As an employer, Open Doors Academy was a fantastic place to work. I felt both challenged and supported through my position as a Campus Coordinator and could see the impact that we were making on our scholars day-to-day. After about two years of working for the organization, I was able to work my way up into Program Management, which gave me a new perspective on the organization and its programming opportunities. Even throughout the pandemic, Open Doors worked tirelessly to provide supports for its scholars, families, school and community partners, and its staff.
As a program, I feel that the scholars received all that they needed and more. From homework help in reading and math to social-emotional learning programs, Open Doors Academy really focused on improving the whole child. The organization truly embodies the "it takes a village" mentality. If given the opportunity, I would gladly return to Open Doors. The work they do is so important, and it is apparent that they have a clear vision for their overall goals and the direction that they would like their out of school time programming to go
The Music Settlement is proud of our community roots in Northeast Ohio, and we are honored to partner with an institution as reputable as Open Doors Academy! ODA offers high-quality afterschool and summer programs for their youth. They are leaders in out-of-school education and continue to invest in resources and educators to build capacity for, improve the quality of, and expand access to out-of-school learning opportunities for K-12 scholars.
This past 2023 summer, TMS and ODA teamed up to offer a Beats Making Camp at Monticello Middle School. TMS instructor Afi Scruggs worked with scholars to understand modern music creation of various genres. Scholars learned to program drum parts, use loops, creating a continued musical texture, as well as mix the two to produce their own compositions. TMS and ODA will continue to partner together providing accessible music instruction to Cleveland schools.
ODA is an inspiring nonprofit and community partner doing amazing work in Cleveland. They are an organization that demonstrates excellence in advocating for our local or regional arts and nonprofits ecosystem. Special shoutout to Dan Sehlhorst, Joe Hollings and Daa'iyah for their behind-the-scenes operational work that makes ODA thrive. Great work!
I am a teaching artist who has taught for ODA for the last 6 years. ODA is an organization which puts the young artists and students first. Teaching in this supportive and nurturing atmosphere is inspiring!
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I have worked for Open Doors Academy for over five years as a teaching artist. Open Doors Academy is an organization I am proud to work for, I feel like I am part of their team and part off their mission. Not only am I supported in the teaching i do, the teaching I do is valued and respected. This is reflected in the respect and support and true dedication they have for the young people they serve!
Open Doors Academy is an amazing place with wonderful staff that love, support and challenge youth of all ages to be the best version of themselves possible. We also do the same for the adult caretakers of our scholars. I can definitely say I am excited to wake up and come to work because I know I am helping to make a difference. Especially on the tough days.
So far my experience here at ODA has been amazing. I love the support I receive from staff and management. The kids are amazing and I love how far ODA goes for the kids.
No out-of-school time program has more devotion to their scholars than Open Doors Academy. Whether in after school, family events, or summer camp, ODA is entirely focused on bringing the best possible experience to its scholars and its families.
Open Doors Academy provides comprehensive programs that focus on academic enrichment, character development, and life skills training. I love that our team is full of dedicated passionate professionals and mentors that create a nurturing and inclusive environment that enables young individuals to thrive. Open Doors Academy's impact is evident in its track record of successfully guiding scholars toward academic success, personal growth, and future opportunities. By promoting education, fostering resilience, and instilling values of integrity and leadership, Open Doors Academy sets a remarkable example of a top-tier non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking the potential of every child.
Open Doors Academy is truly the village it takes to raise a child. The knowledgeable and caring staff work with students, families, and teachers to make sure students have the resources they need to excel academically and personally. I highly recommend participation in Open Doors Academy programs for students in all grades.
The work Open Doors Academy is second to none. The leadership, mission, and vision of ODA is outstanding and the main reason I chose to work here. The site coordinators truly care about the scholars they guide and mentor and the enrichment program is inspiring. To do all this for free to families is remarkable. ODA should be in every school in Ohio.
I love the work of ODA! I have worked with them as a teaching artist in summer camps and during the school year for over 8 years. The staff is always collaborative and continually reassessing how programs should be delivered based on the needs of the students. As an artist and a community development professional with a Masters in Public Policy, I appreciate their approach to youth development that actually includes community partners. This support is why we accomplish so much creative work with the students. Image: recording session at Tri-C, Cleveland's world class recording studio.
I have had the blessing of being affiliated with Open Doors Academy for over 14 years. I appreciate this organization greatly because they continue to introduce our youth and their families to new opportunities and meaningful life-changing experiences. The staff are amazing and really understand what the vision and mission of ODA is. Having close-knit relationships is key to a child’s success and that is continuously shown!
I will continue to support this program without question in anyway I can. The more youth are exposed to something positive the better. You never know what will spark an interest or what could become a young person's passion having support from a program like this one!
S. Walker
Open doors was able to serve many students during the covid pandemic and we as program coordinators built strong bonds with our scholars. The worst yet best of times, I've enjoyed at ODA
When you think about an organization that meets the expectations of their mission Open Doors Academy comes to mind. The staff goes above the ask to provide a well rounded out of school experience for their scholars. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit and schools across the nation closed ODA found a way to pivot and still serve not only their program scholars but their families as well. Once schools started to reopen ODA showed that the need for out of school programming was more essential than ever. They put curriculum into place that not only helped fill academic gaps caused from remote learning but also the social & emotional skills lost from not being able to interact with people outside the scholars primary household for almost a year. Open Doors Academy continues to strive to protect, inspire, nurture and challenge the scholars they work with on a daily basis.
From the moment i met ODA staff I immediately knew this organization was different than others i had seen. I can say with all sincerity that i look forward to coming in every day and spending time with the kids. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to be a positive influence in their lives. I love what i do.
I've been working at ODA for a little over a year now, and it has been truly amazing to see the time, energy, love, passion, and dedication to excellence that our staff membmers exhibit on a daily basis. This can be seen in talking with students and parents who have been impacted by ODA in powerful ways: ODA makes a difference by helping improve students academic achievement levels, self-confidence and leadership skills. It provides a safe place for our kids to enjoy healthy relationships with adults and with their peers. ODA helps parents to expand their support base and their practical toolsets to make sure that they have what they need to raise emotionally, socially, and physically healthy children. ODA staff members work tirelessly to ensure that our kids have the chance to succeed! I'm proud of ODA, our staff, and our kids!
One of the reasons I enjoy working at Open Doors Academy is because the organization uses a holistic model to serve youth and families. A major component of the model is building positive and meaningful relationships with parents and youth. This is especially important with the development of youth. Students enroll in Open Doors Academy as early as sixth grade and continue on through middle school and then high school. Through these mentor relationships students are likely to be at less-risk and succeed academically. Working daily with our youth I can say I am witness to the success of our students.