Across communities in Ohio, a whole child approach to education is everywhere, it's in schools and also in communities in after-school programs, camps, and other places where families and kids gather. You can find it in a community garden, in a ballroom dancing program, and in a college counseling program for immigrant students, among other places. A whole child approach creates an environment of belonging and acceptance so students can thrive and meet their full personal and academic potential. Relationships are key; so what happens outside of school—in the community—matters.
In the summer of 2021, Seek Common Ground launched the Ohio Whole Child Action Accelerator covering Cleveland, East Cleveland, Akron, and Southeast Ohio. We supported community groups that sought to bring a whole child approach to their work. What we found, in addition to experienced and committed community leaders, is that those same leaders have a wealth of knowledge about their communities, knowledge about the struggles and successes of kids and families, knowledge that can help policy makers make better informed decisions.
Phase I of the SCG Ohio Whole Child Accelerator included 9 organizations and took place from June to September 2021. 8 of these organizations continued on and were joined by 4 new organizations for phase II which took place from November 2021 through February 2022. Phase III includes the continuation of all 12 organizations and 13 projects from phase II, plus the addition of two new organizations and projects. Phase III goes from May to August 2022.
Together, the 15 organizations that have been supported in the Ohio Whole Child Action Accelerator thus far have engaged in 27 projects.
Learning Community
(Phases I, II, and III)
AKron Area YMCA
Akron
In phase II, the Akron Area YMCA empowered students by giving them the tools they need to THRIVE, not merely survive. THRIVE is an existing after school project for K-6th grade students which the Akron Area YMCA expanded to help build healthy habits, emotional resilience, and literacy skills in 5 Akron neighborhoods. The Akron Area YMCA will be continuing this project in phase III.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast ohio
cleveland
In phase I, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio implemented the “Summer Brain Gain,” a high-activity summer series of lessons for 400 participating youth from ages 6 to 18 to curtail summer learning loss in literacy, mathematics, and science.
In phase II, BGCNEO piloted “Opening-Track”, a project designed to show kids how to make music part of everything from test preparation to exercise to social interaction. BGCNEO will be continuing this project in phase III.
Bridge the Village
Akron
In phase II, Bridge the Village conducted educationally focused after school programming with structured activities to improve academic achievement in north Summit County. The P.O.S.E. for Gains project combined resources and services to address identity, academic, and social-emotional development. BTV will be continuing this project in phase III.
CENTER FOR ARTS-INSPIRED LEARNING
CLEVELAND
The Center for Arts-Inspired Learning ignites student learning, creativity, and success through the arts. CAL is actively working to expand its college and career-readiness apprenticeship program, ArtWorks. In phase III, they will add culinary arts as a co-op option, utilizing the whole child approach to create arts-integrated job training for 10-12 youth in 10th-12th grade from across Northeast Ohio.
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE C.A.R.E. (COMPASSIONATE ARTS REMAKING EDUCATION)
CLEVELAND
CARE is a theatre education program that draws on lessons from social-emotional learning theories, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based literacy learning for students in grades K-12. In phase III, CARE will be presenting a Performing Arts summer camp with CMSD at seven locations, as well as offering curated professional development sessions for school staff members.
college now Greater cleveland
cleveland
Using a liberatory design thinking process, College Now Greater Cleveland (CNGC) gathered and incorporated critical feedback from caregivers across Cleveland to co-create with them a robust and trauma-responsive toolkit that can be used by students and families to navigate the options and processes associated with planning students’ educational journeys and post-secondary pathways in phase I.
In phase II, CNGC tested the printed toolkits with families and community leaders to gather feedback and design an accompanying toolkit facilitation guide so it can be administered by a wide array of stakeholders. CNGC will be continuing this work in phase III.
Dancing classrooms northeast ohio
east cleveland
In phase I, Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio fostered connection after a year of isolation during COVID-19 using modified jump ropes as “connectors” to safely teach fifth graders ballroom dance. DCNEO’s program, “Connecting with Care,” engaged youth and their caregivers to connect the movement of dance to larger social-development and educational goals. DCNEO continued this project in phase II, focusing on case-making and advocating for the program with schools and media outlets, as well as adapting to current challenges faced with COVID. This project will continue in phase III.
Footpath foundation
Cleveland
Footpath Foundation is one of the only organizations focused on nature-based social emotional learning programming for youth in northeast Ohio. In phase II, they piloted a winter program, “Outdoor Winter Connections,” hosting special outdoor days and providing Outdoor Connection Kits to help children and families have fun outside even during the cold months.
In phase III, Footpath will continue to grow their organization as well as develop new summer outdoor programming.
Hopewell Health Centers, Inc
southeast ohio - Athens county
In phase I, Hopewell Health Centers (HHC) launched “Camp Hope” serving 35 families with children from birth to pre-K in Athens and Gallia counties. Through Camp Hope, community support workers provided weekly services to promote resiliency for caregivers to better prepare them and their children for transition to school in the fall. HHC continued Camp Hope in phase II.
Also in phase II, HHC integrated natured based practices into their existing care system by reaching nine service counties in southeast Ohio through guided Forest Therapy. Their program recognizes the abundance of accessible nature in the Appalachian region as an underutilized protective factor, with cultural roots that have historically supported time outdoors with a sense of purpose and connection. HHC will continue this work in phase III.
International student services association
cleveland
In phases I and II, the International Student Services Association expanded opportunities and shared information with immigrant and refugee students to ensure they have the resources they need to pursue their education and workforce goals at Thomas Jefferson High School in Cleveland. ISSA will be continuing this work in phase III.
LINKS Community and Family Services
akron
In phase I, LINKS Community and Family Services engaged 25 young people in a Youth Ambassador Program, collaborating with caregivers in an agricultural extension program to grow food for their community in Akron. The garden served as a conduit for students and adults to build meaningful relationships, gain resiliency skills, and create a place of freedom and expression in their community. In phase II, the Youth Ambassador Program has built on lessons from phase I, and are engaged in collaboration with the city of Akron on the redevelopment and redesign of Jewett Park in the Middlebury Neighborhood. LINKS will be continuing this work in phase III.
LITE (LEADERSHIP INFLUENCING TEEN EMPOWERMENT)
AKRON
In phase II, LITE expanded its middle and high school Leadership Empowerment And Development program (LEAD) beyond the classroom and into the community and launched a sister program, “Impact Summit,” targeted towards community leaders and parents. By equipping youth and adults in Summit County with leadership and emotional intelligence skills, LITE strengthens families and empowers current and future leaders. LITE will be continuing this work in phase III.
Open Tone Music
akron & cleveland
In phase I, Open Tone Music implemented the “Amistad Caribbean Arts Camp,” a Cleveland-based music and arts program that was available to students worldwide this summer. Students in the program learned and explored the rich history and culture of the African Diaspora from the west African region to the Caribbean, North American, and Latin American cultures and gained a stronger sense of identity, an improved work ethic, and a heightened sense of respect for themselves and their community. Open Tone continued this project in phase II, adding to the number of partners throughout northeast Ohio, including the Akron YMCA, (another Accelerator organization). OTM will continue this work in phase III.
AKron Youth alliance (formerly, students with a goal)
akron
In phase I,the Akron Youth Alliance hosted four youth-led forums to address racism in their school system. These students used the data collected during the forums to create a strategic plan to confront systemic racism and foster in youth a respect for backgrounds different from theirs.
Tomtod ideas
akron
In phase I, TomTod Ideas worked with 72 young people during “Camp What If: Akron,” a three-week program linking middle schoolers to their community through immersive field experiences. Ultimately, these students explored, assessed, and ideated 12 unique ideas designed to help Akron grow and thrive. In phase II, 4 of these ideas were chosen by students to be prototyped and implemented in collaboration with business and civic leaders in Akron. In phase III, TomTod will continue its “Camp What If” series alongside its post-camp “What If You Could” partnerships.
