By Merri Oxley
The Results Group of WI

What happens every day after school at the Kennedy Heights Community Center (KHCC)? Fun, cool learning activities and even homework. Thanks to a dedicated and energetic team of leaders and staff, Kennedy Heights provides an outstanding afterschool program for children in grades K‒5, five days a week, throughout the school year.

According to afterschool lead teacher, Antoine Love, “Being a parent doesn’t automatically make you a good youth worker, nor does being educated or fun and energetic. It takes a combination of all of those things.”

Antoine, Jasmine Bradley Wilson and Kellie Green have planned creative activities that teach reading, writing and math skills — cooking, learning how to save by clipping coupons (financial literacy), doing DIY projects — and are overseeing homework. The team has monthly themes such as culture exploration, technology and engineering, gender roles, respecting each other and learning manners. Children also receive an after-school meal coordinated by LaToya Moss.

They hope to visit Troy Gardens and Leopold Nature Center and get students involved in community service work in order to learn how to give back. On Wednesdays UW students stop in to demonstrate interesting STEM projects that bolster students’ understanding and appreciation for science, technology, engineering and math.

Antoine went on to say, “When I was growing up in Milwaukee, my mom kept me so busy in activities and afterschool programs I didn’t have time to even think about getting into trouble. I was lucky. That’s why I have such passion for what we do for the kids in this program. I want to keep them safe and help them grow into responsible, educated young people.”

According to Claude Gilmore, executive director of KHCC, “This program and our excellent KHCC staff epitomizes the importance that caring adults can make in the lives of children. This is our community’s investment in their future.”

For more information visit www.khcommunitycenter.org or call 244-0767.