In 1998, the high school drop-out rate for Trenton, NJ was 22.9-percent. (United Way of Tri-State) Those who drop out of high school in Trenton today face a tight job market: in June of 2004, Trenton’s unemployment rate was higher than the national average and stood at 7.6-percent. What can we do for young people who drop out of school and face limited prospects on the job market? We can help them finish their education while simultaneously providing them wi

Traditional elementary, middle, and high school education relies upon class room-based learning in which subjects are separate and distinct from one another. While this approach to education can be successful in terms of teaching children the fundamentals (reading, writing, and arithmetic), can our students be taught these basics while gaining hands-on experience of the world around them? Can our students learn while simultaneously giving something back to the communities in which they live? The answer to both of these questions

As summer approaches, older school children (ages 10 to 18) who are too young to work or can’t find work face three months during which they lack the daily structure and stimulation that school provides. For kids whose parents can afford camp or summer program fees, this might not be such a problem. For kids from lower-income families, summertime can be one long stretch of keeping themselves entertained and out of trouble. Is there some low-cost way to provide these children with a rewarding, stimulating summer experience?