RIVERDALE COMMUNITY CENTER INC

TEEN CENTER - THE ORGANIZATION RUNS FREE OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN A NORTH BRONX PUBLIC SCHOOL, OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF ACADEMIC, REMEDIAL, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED URBAN YOUTH IN THE NORTH BRONX. OPEN FRIDAY AFTERNOONS FOR PRE-TEENS AND TEENS FROM 6TH TO 12TH GRADES, TEENS ENJOY OPEN GYM, GAME ROOM, VOLLEYBALL, POETRY SLAMS, MOVIES, TOURNAMENTS AND AN ARRAY OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. THE CENTER PROVIDES IMPORTANT SERVICES CURRENTLY FILLING THE GAP BETWEEN 3PM AND 6PM AND WEEKEND EVENINGS WHEN YOUTH ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE ODUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE BELOW PROGRAMS DID NOT RUN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, AS DESCRIBED IN THE NARRATIVE FOR FORM 990, PART III, LINE 3, THE PROGRAMS WERE TRANSITIONED TO RIVERDALE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, INC. AS OF THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR. 1. THE COMPREHENSIVE AFTER-SCHOOL CENTER IS FREE FOR YOUTHS FROM 6TH TO 12TH GRADES. ACTIVITIES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:A. ACADEMIC SUPPORT - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ACTIVITIES THAT GUIDE OUR STUDENTS TOWARDS ACADEMIC SUCCESS. AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES INCORPORATE DIFFERENT METHODS AND MATERIALS FROM THOSE USED DURING THE REGULAR DAY SCHOOL AND ENGAGE THE INTEREST OF STUDENTS. SAMPLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: HOMEWORK HELP, TEACHER TIPS, CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM, TUTORING, LIBRARY CENTER AND ACADEMIC CENTERS IN ELA AND MATH.B. ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT - YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN ENGAGING "ARTS" ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS INFUSED WITH LITERACY TO AID THE STUDENTS IN MEETING THE NYS COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS (CCLS) IN ELA. SOME ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: TEEN THEATER, WATERCLOUDS, SEW MUCH FUN, ORIGAMI, SCULPTURE, DRAWING, POETRY, AND SCRAPBOOK CLUB.C. ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT - STEM - THROUGH RCC STEM ACTIVITIES, YOUTH BECOME CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVERS; CRITICAL THINKERS AND IMPROVE ANALYTICAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THEY APPLY MATH AND SCIENCE PRINCIPLES TO DESIGN PROJECTS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: ROBOTICS, CREATING VIDEO GAMES, FORENSIC SCIENCE, SCIENCE OLYMPIAD AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.D. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND HEALTH LIVING - YOUTH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND PRACTICES; AND, STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND GOOD NUTRITION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: FLAG FOOTBALL, SOCCER, RUNNING CLUB, DANCE, FITNESS FOR BOYS, FITNESS FOR GIRLS, HEALTHY COOKING AND MUCH MORE.E. LEADERSHIP - YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN SERVICE LEARNING, SUCCESS PREP, LEADERS-IN-TRAINING (LIT), CHARACTER EDUCATION THROUGH THEATER, AND MORE. THROUGH SERVICE LEARNING YOUTH RESEARCH, PLAN AND EXECUTE PROJECTS AND REFLECT ON THEIR EXPERIENCES THROUGH JOURNAL-WRITING AND GROUP DISCUSSION. OUR SUCCESS PREP PROGRAM IS AN ENGAGING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM UTILIZING A SERIES OF INTERACTIVE TOPIC-SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS' CHANCES FOR REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND BEYOND. LIT WILL HELP YOUTH IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP PERSONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WHILE STRENGTHENING THEIR SELF-AWARENESS, CONFIDENCE AND SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT.2. A HOLIDAY PROGRAM - FREE FOR YOUTHS FROM 6TH TO 8TH GRADES, OPERATING 10 HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDING CHRISTMAS AND WINTER AND SPRING BREAKS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROJECT-BASED ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ENHANCEMENTS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, SPORTS/FITNESS, SOCIALIZATION, AND FIELD TRIPS.3. SUMMER PROGRAM - FOUR-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT PROVIDES ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT IN STEM AND LITERACY, PHYSICAL RECREATION AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES, CULTURAL AND ARTS OPPORTUNITIES, AND A VARIETY OF LOCAL AND FULL DAY FIELD TRIPS.