21st Century Learning Center Program

 

In 2004, Urban Solutions and DuSable High School formed a partnership to establish a 21st Century Learning Center Program on the school’s campus.  The primary focus of program is to increase the reading, writing, and math performance levels of DuSable students through academic and non-academic services.  This informal, youth-based program provides participants with an aggressive blue print for improving their current academic standing, and assistance in establishing  future secondary educational plans.  In 2005, with the onset of the Chicago  Public School’s Renaissance 2010 Program, The DuSable High School facility became a campus, housing three additional small schools.  Urban Solutions has expanded the 21st Century Learning Center Program to accommodate students from all four small schools.

21ST Century Learning Center Program at a Glance

 

Academic Component

The academic component includes specialty sessions focusing on reading, math, English/writing Skills, and college preparation.

 

Non-Academic Component

 

• Project Butterfly- Personal Development

Project Butterfly, a female-only course, introduces the concept of the butterfly as a symbol of transformation and supports the notion that change is possible at any age.  Project Butterfly is designed to increase self- awareness and empowerment, respect, pride, and character development among its female participants. 

 

• ASAAFO Male Preparatory Course - Personal Development

ASAAFO is a male-only course, which teaches young African American men how to assert themselves, responsibly and effectively, in order to initiate positive and productive changes within themselves, their families, and their communities.  ASAAFO is designed to facilitate the preparation of African-American boys for their passage into manhood.

• Media Arts

The media arts component provides students with an introduction to digital video production through making a documentary.  The component covers media literacy, camera operation, video lighting, story development, and editing software and techniques.  Through hands-on training, readings, visual screenings, group work, and hands-on projects, students will create and refine a final project. 

• Spoken Word and Creative Expression

The performance poetry component includes creative writing, visual arts, dramatic interpretation, and spoken word presentation.  Instruction will be provided on different writing styles and performance skills, including structure, content, delivery, rhythm, rhyme, repetition, imagery, social commentary, collaboration, and execution.  Participants perform their written pieces and learn to convey their words through art, including drawings, collages, paintings, etc.  This component provides opportunities to extract hidden talents, engage youth in critical thinking, and highlight positive alternative methods for self-expression.

•  Artistic and Physical Recreation

Students engage in various group sports and other physical fitness activities to encourage teamwork, discipline, and leadership building skills.  In addition to group sports such as basketball, football, and softball, other physical recreation components include, martial Arts (American Martial Arts Science Association-AMASA), Chicago-style stepping (The Stepper’s Alliance), and African dance  (Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago).