Albany Area YMCA - Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary SchoolMen of Distinction Program - An afterschool and summer enrichment program for youth at-risk for gang involvement.

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).

The Albany Area YMCA will provide an afterschool and summer enrichment program for selected male students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Albany, Georgia. Working with school officials, these fourth and fifth grade students will be selected based on each student's risk for gang involvement, specifically targeting those who are economically disadvantaged, typically performing below grade level and/or from single parent households.

Through evidence-based practices, the Men of Distinction program's goal is to decrease each student's risk of present or future gang involvement through cultural and educational enrichment, physical well-being, and service learning projects. The YMCA's community and membership support will be used to provide additional opportunities for these youth. Specific activities will include homework assistance, swim and water safety instruction, youth sports, field trips and lunches with community speakers.

The objectives for the project include the following: (1) To provide afterschool and summer enrichment programming for 40 male youth who have been identified by school and community personnel as being at-risk; (2) To provide caring, trained staff that will provide mentoring opportunities and support for program participants; (3) To increase the reading and writing level of each participant with the goal of 100% on the criterion referenced competency test (CRCT); (4) To work with community partners to positive impact the lives of participants; (5) To create a service learning opportunity for program participants; (6) To provide new experiences and expand horizons of program participant; (7) To have each program participant pass an age-appropriate swim skills test; and (8) To have each program participant be a part of a sports team.

NCA/NCF