South Harper Montessori School
Based on the Montessori Philosophy, the South Harper Montessori School cares, nurtures and educates children utilizing hands-on, minds-on activity oriented strategies. Serving Avalon Park, Chatham and Pill Hill, this school combines academics with arts and crafts, games, music, drama and outdoor activities to foster individual growth. South Harper also provides after-school and summer swim programs for its students.
Program Spotlight
The Young Men’s Educational Network (YMEN) is a dynamic youth leadership organization established in 1996 to address the academic and social needs that cripple the futures of many young men who grow up in the North Lawndale community on Chicago’s West Side. YMEN offers advanced academic classes, entrepreneurial training, career planning, mentoring, tutoring, and a wide variety of community service opportunities as it seeks to fulfill its mission: “to prepare young men in North Lawndale for leadership by helping them grow in their faith and character, develop a love of learning, and use their gifts to serve the broader community.” For the past 14 years, YMEN has provided effective alternatives to academic apathy and gang membership and is recognized as a grass-roots community organization that is producing indigenous leadership in the next generation of African-American young men.
Website: www.ymenchicago.com
The Food Research and Action Council identifies afterschool programs as effective venues for improving nutrition, nutrition education and physical activity (Food Research and Action Council, 2006)