Program:
Education
- Budget:
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$2,000,000
- Category:
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Education
- Population Served:
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Children and Youth (infants - 19 years.)
Program Description:
Education & Career Development
As an organization, we firmly hold that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and all educational initiatives reflect our vision that every member is promoted on time to the next grade level; graduates from high school; and is fully prepared to achieve real world success. Whether we are getting our kids excited about reading or inspiring aspirations of going to college and of seeking a challenging and rewarding career, we are committed to ensuring that our young people are staying on a positive pathway toward success, thriving academically, promoted on time to the next grade level, and graduating from high school.
The goal of Madison’s educational plan is to provide a seamless framework of enhanced programming that ensures that members become engaged in learning as early as possible, and continue to receive much-needed resources, guidance, and support as they progress academically and socially from early childhood to late adolescence. Our educational programs complement regular school-day activities, enhance academic performance, foster positive study habits, and encourage self-discipline, keeping youth on track as they transition through school and on to college.
Specific initiatives of our educational programming are:
o The Explorers Academy (ages 6 to 9) is an intensive education initiative serving Madison’s youngest members in order to instill an early and lifelong interest in learning, enhance academic performance, and improve members’ attitudes toward school.
o The Juniors Academy (ages 10 to 12) implements the national Boys & Girls Club strategy, BE GREAT: Graduate, which combines additional academic support, one-on-one mentoring, and timely intervention to youth at risk of dropping out of school.
o Project Graduate (ages 13 to 18) is a comprehensive, college-bound curriculum for offering teens guidance and specific skill-building opportunities to help them meet high school graduation requirements and to successfully navigate the college application process.
o The Computer Literacy Program helps bridge the digital divide for under-resourced students by providing youth with the technology skills they need to successfully compete in school and the future workplace. Clubhouse members learn standard computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Internet, email, and online research skills. In addition they have access to a variety of online curricula for schoolwork assistance, educational enhancement, and career preparation.
o The Financial Literacy Program prepares Madison teens to be financially savvy and independent young adults in the real world. Through interactive activities and exercises, youth gain useful financial skills such as managing a checking account, budgeting, saving, investing, entrepreneurship and saving for college.
o CareerLaunch prepares members with specific skills that will enable them to secure employment and be successful in the working world. This initiative focuses on job preparation, helping teens to develop a greater interest and appreciation for the world of work, increase their knowledge of potential career opportunities, learn effective job search strategies, build professional work habits, and obtain hands-on work experience.
In a city where only 61 percent of eligible seniors graduated from high school on time last year and only 44 percent graduated in the communities Madison serves, 82 percent of our Project Graduate seniors graduated high school. Moreover, they’ve been accepted to universities all over the city, state, and country. Recent Madison graduates are currently attending the Virginia State University, New York City College of Technology, Coppin State University, Kingsborough Community College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Drew University, Old Westbury College, Fordham University, St. Bonaventure University, State University of New York (SUNY) Canton, Penn State University, La Guardia Community College, College of Mount Saint Vincent, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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Program:
Character & Leadership Development
- Budget:
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$1,000,000
- Category:
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Youth Development
- Population Served:
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Children Only (5 - 14 years)
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Children Only (5 - 14 years)
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
Character & Leadership Development
Through Torch Club (ages 11 to 13) and Keystone Club (ages 14 to 18), youth engage in community service and leadership opportunities that inspire strong character development, instill a sense of personal and community responsibility while helping build effective, positive strategies for responding to conflict. In addition to community service clubs, Madison incorporates a wide variety of workshops and interactive sessions facilitated by community speakers, educational field trips, events, and film screenings, among other activities to help members build respect for themselves and others, reinforce the value of education, and foster an awareness of contemporary social issues.
Madison recognizes individual academic excellence, community involvement, and personal contribution to the clubhouse through
Youth of the Year (ages 16 to 18).
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Program:
Health & Life Skills
- Budget:
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$1,000,000
- Category:
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Youth Development
- Population Served:
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Children Only (5 - 14 years)
Program Description:
Health & Life Skills
Madison’s Health and Life Skills programming aims to educate youth on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and to cultivate their capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their well-being. Our programs aim to instill in our members positive decision-making that will have a positive impact on their physical, social, and emotional development through SMART Girls and Passport to Manhood (ages 10 to 12) and the Youth Empowerment Program (ages 13 to 18). Additionally, Madison offers cooking classes, health referrals, and the Kids Café meal and nutrition program to help families build strong foundations for healthy futures.
This year, SMART Girls partnered with Sustainable Flatbush, a community based organization in Flatbush aiming to bring an edible garden to the community. SMART Girls made weekly visits to the garden and helped out with composting and gardening activities. SMART Girls learned how to grow their own vegetables and fruits while gaining a sense of responsibility for not only their communities, but also their own health.
Each Clubhouse coordinates an annual Community Health Fairs to introduce health services and professionals to the community at large. In the summer, over 1,000 children, parents, and community residents were introduced to dozens of vendors and community health organizations; received free health screenings; and were educated in health insurance, dental hygiene, drug and alcohol awareness, HIV awareness and testing, asthma, blood pressure, safety services, and food and nutrition.
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Program:
Sports, Fitness and Recreation
- Budget:
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$1,000,000
- Category:
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Youth Development
- Population Served:
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Children Only (5 - 14 years)
Program Description:
Sports, Fitness & Social Recreation
Madison encourages members and their families to establish healthy patterns of behavior early in life and make life-long healthy decisions. Through Triple Play, hundreds of members are engaged in activities that teach them to be healthy and active while learning new ways to handle stress, maintaining a healthy body and forming positive relationships. In addition, our clubhouses offer fitness and intramural sports activities that include flag football, basketball, volleyball, dance, karate, soccer, and aquatics as well as an array of fun fitness challenges and sports tournaments throughout the year.
One of only three USA Swimming registered teams in the Bronx, the Joel E. Smilow Clubhouse runs the largest minority swim program in New York City, with 96 boys and girls (ages 9 to 18). In March, the Smilow Dolphins placed first in the Metro Boys & Girls Club Swim League Championship. Madison youth beat out six teams from Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the region and showcased the hard work and determination of Club members at all levels of ability, from the novice swimmers to those more advanced. We are also proud to announce that 11 Dolphins have qualified for the USA Swimming Junior Olympic trials this year. We also have our first female pre-Olympian ever. Kyara Perez will proudly represent Madison at the Junior Olympic trials for the New York Metropolitan area, which will take place on Long Island in March.
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Program:
The Arts
- Budget:
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$1,000,000
- Category:
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Youth Development
- Population Served:
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Children Only (5 - 14 years)
Program Description:
The Arts
Members have access to a variety of activities designed to pique their innate curiosities, provide exposure to new cultural experiences, and teach social and interpersonal skills such as dance, digital arts, visual arts, drama, fashion, and other artistic pursuits. In partnership with Yahoo!, Madison brought the Reel Skills filmmaking program to the Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse for the first time. Reel Skills introduces Club members to the principles and practice of filmmaking, from script writing through production and editing. It provides the next generation of storytellers with the tools and training to communicate creatively about themselves, their communities, and their world. This year, 13 budding directors, producers, and cinematographers worked with a local documentary filmmaker to create four short films that depicted topics ranging from Club life to basketball, which debuted at a premier event in the clubhouse in front of an audience of over 100 kids, staff members, and friends. These films are available for viewing on Madison’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/madisonsquareboysgirlsclub.
The biggest event on the calendar at the Murphy Clubhouse is the Annual Fashion Show at the Kings Plaza Mall. Each year, the designs of Club members model in the main courtyard of the mall, giving youth an opportunity to show off their original creations in front of hundreds of friends, parents, and shoppers. This year’s theme was “Re-Design,” and Madison fashion designers transformed old donated clothes into dozens of updated, hip looks. In order to participate, members must a grade average of at least 80. The event also showcased the diverse talents of our youth, with Club members putting on performances in dance, singing, spoken word, and rap during intermissions.
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