SHAPE Community Center

The Family Strengthening & Empowerment Programs include the After School Enrichment Program (ASEP), which serves children 5-13 years of age and their caregivers, primarily single parents and extremely low-income families. ASEP promotes academic and life choice success through homework assistance and tutorial study, life skills, and cultural sharing experiences for students during the school year. In addition, parent support group meetings are held biweekly on Wednesdays, with 100% participation, to address parenting skills issues, challenges, strategies, and family strengthening and empowerment. See Schedule O The annual Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) conducts an 8-week, full-day program for children and youth with emotional learning, meditation, physical activities, arts and crafts, language, history, financial literacy, academics, and weekly caregiver support group meetings. ASEP programs operate on average for 38 weeks of the year, serving 45 youth and 60 caregivers during the school year and SEP 95 youth and approximately 105 caregivers during the eight weeks of summer sessions.

Community Programs & Activities: 1) youth & adult computer classes, 2) legal assistance clinics, 3) adult education classes and employment assistance, 4) weekly HIV/AIDS education classes, 5) weekly elders Institute of Wisdom meetings, 6) annual Pan African Cultural Festival, 7) annual Kwanzaa celebrations, 8) semi-annual performing and visual art mini-concerts and exhibits, and 9) forums for community issues such as tobacco prevention, voter registration and mobilization, and other issues. These programs and activities educate community members on arts and culture, healthy lifestyles, and critical issues to strengthen the community and support our philosophy of fostering a "Strong Family, Strong Nation." SHAPE directly serves over 7,500 people annually and impacts significantly more through these programs and activities.