What Now America

Our program is geared around our "SLAM" methodology.  We incorporation 4 key subject areas into our program for both the academic and social enrichment. "SLAM" stands for Science, Language, Art, and Math. 

Art Program:  Budding artists explore a variety of art materials and experiment with various media in this hands-on program. This is a great way to launch a lifelong interest in self-expression through art.  Without judgments, criticisms or comparisons, this art program accepts and encourages creativity that will help children generate unique ideas. We regularly feature guest speakers, interactive workshops and learn-by-doing projects to elicit and empower the youth voice. Our art program presents children who would otherwise have no access, the opportunity to explore a variety of artistic media and creative methodologies.

Diversity Program: The WNA Diversity Program is centered around the three A's: Awareness and Appreciation and Action at a personal level and toward others. We engage the participants in an open dialogue that brings to the surface underlying biases and stereotypes influenced by media, society and one's own background. Our program encourages the youth to pave a path towards understanding based on an individual's ethnicity, cultural, lifestyle, gender, sexual orientation, and religion.

Nutrition, Health and Well being: Physical well being is very important to WNA.  We strive to teach the youth about the principles of nutrition and physical activity; establish and work toward their individual fitness goals. Our program regularly engages the youth in outside activities and partners with other sports-based non profits to train our staff, lead workshops and teach games. We serve a wholesome lunch to all program partipants. As many of the youth come from low income households we hand out produce and other perishable food at the end of each program day.

Academic Enrichment Program: WNA's academic enrichment program aims to instill a love of learning for youth ages 6-18. We lead grade-level appropriate hands-on activies while providing one-on-one tutoring in math, reading, and language arts. WNA is strongly committed to ensuring that each youth is given individual attention and guidance from volunteers, many of which are current UC Berkeley students. Both the individual and group projects are designed to simultaneously strengthen academic skills, inspire creative thought and engage youth in the learning process with their fellow peers.

Incentive Program: WNA believes in creating a positive and supportive environment to help youth achieve all of their academic and social goals. To support this we offer a wide variety of incentives which motivate and inspire the youth to reach their fullest potential.

• Pizza Meter - We believe in rewarding academic effort and excellence on an individual and group level.  Depending on the bahavior of the youth based on the "5 agreements," we will celebrate every 2 month with a pizza party.  Once the pizza meter is full the program earns a pizza party.
• Think it Over Chart - Gives youth 4 chances to bahave according to the "5 agreements". 
• Star Chart -  Each youth's progress is tracked on this star chart which leads to eligibility to exciting field trips such as rock climbing, camping and University tours.  Youth earn star points for coming to the program, finishing their homework, and showing great leadership skills.  The students with the most star points at the end of each semester earn their eligibility to go on our free and exciting field trips. 
• Dream Dollars - This program teaches the youth about financial responsibility as well as rewarding them for great behavior.  Every time the youth show great leadership, they are awarded with a dream dollar.  The youth save all their dream dollars until they get to spend it on our program shopping days.  Shopping days happen once every 3 months and the youth get to buy prizes with their saved dream dollars.
• Kids of the Day - At the end of each program, we recognize youth(s) who were extraordinary role models and excellent leaders in our program.  These youth each receive special prizes and get their picture taken to be placed on our honorary "Kids of the Day" wall.