Newburgh Armory Unity Center Inc

Programs: Programs leading to naturalization:the armory remains the home of uscis and catholic charities citizenship services. In 2016, thousands of individuals came to the armory to receive citizenship related services. Catholic charities also host annual community reach out events at the armory, as well as classes which support preparation for the united states citizenship test. In collaboration with newburgh based non for profit organization latinos unidos, citizenship prep classes are held thursday nights. Representatives from latinos unidos also facilitate the armory's saturday morning enrichment els and computer basics classes. In 2016 over 2,000 adult students engaged in esl and computer basics which are part of the saturday morning enrichment program. These individuals are not only engaging in services to better themselves and becoming volunteers for special events they are becoming leading advocates for the armory and all it does for other members of the community.

saturday morning enrichment programing:the nauc saturday morning enrichment program continues to grow and be the community's leader in academic enrichment opportunities for the youth and families of the newburgh enlarged city school district. 2016 was a year of expansion, improvement and collaboration for the nauc saturday morning enrichment program. Over 1,400 youth enrolled and participated in the saturday morning enrichment program throughout the year in 12-week sessions. Through parent surveys and constant dialog with children and families, it is clear that their real demand is for education programs. In the current winter session which began in november of 2016 34% of youth enrolled do not engage in any athletic programming. In response to the demand for more academic programming the armory has added classes in history, graphic design, and computer programming, of which the latter 2 were only made possible through the support of the new computer science lab funded by the kaplan family foundation. In 2016 the nauc lending library exchanged over 6,500 books and continues to be the first stop for families on a saturday morning, and we know is often the only source of print material in the home of many families. In response to the increasing number coming to the armory on saturday morning for chess, the nauc launched a chess club called "armory knights" which is offered every wednesday night from 6-7 p. M. . Children in both saturday morning chess and armory knights are learning in a game of strategy and critical thinking and developing skills in literacy and logic through instruction of algebraic notation (formal hand recording of the moves of the game).

literacy education advocacy program (leap):since it was completed in the summer of 2014, the armory's state-of-the-art literacy center, which was constructed entirely through a $250,000 grant provided by the kaplan family foundation, continues to serve as a learning lab for more than 100 children, and an equal number of graduate student-teachers, working to help their young partners in learning to overcome serious reading deficiencies. The literacy education advocacy partnership (leap) continues to grow and represent the armory's commitment to literacy education and community collaboration. Mount saint mary college and suny new paltz have expanded the offerings of this programming during the after school hours to a combined 4 days a week monday through thursday. In 2016, an estimated 500 students came to the nauc literacy center for reading remediation as a part of the unique educational collaboration that was fostered by the nauc board of directors and staff. In the summer of 2016, over 100 youth participated in the summer leap program which resulted in the student's poetry and art work to be shown at the newburgh illuminated festival.