Started in 2010, New Directions is an afterschool academic and social-emotional skill-building program that provides tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment for K-8 students from low-income backgrounds in West Chester, PA. Our mission is to close the opportunity gap and to give students a place to develop leadership skills to make a difference in their community.
Students work with Academic Coaches to achieve academic growth, positive social-emotional development, and leadership skills. Using research-based methods, academic coaches interact with students to complete homework, participate in active reading and literacy education, and help students reach their potential as individuals and as a team!
An important part of New Directions is our enrichment program to develop the whole child. Every day, our students have dedicated time for physical activity, play, and the arts, through activities such as Yoga, Mindfulness, Theater, Dance, Sports, Visual Arts, and Gardening. Students also have the opportunity to participate in cultural and educational field trips.
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Goals for the New Directions
- Safe and enriched environment where students can learn
- One-on-one student to coach ratio
- To help students thrive in their academics
- Develop grade level or higher reading skills
How to Help
Contribute Supplies
Donate healthy snacks in single-serve packages (i.e. granola bars, pretzels, whole-grain crackers, fruit cups, raisins). We also accept donations of engaging, diverse, and culturally relevant books.
Volunteer
New Directions welcomes qualified tutors. We also invite community members to share about your profession, leadership experience, or commitment to social justice as a âCommunity Leader Reader,â guest speaker, or student mentor.
Donate
We are in need of financial donations that will be used to make our safe, social-distanced, afterschool and summer programming possible.