Community Corner
ACCESS Receives Grant to Expand Summer Youth Programming
Funds from the Michigan Department of Education will be used to provide social and educational programs for 500 local youth.
A new grant for the will expand summer youth programming, the Dearborn-based nonprofit announced Thursday in a release.
The Youth and Education Department at ACCESS has been awarded a $187,217 grant through the Michigan Department of Education to expand its summer youth programs. These programs will include math and literacy enrichment, weekly field trips, and both youth development and recreational activities for schools around metro Detroit.
Last year, ACCESS programs served 210 students at two sites. The expansion will allow an anticipated 500 students to attend at five sites.
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Programs will be available to students enrolled at Salina, Lowrey and William Ford elementary schools in Dearborn; River Oaks Elementary School in Dearborn Heights; and Bridge Academy in Hamtramck.
“Giving children access to a safe, nurturing environment that offers structured enrichment programs during the summer months has been part of our vision at ACCESS for a long time,” says Anisa Sahoubah, director of the Youth and Education Department at ACCESS.
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The Youth and Education Department is one of the largest components of ACCESS, a human services organization that provides social, educational, legal, artistic and medical services to the community.
In 2003, ACCESS became a site for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides supplemental education to targeted groups of youth in such areas as math and reading. That program now serves students from multiple public and charter schools in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck.
The youth program now also includes family literacy, recreational and civic engagement opportunities throughout the year.
“Years ago, (the department) was mainly students who were struggling with their academics,” Sahoubah said. “Now because of our wide array of activities and programs, we’re getting students who are looking for more of a challenge, more opportunities for community service, more opportunities for civic engagement, building their technology skills.”
“We’re getting more of the students who want to get involved in their community,” she added, “and they’re doing that through ACCESS.”
Learn more at www.accesscommunity.org.
