rochester City School District: A Framework for Reform, and Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning

45% 45%28% 29%43% 51%17% 20%

The goals of the Flower City Academy™ are to:The goals of the Flower City Academy™ are to: Increase literacy and math skills, academic Increase literacy and math skills, academic

achievement and test scores of urban youth achievement and test scores of urban youth recreational athletesrecreational athletes

Empower youth to gain self-esteem and the Empower youth to gain self-esteem and the ability to set meaningful goalsability to set meaningful goals

Establish positive adult relationships with the Establish positive adult relationships with the youthyouth

Provide a safe alternative during the Provide a safe alternative during the afterschool hours for youthafterschool hours for youth

Facilitate connections between skills learned Facilitate connections between skills learned through sports and skills needed for academic through sports and skills needed for academic successsuccess

GoalsGoals

OverviewOverviewFlower City Academy™ Flower City Academy™ • Community-based non-profit academic-empowerment Community-based non-profit academic-empowerment

programprogram• Serves urban youth recreational athletes in Rochester, Serves urban youth recreational athletes in Rochester,

NY. NY. • In November 2008, Flower City Academy™ partnered In November 2008, Flower City Academy™ partnered

with Flower City Soccer League (FCSL) and the with Flower City Soccer League (FCSL) and the Rochester Parks and Recreation Department to pilot Rochester Parks and Recreation Department to pilot the program in three locations. the program in three locations.

• What sets the Flower City Academy™ apart from other What sets the Flower City Academy™ apart from other tutoring and empowerment programs is the tutoring and empowerment programs is the integrative and comprehensive curriculum that integrative and comprehensive curriculum that specifically targets urban recreational youth athletes.specifically targets urban recreational youth athletes.

• Cost is free to athletes who are registered in a city Cost is free to athletes who are registered in a city recreational league. recreational league.

• Originally Originally – wanted to be integrated into schoolswanted to be integrated into schools– wanted an education program with sports wanted an education program with sports

componentcomponent• School DistrictSchool District• MoneyMoney• TimeTime

ChallengesChallenges

• Partnered with FCSL for support and youth Partnered with FCSL for support and youth accessaccess

• Researched and benchmarked similar Researched and benchmarked similar programs and best practicesprograms and best practices

• Developed tutoring and ethics curriculum, Developed tutoring and ethics curriculum, coaching manual, tutoring manual coaching manual, tutoring manual

• Secured three sites for pilot program: Secured three sites for pilot program: SWAN, Flint St. Rec Center, and Bulls Head SWAN, Flint St. Rec Center, and Bulls Head GymGym

Accomplishments: BeginningAccomplishments: Beginning

• Recruited at UR as well as community and Recruited at UR as well as community and other local colleges for coaches and tutorsother local colleges for coaches and tutors

• Managed over 40 volunteers (including Managed over 40 volunteers (including large portion of UR Men’s Varsity Soccer large portion of UR Men’s Varsity Soccer Team)Team)

• Facilitated a New Coach Orientation Facilitated a New Coach Orientation Training Session as well as separate Tutor Training Session as well as separate Tutor Training sessionsTraining sessions

• Served as link between FCSL and volunteersServed as link between FCSL and volunteers

Accomplishments: VolunteersAccomplishments: Volunteers

• Wrote and received grant from United Way of Wrote and received grant from United Way of Greater Rochester for $1,200 for tutor Greater Rochester for $1,200 for tutor transportationtransportation

• Wrote and submitted $30,000 grant to City of Wrote and submitted $30,000 grant to City of Rochester Youth Bureau for fiscal year 2009-Rochester Youth Bureau for fiscal year 2009-20102010

• Helped create league financial statementsHelped create league financial statements• Presented progress report at Quad-A for Kids Presented progress report at Quad-A for Kids

Annual meeting identifying uses of $50,000Annual meeting identifying uses of $50,000• Fronted about $1,000 of own money for Fronted about $1,000 of own money for

suppliessupplies

Accomplishments: FundingAccomplishments: Funding

• Three sites successfully completed 12-Three sites successfully completed 12-week pilots of programweek pilots of program

• Attended and facilitated each session Attended and facilitated each session along with tutorsalong with tutors

• Maintained 1:2 ratio of tutor to youthMaintained 1:2 ratio of tutor to youth

Accomplishments: TutoringAccomplishments: Tutoring

• Over forty youth attended the Flower City Over forty youth attended the Flower City Academy™ at least two days a weekAcademy™ at least two days a week

• Clearer communication between all aspects Clearer communication between all aspects of FCSL organizationof FCSL organization

• In exit interviews, youth identified soccer In exit interviews, youth identified soccer positively with learning and academics positively with learning and academics

• Tutors noted an increase in teamwork and Tutors noted an increase in teamwork and behavioral skillsbehavioral skills

• Coaches and tutors maintained positive Coaches and tutors maintained positive relationships with city youth and developed relationships with city youth and developed more awareness of issues facing Rochester more awareness of issues facing Rochester youthyouth

Accomplishments: ResultsAccomplishments: Results

• Developed six internship positions to Developed six internship positions to maintain growth of league and program maintain growth of league and program sustainabilitysustainability

• Helped form Strategic Plan committee for Helped form Strategic Plan committee for FCSLFCSL

• Kept organized records of actions for Kept organized records of actions for futurefuture

• Created feasibility plan for possible Created feasibility plan for possible expansionexpansion

Accomplishments: SustainabilityAccomplishments: Sustainability

emails and phone calls are not effectiveemails and phone calls are not effective every interaction countsevery interaction counts you will always miss thingsyou will always miss things NGOs can be very tricky to work withNGOs can be very tricky to work with it is a work in progress: you do not need to it is a work in progress: you do not need to

have all the answers or everything have all the answers or everything planned out before you beginplanned out before you begin

What I Wish I KnewWhat I Wish I Knew

Thank You!Thank You!