D-69 Wins $120,000 Grant For Afterschool Programs, Resources For Families

Written by Pam DeFiglio

Lincoln Junior High School could be buzzing with after-school activities, homework help, mentoring programs and involved parents next year.

School District 69 has won a $120,000 grant from United Way North-Northwest, a grant-making organization, to expand existing after-school programs which help middle school kids get ready for the academic demands of high school, to get them on track to graduate from high school.

The activities will also likely include a mentoring program for middle-schoolers, athletics and other constructive programs and social-emotional support, such as a boys' group which has a leader discussing topics such as how to grow into a responsible man.

"Some families need additional support, and counselors can do counseling with families and parents," said Melissa Carpenter of Y.O.U., an Evanston-based non-profit which will organize and run the programs in cooperation with District 69. 

"It's based on the Community School model," she said. That model makes the school a hub of activities for people in the community. The activities could include recreational programs like soccer or dance classes, language classes for immigrant parents, health screenings, financial literacy classes for parents, and other activities that strengthen community bonds.

The Community School model has been shown across the country to reduce truancy, reduce gang activity and help prepare children to graduate, she said.

Y.O.U. conducted after-school programs at Lincoln Junior High this past year, and the grant will allow them to expand, she said.

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