Article by:
Jeff Jones, Executive Director of CORE
Introduction
As a nearly native Las Vegan, I grew up in subsidized housing in North Las Vegas before moving to the Historic Westside of Las Vegas and can readily identify with the struggles and obstacles families and kids face. I had a lot of potential, but I remember feeling like there wasn’t a pathway to success for me and that I was invisible. I couldn’t find anyone willing to guide me into a space that would show success differently, especially someone who looked like me. As the Executive Director of CORE, that’s what motivates me. CORE’s two-gen approach is compelling and impactful. We give access to some of the portals that allow kids to gain success today.
On a Mission to Uplift to Students and Families
CORE’s mission centers around the belief that the most powerful way to ensure economic mobility and equity is to invest in children and their families over a long-term period and with a holistic approach. From two-generational programming to social-emotional learning, CORE is building an infrastructure for success to ensure that historically underserved students and their families in the zip codes we serve in the Historic Westside and parts of North Las Vegas can pursue choice-filled lives.
Improving the Academic, Social, and Emotional Development of Students While Mitigating the Economic and Educational Inequities Faced by their Families
The CORE model focuses on a long-term cohort of students/families from 6th grade through 12th grade. Scholars participate in afterschool, weekend, and summer programming to enhance their academic, social-emotional, and leadership skills. Concurrently, their families work with CORE staff to develop support networks, continue their education, and enhance the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. After graduation, Scholars are engaged with CORE through an Alumni Network to ensure that they stay on track and reach their full potential. The entire CORE Scholar experience is provided free of charge to participating families.
Under-resourced children can achieve a high level of success when provided with sufficient tools and opportunities.
The program model of CORE improves the academic, social, and emotional development of students (Scholars) while mitigating the economic and educational inequities faced by their families. This evidence-based, two-generational program design is unique to CORE and Southern Nevada. The premise of the program is grounded in the notion that under-resourced children can achieve a high level of success when provided with sufficient tools and opportunities. The collective impact model improves the academic, social, and emotional development of vulnerable students (Scholars), and the program helps mitigate economic and educational inequities in our community.
The CORE program model works toward the overarching goal of enabling Scholars to mature with the equitable tools, resources, and experiences necessary to be healthy, contributing, and empowered adults who will lead choice-filled lives. This goal is achieved through pursuit of three primary objectives: 1) Empowering students to thrive by providing leadership and character development, mentoring, and building strong networks of community support around Scholar families to address critical underlying needs; 2) Enriching Scholar lives through focus on whole person wellness and self-exploration; 3) Educating with purpose and passion by providing tutoring and career/college readiness programming for Scholars, in addition to workforce skills development, language, and educational opportunities for their families.
CORE’s Impact is Profound
The impact of CORE on the Scholars, families, and community is deep – particularly in the 89106 zip code. Proudly reflecting a 100% high school graduation rate, Scholars in the program achieve a wide range of positive outcomes including increased GPA, higher rates of promotion to the next grade and high school graduation rates, higher acceptance rates into college/vocational school, higher emotional intelligence and balanced decision-making skills, a greater understanding of art and self-expression, a higher level of empathy toward people who are unlike them in age, race, gender, etc., and the ability for families to better meet their fundamental needs utilizing multi-tiered supports from community partners and program staff.
Conclusion
Currently operating at five CCSD school sites including West Prep MS and HS, Findlay MS, Brinley MS and Swainston MS, CORE’s commitment to championing underserved students and families is unwavering. To address the inequities they face, CORE actively works on building visibility and awareness. Recognizing that systemic oppression and institutionalized racism often underlie these inequities, CORE strives to counteract deliberate efforts to diminish their visibility. I encourage the community to get involved in uplifting students and families to achieve success – donate, volunteer, partner, and spread the word.