Flint Center for Educational Excellence aims to provide quality after-school programming

FLINT, Michigan — The Flint Center for Educational Excellence aims to bring newfound hope to the Flint education system through evidence-based programming and supportive services designated for Flint students. The organization seeks to rebuild a system that has become familiar with a deficit.

In the new year, the Flint Center will focus on targeting six cooperative goals, including after-school programming, A Network for School Excellence, a community council on education, a parent collaborative, a community education initiative, and the Flint Early Childhood Collaborative. The organization supports student academic achievement through programs and initiatives. 

In 2021, around 3,000 four-star afterschool childcare slots were available to Flint residents. After-school programming is one method of stabilization this organization offers to the Flint education system.

By providing Flint schools with after-school programming, families will have increased options for quality after-school childcare. The program ‘Thrive On’ offers enrichment activities, family engagement, and attendance incentives to elementary students in Flint. ‘The program Thrive Up’ is offered to middle and high school students in Flint and offers talent development, relationship building, and community connection.

The current session of after-school programming began Oct. 2 and will run through Dec. 18, 2023. 

Executive Director Ja’Nel Jamerson, who possesses a resume of in-depth community involvement, expressed that the center inspires change by magnifying community voice. “Our goal is to bring together strategic focus, collaboration, and commitment to excellence for the sole purpose of advancing outcomes for Flint Kids. When kids thrive, communities thrive,” said Jamerson.

The Flint Center for Educational Excellence seeks to rebuild the Flint education system by directly empowering community members. Sponsors of the organization include the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and The Community Foundation of Greater Flint. 

The Flint community has experienced numerous injustices with lasting impacts. When listening to the voice of the community, the Flint Center learned that community members were still recovering from the impacts of the water crisis almost ten years later. Through educational revitalization, The Flint Center will address some of these specific educational impacts for Flint youth.

To learn more about the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, visit: theflintcenter.org