Across the nation, shining examples are emerging where community institutions, organizations, and systems are coordinating and collaborating to best serve youth. Search the Bright Spots database to find great examples to learn from and share.
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Partnership's Name | Shared Goals | Description | Website | Lead Partners | Partner Types | Target Populations | Supports Offered | Funder Types | Supporting Documents | Timeframes | Location | Capacity | Health/Safety | Equity | Contact Information | Common Agenda | Continuous Communication | Backbone Support | Mutually Reinforcing Activities | Shared Measurement | |
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FIRST | Continue or Leverage existing partnerships to meet youth needs, Establish or Sustain community learning hubs/pods/academic-childcare collaborative |
FIRST is the global STEM education program designed for elementary, middle, and high schools in which students build robots, program them to complete missions, and showcase their creations in an end-of-season competition. But 2020 isn't like any other school year. Instead, kits in Camdenton are being separated into Rubbermaid containers so that they can be distributed to individual students, allowing them to each work on their own robot rather than sharing parts with their teammates. When students are working together in person, they're wearing masks anytime they're in close proximity. Brainstorming sometimes occurs over virtual video chatting platforms. |
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc | Camdenton R-III School District, FIRST | Direct Service Non-profit Organization, School/School District |
Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Out-of-School Time Academic Enrichment/Extended Learning | Corporate Sponsorship (including in-kind donations, matching gifts, volunteer program), Individual Contributions |
Fall 2020 (Academic Year), Winter 2020 (Academic Year) |
Michigan | 700,000 | Compliance with State/County/City guidance | https://www.firstinspires.org/about/contact-us |
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Fresh For All | Continue or Leverage existing partnerships to meet youth needs, Directly check on the well-being of youth and families |
Fresh For All began pre-COVID and worked with students to spread their knowledge into the community as they help hand out the free produce to people who live in the community. During COVID, Philabundance quickly worked to make sure students and community members still had access to healthy and fresh produce. Students and families can come to the school site and collect a box with fresh fruits and vegetables. |
Philabundance, Murrell Dobbins CTE High School, Community Schools, Lillian Marrero Library | Direct Service Non-profit Organization, Government Entity, School/School District |
Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Health Education/Healthy Behaviors/Healthy Routines/Nutrition | Individual Contributions, Private Philanthropic Foundation |
Fall 2020 (Academic Year), Spring 2021 (Academic Year), Winter 2020 (Academic Year) |
Pennsylvania | 6,500 | Compliance with State/County/City guidance | 215-339-0900 |
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Girls, Inc. STEM | Continue or Leverage existing partnerships to meet youth needs, Support youth during remote/virtual/online school time learning |
The mission of Girls, Inc. is to inspire all girls to be bold, smart, and strong. The STEM program leverages previous relationships with schools the organizations had pre-pandemic. It focuses on participants creating healthy choices and wellness messages, using stop-motion animation. This is an opportunity to learn and be exposed to content and experiential learning that these girls otherwise would not have. As of yet, the program is virtual. In the coming months, depending on guidance from the schools, the program can pivot to in-person or to a hybrid model. It is offered once a week, during the schools' independent study days. |
https://www.girlsincatl.org/programs/ | Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta, 3 Middle Schools and 1 High School in the Atlanta Metro Area | Direct Service Non-profit Organization, School/School District |
Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Relationship with a Caring Adult, Mentor, or Tutor, School Remote/Virtual/Online Classes |
Corporate Sponsorship (including in-kind donations, matching gifts, volunteer program), Earned Income (from sale of products or services), Government Entity/Grant, Private Philanthropic Foundation |
Fall 2020 (Academic Year), Spring 2021 (Academic Year), Winter 2020 (Academic Year) |
Georgia | 15 Schools | Not applicable; We are not providing in-person supports. | Since the STEM program is school-based, it is completely free for students. It provides high-quality STEM programming, learning resources, professional metorshipn, content exposure in a safe environment for participants, something they would not normally have without the program. |
Michelle Graves, Program Director, Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta, mgraves@girlsincatl.org, 770-422-0999 ext. 220. |
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Girls, Inc. University | Establish or Sustain community learning hubs/pods/academic-childcare collaborative | The mission of Girls, Inc. is to inspire all girls to be bold, smart, and strong. The Girls, Inc University was created in June 2020 in collaboration with the Marietta City School District. It is offered Monday through Friday, from 7:30am to 6pm. The service fills a gap for youth, without which they would likely not have a safe place to go or to engage with virtual schooling. The program creates smaller classroom settings, allowing youth to recieve individualized supports and leveling the academic playing field before go back to traditional school. |
https://www.girlsincatl.org/programs/university/ | Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta, Marietta City School District | Direct Service Non-profit Organization, School/School District |
Parents/Caregivers/Guardians, Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Out-of-School Time Academic Enrichment/Extended Learning, Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Resources, School Remote/Virtual/Online Classes |
Corporate Sponsorship (including in-kind donations, matching gifts, volunteer program), Earned Income (from sale of products or services), Government Entity/Grant, Private Philanthropic Foundation |
http://brightspots.forumfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Girls-Inc.-University-2020-21-Presentation.pdf | Fall 2020 (Academic Year) | Georgia | 140 | Compliance with State/County/City guidance, Multiple hand washing/sanitizing stations, Physical distancing, Required masks for all--adults and youth--on site, Youth temperature checks |
About 75% of the youth participating are from families at or below the federal poverty guideline level. One of the resources the program offers is explicit information to parents on income thresholds and eligibility requirements to apply for state and federal credits. Also, among the youth there is a deficit in comfort and skills when interacting with technology. This is a barrier in a remote learning environment. The program, especially because of its individualized supports, helps girls learn and gain those necessary computer skills, so that they can then engage with their curricula and assignments. |
Kenya Turner, Program Manager, Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta, kturner@girlsincatl.org, (770) 422-0999 ext. 206 |
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Healing Together | Develop staff/volunteers pedagogical competencies, Directly check on the well-being of youth and families |
Healing Together is a collaboration of the Office of Student Support Services, Office of Teaching and Learning, and Office of Curriculum. The content was developed in partnership with SDP teachers, counselors, and principals, along with trusted local partners and national experts. It addresses the needs of students, staff, and families in four areas: social-emotional learning, mental health trauma, community morning meetings and adult wellness. |
https://www.philasd.org/schoolclimate/healing-together/ | Philadelphia School District, SDP, Community Partners | Community-based Non-profit Organization, School/School District |
Parents/Caregivers/Guardians, Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Mental Health/Wellness/Mindfulness | Government Entity/Grant | Fall 2020 (Academic Year), Winter 2020 (Academic Year) |
Pennsylvania | Based on the district | Not applicable; We are not providing in-person supports. | 215-400-4000 |
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Homework Hub | Establish or Sustain community learning hubs/pods/academic-childcare collaborative | Chelsea Market hosts Homework Hub in partnership with Street Labs. Join us on West 16th Street every Tuesday afternoon to meet up with classmates, find a book to read, and do your homework together, all while staying safe and socially-distanced. Volunteers will be on-hand to offer help, and we’re working on providing outdoor heating. All participants get free hot chocolate! Masks are required, but we’ll have free ones for you, along with hand-sanitizer. Free, for all ages. |
https://www.chelseamarket.com/events-all/homeworkhub-t2lt8-j3378 | Chelsea Market , Street Labs | Community-based Non-profit Organization, For-profit Company |
Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
School Remote/Virtual/Online Classes | Individual Contributions, Private Philanthropic Foundation |
Fall 2020 (Academic Year) | New York | 50 | Compliance with State/County/City guidance | CHELSEAMARKETINFO@JAMESTOWNLP.COM |
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Hope Centers | Establish or Sustain community learning hubs/pods/academic-childcare collaborative, Support youth during out-of-school time activities |
Oklahoma’s Governor Stitt announced that in August 2020, Community HOPE Centers would be funded through CARES monies to serve children and adults during the COVID-19 crisis. The centers provide mental health services, computers and iPads for distance learning, meals, and snacks. These centers are modeled after the Hope Theory. |
http://www.okdhs.org/aboutus/comm/Pages/CHCEDP.aspx | OKDHS (Oklahoma Department of Human Services), The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Tulsa, Tulsa Dream Center, T.O.U.C.H. Tulsa, YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Pine Premier Childcare, The Opportunity Project | Advocacy/Intermediary Non-profit Organization, Community-based Non-profit Organization, Direct Service Non-profit Organization, Faith-based Non-profit Organization, Government Entity |
Parents/Caregivers/Guardians, Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Childcare, Mental Health/Wellness/Mindfulness, Whole Child/Positive Youth Development |
Government Entity/Grant | http://brightspots.forumfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HopeCenterArticle.pdf | Fall 2020 (Academic Year), Winter 2020 (Academic Year) |
Oklahoma | Depending on site, from 75-140 students per day, total capacity across 7 sites is 525 . | Compliance with State/County/City guidance, Multiple hand washing/sanitizing stations, Physical distancing, limited water fountain access, increased sanitizing, masks required for all people over age 18, wellness screening at building entrance. |
The initiative provides care for students whose parents need to work during the day, who are unable to take time off of work for childcare. It also provides free meals and technology for students. |
Jahaziel Hiriart |
We are SUSTAINING this element. | We are SUSTAINING this element. | We are SUSTAINING this element. | We are SUSTAINING this element. | We are SUSTAINING this element. | |
Kid City | Support youth during out-of-school time activities | Year-round programming for elementary school students designed to improve academics, health, and social/ emotional behaviors. |
https://cityofrefugeatl.org/programs | City of Refuge and Dalton Public Schools | Direct Service Non-profit Organization, School/School District |
Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) | Mental Health/Wellness/Mindfulness, Physical Activity/Recreation/Playtime, Social and Emotional Learning/Character Development |
Government Entity/Grant | Fall 2020 (Academic Year) | Georgia | 60+ | Compliance with State/County/City guidance | https://cityofrefugeatl.org/contact-us |
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King County Play Equity Coalition | Continue or Leverage existing partnerships to meet youth needs, Support youth during out-of-school time activities |
https://kcplayequity.org/our-work/ |
https://kcplayequity.org/our-work/ | King County, The Aspen Institute, State of Play | Advocacy/Intermediary Non-profit Organization, Direct Service Non-profit Organization, Research Firm, School/School District |
Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Health Education/Healthy Behaviors/Healthy Routines/Nutrition, Physical Activity/Recreation/Playtime |
Private Philanthropic Foundation | Fall 2020 (Academic Year), Summer 2020, Winter 2020 (Academic Year) |
Washington | varing | Not applicable; We are not providing in-person supports. | From strain on essential workers to unemployment of others, parents are struggling to support their families. This stress is exacerbated by disconnection from community and reduced support in providing their children adequate childcare, education, and opportunities for physical activity. These challenges have a disproportionate impact on under-resourced communities whose basic needs are jeopardized. Equitable support for the families and youth of King County remain at the fore of members’ concerns. |
playkc@uw.edu |
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Licoln Center Pop-Up Classroom | Support youth during out-of-school time activities | Whether your little ones are learning in the classroom or in your home, Lincoln Center Pop-Up Classroom's growing collection of episodes will be available for supplemental learning at any time. Led by some of the world’s best artists and educators, each creative learning activity utilizes simple materials found at home to help families with children explore a variety of art forms. |
http://lincolncenter.org/lincoln-center-at-home/series/lincoln-center-pop-up-classroom?_ga=2.207575185.309054250.1604618372-1834821441.1604618372 | Lincoln Center, Community Artist | Community-based Non-profit Organization, Museum |
Youth (Ages 14-17 or Grades 9-12), Youth (Ages 5-13 or Grades K-8) |
Arts/Crafts/Artistic Expression | Corporate Sponsorship (including in-kind donations, matching gifts, volunteer program), Private Philanthropic Foundation |
Fall 2020 (Academic Year) | New York | 250 | Not applicable; We are not providing in-person supports. | 212.875.5456 |
Note: Only checked rows will be exported to the csv file