Urbanpromise Charlotte

Programs: Summer camp: urbanpromise summer camps fill the learning-gap between semesters and provides elementary school students with six-weeks of focused academic instruction, spiritual support, and abiding relationships. Literacy instruction throughout the year is led by certified charlotte-mecklenburg schools teachers. During the summer, literacy instruction is designed to combat the summer learning loss students from low-income families often experience. During our last three summer programs, urbanpromise students made an average of three months of reading growth during our six-week program.

afterschool program: urbanpromise afterschool programs provide opportunities for elementary and middle school students to improve their academic performance, develop necessary life skills, create positive relationships with caring adults, explore the arts, and nurture their faith. Approximately 230 elementary and middle school students participate in urbanpromises afterschool programs rooted in three of charlottes lowest-income neighborhoods in west, southwest, and east charlotte.

1. Streetleader program: through our unique streetleader program, urbanpromise employs low-income high school students as counselors, tutors, and mentors for the children who attend our afterschool and summer programs. The heart of the streetleader program is challenging teens to use their influence to make positive changes in the lives of children, in their own lives, and throughout their communities. The streetleader program employs approximately 75 teenagers. For most of our streetleaders, this is their first job, and they receive extensive training and on-the-job mentoring. Once in the streetleader program, teens have the opportunity to take-on expanded responsibilities and develop leadership skills as peer leaders. In addition to leading the younger students during afterschool and summer programs, streetleaders also participate in year-round leadership and academic development led by urbanpromise staff. This development includes leadership training, sat tutoring, college advising and preparation, and one-on-one adult mentorship. With the streetleader programs focus on achievement, 100% of our first three classes of senior streetleaders graduated high school on-time and received college acceptance. Most will become the first member of their families to graduate from college.