Parent & Coach Space

Aim High
(http://aimhigh.org)

Aim High is a free summer school program for academically underserved kids grades 7 and up. It is not necessary that they be high achieving, but helpful, of course, that they would like to become high-achieving. This program is specifically designed to get kids to think about their education in a more productive way. Aim High also sponsors various activities, including after school tutoring, throught the school year - a great resource in itself.

Aim High is a free program that, by all accounts is terrific. It is an all-day program though, so will require some commitment.

Aim High has an application that requires some thoughtfulness on the part of the child, and the application date is approaching (April 24). Aim High is run at 6 campuses in the city:

Aim High @ Lick Wilmerding High School; 755 Ocean Avenue (Ingleside)
Aim High @ The Urban School; 1563 Page Street (The Haight)
Aim High @ Gateway High School; 1430 Scott Street (Western Addition)
Aim High @ Yick Wo Elementary; 2245 Jones Street (Chinatown/North Beach)
Aim High @ SF Community School; 125 Excelsior St. (Mission/Excelsior)
Aim High @ Visitacion Valley Middle School; 450 Raymond Avenue (Visitacion Valley)

Please check Aim High out if you are working with a child in this age group.

Omega Boys Club
http://www.street-soldiers.org/

This is one of the best kept secrets in the City.

The Omega Boys Club, located at 1060 Tennessee Street in the City, holds a “Leadership Academy” on Tuesday evenings, 5:30 - 10:00 p.m.

The Omega Boys Club Leadership Academy encompasses math instruction, development of critical thinking skills, and an opportunity for teens to talk and share in a safe environment. Farley and I learned that teens come to this academy each week from various neighborhoods in the City, but also from as far away as Morgan Hill and Brentwood (!) I cannot speak highly enough of this program, and I am happy to recommend it for College Bound kids 13 and up.

Back on Track
www.backontracksf.org

Back on Track is a free one-on-one tutoring and academic mentorship program for K-12 students in SF. Students and volunteer tutors meet once a week for a two-hour session. They come together from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds to learn together and promote cross-cultural understanding. Back on Track also provides student with a variety of enrichment activities and field trips. Families are given resources and training, encouraging them to become active partners in their children’s growth.

Juma Ventures
http://www.jumaventures.org/

Juma Ventures develops and operates businesses - known as “social enterprises” - for the purpose of providing job opportunities to economically disadvantaged teens. They also teach financial literacy and assist teens with IDA’s (Individual Development Accounts). We have actually had a couple of College Bound kids who graduated from this program, and it is known as one of the most successful of its kind in the country.

Boys Hope Girls Hope
www.bhghsf.org

This program provides intensive help for students with academic promise from at-risk households.  They offer a residential program where children reside at their dormitory in San Francisco, and a non-residential program for children who reside at home.  The executive director, Suzanne Palmer (tel. 415-291-8166), encourages any referrals we may have. 

CCSF Career and Technical Education
www.ccsf.edu/Services/CTE/ove/outreach.html

This site provides valuable information for high school students who may be interested in a technical or vocational career.

Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

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