Years of experience have taught COA that the populations we serve are deeply affected by a broad range of environmental factors like widespread crime, violence, unemployment, poverty, racism, and disinvestment. For this reason, community development initiatives and activities are essential to COA’s ability to serve children and strengthen families. Further, the family-centered programming at COA’s Riverwest and Goldin campuses is at the core of even broader efforts to drive the transformation of entire neighborhoods.

This community-wide programming focus seeks to promote the positive resident engagement that can drive changes and advance quality of life. We see improved academic outcomes by offering quality early child education and parent engagement. Residents’ health improves when they have access to medical care. Child maltreatment decreases when families and parents engage with our programming. Crime begins to dissipate as residents become more engaged in their community.  Effective and transformational community development requires resident input and leadership, the collaboration of a network of service providers and resources, the investment of partners from our business community, and the partnership of our local elected officials.

Ongoing community development initiatives in Riverwest include:

• Stewardship of Kilbourn and Kadish Parks (For more information on the gardens at Kilbourn Park and to reserve a garden bed, visit kilbourngarden.org.)

• COA’s Skyline Music summer concert series