Project Description
COA’s Riverwest Youth Development Program Help Youth Reach New Heights
COA’s youth development programs provide Milwaukee youth opportunities to thrive in a supportive environment where they are empowered to realize their greatest potential.
Read on to learn more about COA’s youth development program at our Riverwest community center and discover how programming is making an impact in our community.
COA’s Riverwest Youth Development Program
COA’s Youth Development program at our Riverwest Center impacts Milwaukee youth directly by providing children from 15+ neighboring schools a safe, secure, and fun place to go after school. During after-school programming, students get help with their homework, are provided a snack and dinner daily, and get the chance to participate in many different activities including dance, music production, STEM, art, and sports. We have partnerships with the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Public Library, Positive Altitudes, City Champs, and many more!
I believe that it is important to have youth development programs available at COA because they provide participants with opportunities that they might not receive at their school. Our programs also provide many extra resources to children and families such as free field trips, free family events, partnerships with other local organizations, and child care on days when school is not in session.
COA’s Youth Development Program Provides Opportunities
Our youth development program provides youth an outlet from their day-to-day at-school lives and helps them express their interests outside of their home with their peers. We also provide transportation from certain schools to COA. This helps many parents by providing transportation for their children while they are at work. I’ve built partnerships with schools like St. Marcus and in doing so we work together to make sure we are providing after-school care for as many children as possible.
Youth also benefit immensely from participating in our programs during the summer months. We go on at least one field trip a week, have options for students to go to COA’s Camp Helen Brachman to get away from the city, and we give youth opportunities to participate in sports leagues. Summer programming gives youth a fun and interactive place they can go daily while school is not in session. This provides them with a structured program to be a part of instead of possibly getting involved with things that aren’t so beneficial to them during the summer.
COA’s Youth Development staff work with kids during a time when they might need positive role models and structure in their life the most. Children from 5-12 are very influential and we’re here to make sure they are going down the right path by providing them with any assistance or resources they might need to succeed!
Article written by Brad Van Pay, COA’s Youth Development Program Manager, Riverwest Center
COA’s Youth Development Programming
COA provides Milwaukee youth with programming and resources that help drive academic achievement and foster personal development in supportive environments. COA provides after-school and summer programming for youth (6-18) at our two community centers and six Milwaukee Public Schools CLCs. Programs include daily academic enrichment, tutoring and homework help, and recreational/enrichment activities.