Urban Vision Programs Urban Vision pursues programming in three specific areas: Educational equity Life-long learning Economic vitality

Educational Equity: Educational Equity programs target the youth of low-income neighborhoods and seek to raise their educational level to meet or exceed that of the general population. Urban Vision's primary tool in the pursuit of educational equity is an after school program, FOCUSED, where selected students of the Friendship Court, Mallside, and Park's Edge communities leave school with their teachers and go directly to the community center or another facility within each neighborhood. Under the supervision of one teacher and two instructional aides, the students complete homework, study, and work with specialized reading and math programs. The Principal of the students' school together with Urban Vision host a regularly scheduled "Breakfast with the Principal" to help stimulate increased parental involvement with the school.

Other Educational Equity programs include a summer camp, a recreational after school program and quarterly education fairs. Additional youth programs include computer classes, art and health workshops, and various trips and activities. Our Educational Equity programs are integral to the Lifelong Learning and Economic Vitality programs with the intention of raising both the quantity and quality of parental participation.

Life-long Learning: These programs allow the entire community to continue the learning process. Currently Urban Vision offers GED, adult computer skills, job counseling and money management classes. Additionally, there are job and educational fairs and leadership programs. Residents also participate in health seminars, informal workshops, and housekeeping and parenting classes.

Neighborhood/Economic Vitality: Urban Vision has begun to cultivate an environment, which stimulates the concept of self-employment among groups of residents. The occupations targeted for self-employment include housekeeping, landscaping and painting. Having low start-up capital requirements, these areas match residents' current skills, experiences, and interests and respond to market demand for these occupations

Description of Existing Programs and Services