Checking in On Our New Year's Resolutions

Back in January, CYC shared our New Year’s Resolutions - three goals that our organization wanted to achieve throughout 2021 to ensure that our youth, families, and communities are supported and set up for success, no matter what. With a fresh school year ahead of us and the end of 2021 approaching in just a few months, we figured there was no better time to check on our resolution progress. 

Deliver programs that allow children to learn by doing. Whether we were in person or online, CYC ensured that our learners were receiving hands-on opportunities to engage and grow wherever possible. For our virtual programs, students received engagement kits, complete with all the materials needed to follow along with their instructors from home. From living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, our youth learned aquaponics, culinary, STEM subjects, and fitness, just to name a few!  

At our Centers, staff and youth navigated their learning from behind masks, but with no shortage of engagement opportunities each day. Kids got their hands dirty in the garden, created experiments in our Maker Lab, and worked together with their peers during team sports, art projects, and more.  

A recent survey showed that more than half of our students agreed that they “like to give new things a try, even if they look hard.” 

Provide a safe space for kids to grow and thrive. If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that possibility can’t be confined to a physical building. CYC creates a place that is safe for children, both physically and emotionally. Our caring, compassionate staff provide an environment where youth are free to be themselves and express their ideas while feeling heard and valued. This can happen at a CYC Center, or during a Zoom session!  

Some shyer children have come out of their shells during a Zoom class taken in their living room, while others found safety and security in the classroom amongst their peers.  

 We continue to follow state and city guidelines for in-person learning, giving our families peace of mind and ensuring our youth don’t miss out on any critical educational opportunities. 100% of our in-person students said that they feel safe in our care, while 100% of our virtual learners said that they understand what is expected of them and that they can ask for help in class. 

Offer programs that strengthen children’s social-emotional skills. After more than a year of virtual learning, CYC knows that the challenges to build upon communication, team building, and critical thinking skills have been heightened. Thankfully, social-emotional skill building is embedded into our daily interactions and curriculum. We want our students to be strong communicators, future leaders, and the problem-solvers of tomorrow. CYC’s recent survey showed that more than half of the children in our care feel that they are good at solving problems and good at learning new things.  

No matter the subject, our clubs provide the space for kids to ask questions, work together, challenge themselves, and find success in new and innovative ways.  

Fall programming kicked off last week and our talented team has factored all of these resolutions in as we prep our courses and ready ourselves to welcome our students back after a fun-filled summer! Consider making a donation today to support these critical programs for our youth. 

We wish all of our learners an amazing start to the school year, and remember: it’s never too late (or too early!) to start thinking about your own resolutions!