Our educational, social, and economic pillars work together to reduce the educational gap, increase competency, support and address trauma and crises, and promote economic mobility.

Academic Support: aims to close the academic gap between children and youth ages 6 to 18. The program seeks the comprehensive development of children and youth through experiences in science, technology, language arts, engineering, fine arts, and mathematics, based on a learning community that includes family, school staff, as well as Club leaders. Participants will increase their academic and personal skills, graduating from high school and continuing post-secondary studies, to later join the country’s workforce.

Post-secondary Support: Career Exploration and College Preparation, has two components:

1. The Plan for the Future is a longitudinal process starting at age 16 and works progressively until the transition to college at age 18. Equipped with the results of the career interest assessment, the post-secondary advisor facilitates the design of the Plan for the Future activities, aligning the strengths and areas of greatest development with the opportunities for each young person. Participants will find their purpose in life and have more clarity in their career selection.
2. Transition to College is an academic support initiative for first-year college students, designed to ensure their successful adaptation from high school to college.

STEM: Activities are designed to expose and motivate participants ages 6-18 to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It includes the development of experiments, community projects, development of critical thinking skills, and problem-solving.

Art: Reading, speaking, active listening, and writing skills are developed and strengthened through the integration of fine arts. These experiences foster creativity, emotional management, and problem-solving in participants ages 6-18.

Bilingual Club: strengthens the English language by closing the gaps that its participants face and that could become barriers to finding and maintaining employment. This gives the 150 participants per club an advantage because of the opportunities this Bilingual Club provides to support them in their journey from poverty to economic security.

D2D: A program to help participants archive their high school diploma through modules and lessons. This program benefits 144 participants per semester.

Youth of the Year: Our main initiative to form a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in an integrated and diverse global economy. This program impacts 90 participants per year and is divided into three stages: Youth of the Month – Leadership Recognition Program, Junior Youth of the Year – Leadership Preparation Program, and Youth of the Year – Leadership Development Program.

Passport to Manhood: Explores culturally influenced masculinity, identity, and self-esteem in boys ages 8-17.

Girls’ Circle: Promotes self-esteem and responsibility among girls ages 9-18. Girls meet weekly to discuss topics of interest and/or concern and seek solutions as a group.

Torch Club: Leadership and service program for participants ages 11-13 that seeks to develop social skills such as problem-solving and communication. Additionally, goal setting and decision-making are promoted.

Together We Heal: A psychological impact program for participants per Club that begins with the assessment of participants, followed by a 15-session program, promoting the well-being of victims of violence and trauma through a combination of play, art, dialogue, and therapy to develop emotional management skills.

Food Program: Our Food Program allows our children and youth to receive a hot, nutritionally balanced meal every day, which for most represents their last meal of the day. During its first four years of operation, 566,851 hot meals have been served to children, youth, and adults. Nutritious food provides energy, enhances cognitive skills, and influences healthy development and optimal functioning of the body and mind.

Our Food Program provides an average of 121,703 hot meals to our participants each year.

Triple Play (NYRR): A dynamic wellness program designed to help youth create opportunities to take charge of their personal health and well-being. This program has 3 main components: Healthy Habits, Daily Challenges, and Social Recreation.

Keystone: This club provides leadership development opportunities for youth ages 14-18. Participants engage in activities in three focus areas: academic success, career readiness, and community service.

JUST4U! is a program that aims to help pre-teen children (9-12 years old) from low-income homes develop life skills that will allow them to grow up happy and strong. Through a series of interactive and fun workshops, 10 participants per club learn about:

1. Hygiene: How to maintain personal hygiene habits that help them feel good and healthy.
2. Personal care: Taking care of their body, their image and their emotional health.
3. Self-esteem: Developing a positive image of themselves and confidence in their abilities.

Project Makers: This program aims to develop the entrepreneurial skills of participants ages 9-18. They complete practice exercises, discuss basic concepts about personal budgeting, and explore what credit is and how it is done. They also begin to develop a small business project while applying the concepts discussed throughout the program.

Ehub: This program for adults (18+) teaches sales projections, business accounting, and financing. The goal of this program is for participants to design and develop a business idea.

Job Ready: Teaches job search skills to participants ages 13-18. It covers topics such as personal budgeting, credit, and how to manage their finances after landing a job.

EMPower: Prepares and accompanies youth and adults ages 18-60 in their job search and insertion into the local labor market in the areas of hospitality/customer service and medical administrative assistant. It offers opportunities for professional development, social work skills, and life skills.

YouthBuild: Provides educational services to youth ages 18-24, with the goal of graduating from high school and receiving job training in the construction industry. Includes components of emotional support, leadership skills development, and job and/or post-secondary placement.

Our educational programming is strengthened by Vimenti School for the communities impacted by our center in Ramos Antonini.