NEW & NOW
Moore students helping students through the Bridges program
The number of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Moore Public Schools has increased 325 percent, reports the Moore Public Schools Foundation. In the 2021-2022 school year, there were 34 identified unaccompanied youth in Moore Public Schools, and likely there are more who opted not to self-identify. Students experiencing homelessness are 87 percent more likely to drop out of school than their stably housed peers and are at greater risk for assault, suicide and addiction. Moore Public Schools, Moore Public Schools Foundation and nonprofit organization Bridges, Inc. are working together to address housing and other needs for these students through the creation of Bridges Moore. The organization provides ongoing support for unaccompanied youth to remove barriers to high school graduation and help set goals beyond high school. Services are currently provided at the Bridges Norman site, plus an MPS liaison connects students with resources like food, clothing, utility assistance and transportation.
In early 2023, Bridges Moore will build 20 individual housing units behind Skyranch Elementary School. Unaccompanied students will live in the homes independently but have full-time staff support. “They will act as an educational parent, making sure they are getting up and going to school, completing projects or catching up if they are behind,” said Clayton Ramick, executive director of Moore Public Schools Foundation. “They will help ensure they graduate but also have a plan for the future and help transition into their next housing, whether that’s a dorm at college, an apartment or applying for government housing.” Bridges Moore must raise $2.5 million to fund the project. Their largest donation to date, $300,000, came from Moore high schools and their feeder elementary and junior high school students through the annual Moore Love fundraising campaign. For information about how you can help, visit mooreschoolsfoundation.org/bridges.
Boys & Girls Club opens first permanent club in Northeast OKC
The Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County is responding in major ways to the needs of our community to serve more children and families. The nonprofit organization provides after-school and school break care that inspires and enables youth to reach their full potential by encouraging academic success, good character and healthy lifestyles. Evidence-based programs encourage fun and build leadership, self-esteem and teamwork. In addition to receiving nutritious snacks and homework help, students get access to a wide variety of activities, from sports and STEM to theatre and music. Families pay just $5 per semester per student, with scholarships available. Eighteen months ago, the organization was operating six clubs in the county — now they have 18 as a direct response to community members’ requests for more services. The majority of the clubs are operated within or in partnership with local schools, and others, like the flagship Memorial Park Club, are permanent locations. While the organization has served youth in Northeast OKC for more than 20 years, students have often had to be bussed to a location outside of their community. President & CEO Teena Belcik says it’s always been a goal to serve students where they live to provide consistency and connection. Joining forces with Restore OKC, the two nonprofits purchased and renovated a Northeast OKC permanent club location. Fields and Futures helped provide outdoor spaces, including sports fields and courts, a walking trail and playground. Inside the center, a partnership with Best Buy and Jasco powers the only Best Buy Teen Tech Center in Oklahoma. With everyday access to a recording studio, programmable sewing machines, virtual reality programs, drones and a variety of computers and
3D printers, students can explore interests and careers in STEM, technology, fashion design, video, film, music and more. Eventually, Boys & Girls Club hopes to make the Best Buy Teen Tech Center available to students from other clubs and to the community at large. Learn how to become a volunteer or supporter of Boys & Girls Club, or how to sign your child up to participate, at bgcokc.org.
THE NEW NORTHEAST OKC BOYS & GIRLS CLUB LOCATION IS HOME TO THE ONLY BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER IN OKLAHOMA, POWERED BY LOCAL COMPANY JASCO.
42 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JAN-FEB 2023
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