QUALITY LIFE CENTER OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC

QUALITY LIFE CENTER OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. (QLC) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO GUIDING UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN AGES 518 TOWARD THE ATTAINMENT OF A FULFILLING LIFE. QLC PROVIDES HIGH- QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES ACADEMIC TUTORING, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND HEALTHY MEALS AND SNACKS. QLC HAS SERVED THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, WITH A STRONG AND SUSTAINED FOCUS ON THE DUNBAR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED ONGOING SUPPORT THROUGH GRANTS AND DONATIONS, INCLUDING FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF FORT MYERS THROUGH ITS ARTS AND CULTURE GRANT PROGRAM. OUR CORE OBJECTIVES ARE TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, STRENGTHEN POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, AND INCREASE MEANINGFUL PARENT ENGAGEMENT. OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM, ARTS, CHARACTER, AND EDUCATION (ACE), IS A YEAR-ROUND OUT-OF- SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES: - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH DAILY HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND TUTORING - SELF-CONFIDENCE THROUGH ENGAGEMENT IN THE ARTS, SCIENCES, AND ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP THROUGH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND VALUES-BASED LEARNING - WELL-BEING THROUGH STRUCTURED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING - COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT THROUGH ACTIVE PARENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT QLC HAS EXPANDED ITS IMPACT THROUGH SEVERAL INTEGRATED LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES: QUALITY LIFE ACADEMY (QLA) EXTENDS QLCS EDUCATIONAL MODEL INTO A FULL-DAY, STUDENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT. QLA PROVIDES PERSONALIZED LEARNING PATHWAYS ALIGNED WITH STATE STANDARDS WHILE INCORPORATING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND PROJECT-BASED EXPERIENCES. THE ACADEMY EMPHASIZES MASTERY-BASED LEARNING, SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION, AND WHOLE-CHILD DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE BOTH ACADEMIC RIGOR AND THE SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (YCS) STRENGTHENS QLCS LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING BY CONNECTING LOCAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO A BROADER NATIONAL MOVEMENT. YCS SERVES AS A FIELD CATALYST THAT EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AND DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. RATHER THAN FUNCTIONING SOLELY AS A DIRECT- SERVICE PROGRAM, YCS BUILDS A NETWORK OF YOUTH LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, ELEVATES YOUTH VOICE, AND MOBILIZES RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. THROUGH THIS MODEL, YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP CIVIC LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND CONTRIBUTE TO STRENGTHENING THEIR COMMUNITIES WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A GROWING NATIONAL NETWORK FOCUSED ON CIVIC RENEWAL AND DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION. COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS (CLS), PART OF COMPASSIONATE SWFL, ENGAGES RESIDENTS, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN IDENTIFYING LOCAL PRIORITIES AND IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS. THROUGH STRUCTURED COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, PARTICIPANTS ESTABLISH PRIORITIES, FORM WORKING GROUPS, AND ADVANCE INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. CLS STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, SUPPORTS COORDINATED ACTION, AND PROMOTES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. BASED ON MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF OUTCOME DATA, STUDENTS COMPLETING ONE PROGRAM YEAR ARE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING: - 70% WILL IMPROVE A GRADE LEVEL OR MAINTAIN AN A OR B GRADE IN MATH - 70% WILL IMPROVE A GRADE LEVEL OR MAINTAIN AN A OR B GRADE IN READING - 70% WILL IMPROVE A GRADE LEVEL OR MAINTAIN AN A OR B GRADE IN SCIENCE - 90% WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENT IN POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, TEAMWORK, AND SOCIAL SKILLS - 90% OR MORE OF PARENTS WILL ATTEND MONTHLY PARENT MEETINGS ACADEMIC PROGRESS IS MEASURED THROUGH SCHOOL REPORT CARDS. BEHAVIORAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE MEASURED USING A STAFF-ADMINISTERED ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT. PARENT ENGAGEMENT IS MEASURED BY ATTENDANCE AT MONTHLY MEETINGS.