THE CENTER THAT CARES

YOUTH PROGRAM WE CONTINUE TO SERVE OVER 200 STUDENTS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 250 STUDENTS THROUGH OUR FULL TIME SUMMER CAMP AND BASKETBALL LEAGUE. WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF EXPOSING OUR YOUTH TO CULTURAL EVENTS, BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF JOURNEYED TO GHANA IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE OTHER INTERNATIONAL CULTURES. STUDENTS ALSO EXPERIENCED OUR 7TH ANNUAL MCAULEY COLLEGE TOUR. FROM THAT EXPOSURE, OUR STUDENTS ACCESSED THE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. MORE THAN 50 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE COLLEGE TOUR AND COMPLETED THE TOUR WITH AN ENGAGING TRIP TO OUR STATE CAPITAL AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A BROADWAY PLAY. OUR PARENTS REFLECT THAT THE HEALTHY SNACK AND MEALS SERVED ARE APPRECIATED AS A PART OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CENTER THAT CARES. WE ALSO OFFER TRANSPORTATION FROM MANY OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOMES OF MORE THAN 90% OF OUR STUDENTS. THE MISSION OF CARES IS TO PREPARE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PITTSBURGH PROMISE. ABOUT 90% OF OUR SENIORS GO ON TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND THE OTHER 10% FIND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT UPON GRADUATION. SINCE OCTOBER 17TH, 2015, CARES HAS OCCUPIED THE JERON X. GRAYSON COMMUNITY CENTER. THE 14,000 SQUARE FOOT STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY COMPRISES CLASSROOMS, MEETING ROOMS, A RECREATION ROOM, AND, AMONG OTHER SPACES, A ROOFTOP DECK. THE BUILDING HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN UTILIZED AS A COMMUNITY ASSET, HOSTING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS OF VARYING SIZES. TODAY, CARES OFFERS SERVICES AT (4)LOCATIONS, THE WESLEY CENTER A.M.E.ZION CHURCH, WARREN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND SERVING AS 21ST CENTURY SITES ARE BRASHEAR HIGH SCHOOL AND THE JERON X GRAYSON COMMUNITY CENTER.