Children’s Kingdom Community Center
Organizational Overview
Children’s Kingdom is a community based organization
established since 1995 to create opportunities for
children, young men and women to succeed. The program
recruits/enrolls children and youths between the ages of
4 years old to 17 years old.
The
organization operates a variety of youth development
programs to include educational, social and cultural
activities to promote youth awareness, building positive
self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.
Programs and Services
Educational
Afterschool/Enrichment programs to include reading,
tutoring, and computers to improve/increase literacy
skills among students in the program. The program holds
annual spelling and math contest where participants can
practice their learning skills and also earn scholarship
money.
Social
Recreational activities such as trips to museum, parks,
monumental and historical places to develop social
skills and a sense of community connections among the
advantage youth.
Cultural
Children’s workshops exposing kids to music, dance,
martial arts, performance and cultural arts, media and
entertainment, seasonal pageants, fashion and talent
shows to encourage interest and broaden their knowledge
in the arts field.
Family Support/Connections:
Parent workshops and counseling on parenting skills,
Educational System and legal system, referral and
assistance in accessing services such as employment,
public and health care benefits to reduce barriers and
strengthen family system.
Community needs:
Children’s kingdom is currently located in Essex County.
According to the US Census 2000, it is estimated that Essex
County, New Jersey currently has a large number of families
living at or under the poverty level. 14.4 % % of family is
currently living at and/or below 200% poverty living.
Moreover the economic situation of these families becomes
barriers to introducing their children to positive social,
educational and cultural activities because they may be
unable to afford these activities, thereby placing these
children and youth at a disadvantage. Essex County also has
a large immigrant population, with a increase number in
Haitian immigrants where language and cultural barriers
become issues to families accessing existing services to
create opportunities for their children.
Children’s Kingdom Community Center seeks to address the
needs of these families by working with the family in a
holistic way focusing on the social, educational needs of
the children and youth in the family, at the same time
building on the strength of the parents to enable them to
create a supportive and safe environment for the children
and youth in the family. Understanding the role of culture
in building the family system, Children’s Kingdom community
center focuses on creating a welcoming and trusting
environment where children, youth and families feel safe,
comfortable and a sense of belonging.
Outreach
and Recruitment
Children’s Kingdom holds grass-root community outreach
targeting disadvantage areas where many immigrant families
are found. The program outreaches in churches, barbershops,
Laundromats, streets to recruit children and families.
Funding
Sources:
The
center is currently supported by private donations and
fund-raising activities such as different cultural, fashion
shows where community members come to support the children
and give a donation toward the event.
Organizational Structure:
The
Board of Directors and staff of the organization is made up
of volunteers and concerns members in the community to
include teachers, social workers, parents, community
members, pastors, priests, business owners, and students. |
