2007-2008 Grant Recipients
Education
Adventures Ahead After School Program: $14,250
USC African Millennium Pen Pal Program: $12,500
CAHSEE to College After-School Program: $13,150
USC Community Computing Program: $29,545
Effecting Persistence Among First Generation Students: $13,470
Expanding STARS: Sharing the Power of Science with Neighborhood Youth: $28,500
USC Family of Schools In-School Facilitators: $12,000
Mission Science: $33,526 (for UPC) & $20,838 (for HSC)
USC NAI Saturday Academy: $27,455
Street Law Foundation Program: $3,500
USC ReadersPlus: $42,227
Science for Life Outreach Program: $10,070
USC Sea Grant Parent - Child Education Program: $9,530
To Do and Learn - MESA: $15,457
University Park Family Newspaper: $51,558
Arts Education
24th Street Theatre - After ‘Cool Theatre Program: $27,764
Art and Civic Dialogue: $12,000
Art in the Village: $23,592
Building Bridges: $11,580
USC Thornton Jazz Reach: $31,079
USC Thornton Outreach Program: $33,011
Sports Education
USC After School Sports Connection: $47,500
Kids In Sports: $32,010
Safety
Revitalize Richardson Family Park: $22,157
Peace Games: $30,339
Health
A Fotonovela on Depression: $32,300
Healthy Eating Living and Playing Kids Program (H.E.L.P.): $11,285
FUENTE Initiative: $7,950
USC Health & Science Expo: $14,600
HSC Community Health Fair: $15,960
Mobile Dental Unit for Dental Screening and Health Fairs: $31,277
Physical Therapy Fit Families Program: $31,702
Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van: $19,000
USC Troy Camp: $19,000
Education
Adventures Ahead After School Program: $14,250
Community partner: Redeemer Community Partnership
USC partner: Provost’s Initiative on Immigration & Integration
Program Description: Volunteer tutors will work with 45 elementary students to achieve grade appropriate literacy and to nurture each student’s development as a lifelong reader. Families will participate in workshops to provide them with tools and information that will help them support their children’s academic growth.
USC African Millennium Pen Pal Program: $12,500
Community partner: African Millennium Foundation
USC partner: Joint Educational Project, College of Letters, Arts & Sciences
Program Description: This project provides Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) essay writing preparation for up to 60 middle and early high school students from Manual Arts High School, 32nd Street/USC MAST Magnet High School, Foshay Learning Center and the newly added St. Agnes Parish School. Using a cultural and linguistic pedagogy approach, the program introduces students to the process of written examination by way of teaching them correct narrative processes on a theme or topic driven basis and within the PSAT/SAT time constraints.
CAHSEE to College After-School Program: $13,150
Community partner: 32nd Street/MAST, Foshay, and Manual Arts
USC partner: USC TRIO Programs
Program Description: The program will assist high school students to successfully pass both sections of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) through a comprehensive academic support system in the areas of mathematics and English language arts. The program will also assist middle school students with low mathematics and English language arts scores on the California Standardized Testing Reporting (STAR) and provide students with academic advisement and informational workshops to prepare them for college.
USC Community Computing Program: $29,545
Community partner: USC Family of Schools
USC partner: Community Computing Center
Program Description: The Community Computing Center provides bilingual, low-to-no-cost training in the fundamentals of computer use. Graduates of its programs will receive a PC to take home for use by their families. By providing both the training and the computers, USC can better enhance the economic opportunities of participants in their studies and jobs, their children’s academic needs and in their community involvement endeavors.
Effecting Persistence Among First Generation Students: $13,470
Community partner: Community Education Academy
USC partner: Community Education Academy
Program Description: Through this collaborative alliance, students from USC’s college preparatory programs NAI, MESA, MedCOR, and TRIO will participate in activities designed for them meet and interact with other graduating seniors across programs. Students will begin developing the necessary skills to build peer networks prior to entering college as well as tap into the growing network of Community Education Academy graduates around the country.
Expanding STARS: Sharing the Power of Science with Neighborhood Youth: $28,500
Community partner: Murchison, El Sereno, and Bravo schools
USC partner: School of Pharmacy
Program Description: This program provides high school juniors with a mentored, hands-on science experience in the laboratory of a USC scientist. In addition it provides approximately 1,000 students (grades 9 – 12) the opportunity to conduct an inquiry-based research project as part of their academic science courses and to participate in the USC sponsored USC-Bravo Science Fair.
USC Family of Schools In-School Facilitators: $12,000
Community partners: 32nd Street/USC Visual and Performing Arts Magnet, Foshay Learning Center, Manual Arts High School, Norwood Street, Vermont Avenue and L.B. Weemes Elementary schools
USC partner: Civic and Community Relations
Program Description: This grant provides a part-time, on-site coordinator of USC programs at each of these neighborhood schools. They coordinate, schedule and serve as liaisons between the school staff and USC program administrators. With the many programs at the schools – including those noted here – the on-site facilitators help to ensure that programs run efficiently.
Mission Science: $33,526 (for UPC) & $20,838 (for HSC)
Community partners: HSC: Griffin and Murchison Elementary Schools and Variety Boys & Girls Club and UPC: 32nd Street/USC Magnet, Foshay Learning Center, Norwood Street, L.B. Weemes and Vermont Avenue Elementary schools
USC partner: Viterbi School of Engineering
Program Description: This after-school program allows more than 500 elementary and middle school students to learn science, engineering and technology by working on an informal, inquiry basis by providing true hands-on projects, exhibits, simple experiments, machinery to take apart, and a workshop in which to work. School teachers serve as instructors. The students will become MSIs – Mission Science Investigators. Borrowing from the popular TV show, CSI, Mission Science students will take environmental samples of air, soil and water and analyze them, solving the mysteries of the world around them.
USC NAI Saturday Academy: $27,455
Community partner: Foshay Learning Center and Manual Arts High School
USC partner: Neighborhood Academic Initiative
Program Description: The USC NAI Saturday Academy is a pre-collegiate outreach program that provides participating high school students intense and inter-active academic experiences, both academically rigorous and enriching. This includes SAT vocabulary development, writing and mathematics skill building, study skills and test taking skills. Most of the classes take place on the USC campus utilizing the expertise of staff, USC students, certificated LAUSD teachers, parents and volunteers.
Street Law Foundation Program: $3,500
Community partner: Manual Arts High School
USC partner: Gould School of Law
Program Description: Through Street Law mentoring, USC law students work with inner-city high school students to teach legal literacy, respect for law and its institutions, and offer counsel and advice about higher education. The “Homicide: Life on the Streets” teaching program educates students about school bullying, the law of self-defense, trying juveniles as adults, the law of search and seizure and more invaluable life lessons. All of these programs facilitate dialogue about juvenile justice issues among students, parents and school staff.
USC ReadersPlus: $42,227
Community partners: 32nd Street/USC Magnet, Foshay Learning Center, Norwood Street, Vermont Avenue and Weemes elementary schools
USC partner: Joint Educational Project, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Program Description: USC ReadersPlus provides reading and math tutoring to thousands of children in classrooms as well as meaningful work opportunities for USC work study students. Up to 150 university students work with elementary students at the five schools. The readers provide more than 47,000 hours of literacy assistance per year and math mentors provide more than 24,000 hours of math assistance. Learning takes place at each school site.
Science for Life Outreach Program: $10,070
Community partners: Murchison Street Elementary School
USC partner: USC Keck School of Medicine
Program Description: This project will develop and implement age-appropriate, relevant and interest-provoking educational modules focused on current research conducted in USC Biometric laboratories. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be introduced to fundamental scientific principles and offer them hands-on, inquiry-based activities, transforming the classroom into a virtual laboratory with the students being the scientists conducting actual experiments. Lessons will be taught by USC Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research Center faculty, graduate and undergraduate students who will share their enthusiasm for science with participating students.
USC Sea Grant Parent - Child Education Program: $9,530
Community partners: Exposition Park Intergenerational Community Center
USC partner: USC Sea Grant
Program Description: The USC Sea Grant program provides 4th through 6th grade students and their parents with a hands-on curriculum on marine and environmental science including a career component. Student-parent teams will board a vessel and engage in science activities at the Southern California Marine Institute. Participants will learn the importance of environmental stewardship as well as handle small marine organisms, view marine mammals, and examine microscopic life, making connections between urban and ocean environments.
To Do and Learn - MESA: $15,457
Community partners: 32nd Street/MAST, Foshay, and Manual Arts schools
USC partner: USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Program Description: To Do and Learn will bring undergraduate and graduate USC engineering and science students to local high schools to work with students on science and engineering activities and projects. Series of workshops will be offered each semester at each school to provide a fun and stimulating environment in which students develop an understanding of the science behind everyday things and a love for science that spurs them on to pursuing a science/engineering career.
University Park Family Newspaper: $51,558
Community partners: 32nd Street/USC Magnet; Foshay Learning Center; Norwood, Vermont and Weemes Elementary Schools; and St. Agnes and St. Vincent Schools
USC partner: Civic and Community Relations
Program Description: This bilingual, bimonthly newspaper features good news about the USC Family of Schools and the Exposition/University Park community. Graphics driven, the colorful newspaper focuses on positive news and events about the schools, community based programs, and USC community-outreach efforts that are of interest to parents, students and school personnel as well as other area stakeholders. Its goal is to reach the target audience of parents and guardians of the more than 9,600 students who attend five public schools and two parochial schools in the University Park neighborhood.
Arts Education
24th Street Theatre - After ‘Cool Theatre Program: $27,764
Community partners: 24th Street Theatre; 32nd Street USC Performing Arts Magnet; Foshay Learning Center; Norwood Street, Vermont Avenue and Weemes Elementary Schools; and St. Agnes and St. Vincent Schools
USC partner: School of Theatre
Program Description: 24th Street Theatre is the only professional theatre in the North University Park community that provides professional caliber, off-campus, after school arts instruction to our community’s youth. Students will work in a professional theatre environment on this year’s theme, “Communication,” which will explore the high-speed ways in which our society communicates via the Internet, cell phones, satellites and camcorders and how they impact decision making.
Art and Civic Dialogue: $12,000
Community partners: Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
USC partners: School of Architecture
Program Description: Esperanza’s art students will develop a connection to their community and sense of belonging by meeting with USC urban policy and architecture students to explore questions about the city they live in. Students will then create an action plan of their vision by designing a three-dimensional model of what they want their community to look like which will be displayed at the Mercado La Paloma.
Art in the Village: $23,592
Community partners: 32nd Street USC Performing Arts Magnet, Foshay Learning Center, Norwood Street, Vermont Avenue, John Mack, Weemes, St. Agnes and St. Vincent Schools
USC partners: Fisher Gallery and University Village
Program Description: USC Fisher Gallery staff will plan, curate and professionally install four temporary, themed, student art exhibitions at the Village Fair Food Court in the University Village and the Fisher Gallery for thousands of local residents as well as USC students, faculty, and staff to view. Participation by teachers and children in grades K-5 who create and submit artwork for consideration has dramatically increased. Art in the Village has also expanded by providing the “Art Teaching for Educators” professional development training organized at the USC Fisher Gallery.
Building Bridges: $11,580
Community partners: Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic and 32nd Street/MAST school
USC partner: School of Theatre
Program Description: Over 700 elementary and middle school students will be taught self empowerment, expression, presentation, verbal and written communication skills, socialization and leadership skills through the artistic discipline of theatre. The program will offer emotionally disturbed, physically and mentally abused, and socially challenged youth a safe, nurturing, creative environment and healthy space for them to come and “be themselves” without judgment or scrutiny.
USC Thornton Jazz Reach: $31,079
Community partners: Manual Arts High School, John Mack, 32nd Street/USC MaST, and Foshay Learning Center
USC partner: Thornton School of Music
Program Description: This program fosters the development of skills and appreciation of jazz music among high school students with 100 participating in ensembles and 50 receiving private instrumental and vocal lessons. USC Thornton School of Music Jazz Studies majors, Thornton faculty, and professional musicians who have all been trained as mentors teach the lessons. Through their participation in the program, students learn to make a long-term commitment to music and are prepared to play at university-level. Recently, the JazzReach choir at Moffett Elementary performed at a press conference for Congresswoman Jane Harman and Dana Gioia, President of the National Endowment for the Arts.
USC Thornton Outreach Program: $33,011
Community partners: 32nd Street/USC Magnet; Norwood, Vermont, Weemes, St. Agnes, Murchison Street and John Mack Elementary Schools; Manual Arts High School
USC partner: Thornton School of Music
Program Description: With dedicated administrative and faculty oversight, this program brings comprehensive, weekly, after-school music education programs into our local schools. A multitude of activities will be available for students in the Thornton Outreach Programs (TOP) and Chamber Ensemble Competitions including weekly music classes, performances and workshops for students and teachers, and concert opportunities. A new service-learning pilot program will be implemented to involve undergraduate students in music theory and music history as well as a new partnership with KUSC in which Thornton Outreach Program students will assist in the developing the music education component of the KUSC website.
Sports Education
USC After School Sports Connection: $47,500
Community partners: 32nd Street/USC Magnet, Foshay Learning Center, Manual Arts High School, Norwood Street, Vermont Avenue, L.B. Weemes, John Mack, St. Agnes Parish, and St. Vincent Schools
USC partner: Recreational Sports Department
Program Description: USC’s After School Sports Connection is celebrating its 10 year anniversary of offering high quality after school sports instruction in basketball, soccer, volleyball, martial arts, and now swimming through regular classes conducted on-site at each of 8 neighborhood schools to almost 500 students. While learning the basics of these sports, the youngsters also learn about teamwork, cooperation and self-discipline.
Kids In Sports: Amount: $32,010
Community partner: Kids In Sports
USC partner: USC TRIO Programs
Program Description: In conjunction with the USC-sponsored After School Sports Connection, Kids In Sports offers parent-led, after-school and weekend sports opportunities for more than 2,000 low-income boys and girls between the ages of 5-17 in the University Park area. For many children, the program will provide the only opportunity they will have for regular physical activity and access to organized sports. Youngsters participate in volley ball and swimming as well as skills clinics, practices and competitions in basketball and soccer.
Safety
Revitalize Richardson Family Park: $22,157
Community partner: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust
USC partner: School of Architecture
Program Description: This project brings together USC Landscape Architecture students, LAPD, neighborhood Block Clubs, the North Area Neighborhood Development Council, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, and the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks to collaborate in the renovation of the Richardson Family Park and bring a variety of programming opportunities to the neighborhood. Residents will benefit from an increased sense of community, gain grassroots experience to effect change in the neighborhood, increased opportunities for recreation, culture and arts programming, and educational enrichment activities.
Peace Games: $30,339
Community partner: Norwood Street Elementary School
USC partner: Joint Educational Project, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Program Description: In partnership with the Joint Educational Project, the program will assign two advanced Social Work student-interns who will coordinate the Peace Games program at Norwood. Peace Games is a school-wide violence prevention program that teaches elementary school students to be proactive peacemakers through interactive games and community-service projects. It also engages parents/guardians, school staff, community members and volunteers in changing school culture in order to create a safer and more peaceful environment in which to live, work, and learn.
Health
A Fotonovela on Depression: $32,300
Community partners: Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero
USC partner: School of Pharmacy
Program Description: The fotonovela, a popular Hispanic literary format, will be used as the medium for developing an effective health communication tool to increase knowledge of depression among low-income, low literacy Latino families in the neighborhoods surrounding the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. This unique educational tool will tell a dramatic story using photographs and dialogue to emphasize depression risk factors, prevention, symptoms, and treatment.
FUENTE Initiative: $7,950
Community partners: East Los Angeles Occupational Center, East Los Angeles Skills Center and Griffin Avenue, Murchison Street and Sheridan Elementary Schools
USC partner: School of Pharmacy
Program Description: The project uses the educational resources of the University’s School of Pharmacy to coordinate local pharmacists and student pharmacists to provide specific poison prevention, appropriate drug-use and self-management education. These programs target children and parents in the local East Los Angeles community through elementary, high school and adult education/occupational center Schools. Health awareness programs and health screenings are also provided to the general neighborhood population to improve knowledge of diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
Healthy Eating Living and Playing Kids Program (H.E.L.P.): $11,285
Community partners: Griffin, Murchison, and Sheridan Elementary Schools
USC partner: USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice
Program Description: The goal of the HELP program is to educate and empower elementary school children to make healthy lifestyle decisions within the context of their daily school and environment. Children will meet weekly to participate in a Lifestyle Redesign® activity and education group. Session topics will cover daily habits, nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices, barriers and facilitators to health, coping mechanisms and family support. Weekly mailings, phone calls to parents, outings to the grocery store, cafeteria and restaurants will provide hands-on educational activities to help children implement the program’s principles in a real-life context.
USC Health & Science Expo: $14,600
Community partners: Griffin Avenue, Murchison Street & Sheridan Street Elementary Schools
USC partner: Civic and Community Relations
Program Description: This program introduces children at our HSC Partner Schools to basic science and health principles, curriculum and potential careers. This year, 412 students participated in an essay contest and, working with HSC students, developed a wide range of science projects. The expo culminates in a one-day science fair competition on the Health Sciences Campus.
HSC Community Health Fair: $15,960
Community partners: East Los Angeles Occupational Center; Murchison Street, Griffin Avenue and Sheridan Elementary Schools; and Bravo Medical Magnet High School.
USC partner: Civic and Community Relations
Program Description: The Community Health Fair is the Health Sciences Campus and USC Civic & Community Relations annual signature event to provide preventive health services and screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, mammograms, dental, vision, exercise, Healthy Families, and clinic referrals. Information booths run by almost 200 volunteers provide access to these services and health information directly to over 1,100 local parents, school children and community residents.
Physical Therapy Fit Families Program: $31,702
Community partners: Griffin, Sheridan, Bravo, El Sereno, and Murchison schools
USC partner: School of Dentistry
Program Description: The program’s mission is to provide pro-bono preventive, wellness, and rehabilitative physical therapy services to underserved elementary, middle, and high school aged children in the local community who are diagnosed with or at higher risk for diabetes and conditions associated with physical inactivity. An individualized fitness program combined with education on healthy living alternatives, practices, and behaviors will communicate the importance of an active lifestyle to prevent disease.
Mobile Dental Unit for Dental Screening and Health Fairs: $31,277
Community partners:Murchison, Norwood, Vermont, St. Agnes, St. Vincent, 32nd Street/MAST, Weemes, Griffin, and Sheridan schools
USC partner: School of Dentistry
Program Description: The mobile dental clinic provides on-site dental screening to kindergarten and first graders attending USC Family Schools and HSC Partner Schools. The vehicle will be used at local health fairs and will supplement the work of the Neighborhood Mobile Van Prevention Project in order to serve all children at least one a year.
Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van: $19,000
Community partners: HSC: Griffin Avenue and Murchison Street Elementary School. UPC: 32nd Street/USC Magnet, Norwood Street, Vermont Avenue and Weemes Elementary Schools, St. Agnes and St. Vincent Schools
USC partner: School of Dentistry
Program Description: This grant allows the mobile dental clinic to purchase the necessary supplies to provide preventative oral health services to elementary school children using the mobile dental vans onsite at twelve USC Partner Schools and Family of Schools. The preventive services include oral examinations, dental prophylaxis, fluoride treatments and sealants, and referrals to no- and low-cost clinics for follow-up treatment.
USC Troy Camp: $19,000
Community partners: 32nd Street USC Performing Arts Magnet; Foshay Learning Center; Norwood Street, Weemes and Vermont Avenue Elementary Schools
USC partner: Campus Activities
Program Description: After providing approximately 200 children with a funded week long camp experience, Troy Camp continues its program with a year of events and socials. Troy Camp’s “Commitment to Friendship” is reinforced through frequent mentor-child interactions during field trips and fun activities that expose children to new and meaningful opportunities.
Updated April 2008
|
