July 16, 2008
St. John’s University will partner with the New York City
Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to produce a new summer job
and life skills program designed to help educate the neediest
members of the New York City community. The “Leadership and
Career Academy’’ will be the first cross-disciplined academic
skills building program of its kind and will allow not only
inner-city youth, but their parents, to benefit from the academic
offerings of the University. The program is an outgrowth of the
successful summer literacy camp held at St. John’s for the past
twelve years which is co-sponsored by After-School All-Stars of New
York City (ASASNY), New York City Housing Authority and St. John’s
University’s School of Education.
This unique collaboration between DHS, ASASNY and St. John’s
University will bring 100 inner-city youth ages 7-12, and 40
parents, many of whom are single heads of households, from seven
transitional shelters throughout Queens and Brooklyn for four
weeks, from July 7 through August 1. Parents and their children
will travel to the Queens campus of St. John’s to take part in
separate, yet coordinated educational tracks designed to improve
their job, personal finance, literacy, and physical health
skills.
“St. John’s has developed a special ability to combine our
faculty’s expertise in teaching and research with innovative
programs that serve our community in ways that truly make a
difference,” stated Dr. James P. Pellow, Ed.D, Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of St. John’s
University. “By shaping courses and programs that enhance the
learning experience for our students while providing tangible,
measurable results for our community partners, the faculty of St.
John’s is taking academic service-learning and civic engagement to
a new level.”
“What a great way for kids to spend part of their summer,
learning important skills both in and out of the classroom, as they
continue their development into young adults,” said Robert V. Hess,
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Homeless
Services. “I’m also very pleased the parents will be active
participants. Having this experience at a first-class
institution like St. John’s should be very rewarding.”
The 100 youth selected to participate will follow a thematic
literacy-based curriculum including saying no to drugs and alcohol,
protecting the environment, and becoming good citizens. The
curriculum also includes biology and chemistry lab work, computer
training, tennis lessons and a reaction course taught by the St.
John’s Army ROTC staff and students that is designed to provide
physical activity, as well as to enhance the development of both
independent and team-building skills.
The 40 parents will be given intensive writing and computer
training designed to help their children excel in the classroom,
and instruction in urban economics with a focus on personal
finance. Additionally, counselors will be available for individual
consultations and career center advisors will offer job hunting
techniques and successful interview tips. Fitness and
personal health will also be taught through Yoga and Pilates, to
the parents as a way to relieve stress after a tough day.
The four Colleges of St. John’s University (The School of
Education, the College of Professional Studies, St. John’s College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences and The College of Pharmacy and Allied
Health Professions) have all signed on to participate in the
curriculum portion of the “Leadership and Career Academy,” program
lending student volunteers, professors and other resources to help
educate the children and their parents.
“I am delighted that so much of the University is
committed to this,” said St. John’s University Professor Richard
Sinatra, Ph.D., current Project Director of the Leadership and
Career Academy program. “I think of this as an interdisciplinary
team – as many departments and units of the University are involved
in some way and that makes this new program very powerful.”
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice
President for Media Relations at St. John’s University by calling
(718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.