The Holleran Center for Community Engagement at Alvernia University's South Reading Youth Initiative

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

Alvernia University will expand their program to four days a week during the grant period to allow for continued academic improvement and increased community involvement in the program. Alvernia University will serve middle school students ages 10-14, especially Hispanic and Latino to encourage both students and families to become more connected to their neighborhood/community. The goals are to: provide a positive educational 'safe haven' for youth; cultivate leadership development in South Reading Hispanic community; promote continued education - completion of high school degree, post-secondary possibilities and career development; utilize existing arts and community partnership to broaden the cultural education of youth; and help grow and sustain the outreach program by infusing talent and energy from Alvernia students, faculty and staff. Data will be collected on attendance, parent and student personal assessment/satisfaction surveys and pre and post-test assessment surveys at faculty workshop events. NCA/NCF