Everyday as I walk through the halls of ECC/HANH I see our young interns at work in offices throughout the agency. These high school and college students bring an energy to the office. In them, I see potential. I see our future. A bright future in which I am proud to invest. Our interns are all members of families who live in our affordable housing communities or subsidized housing. They came with varied interests – IT, finance, social services, building trades and more. Some just needed some income. All wanted to be given a chance – a chance to earn and save some money; a chance to be cared for by adults willing to invest in them; a chance to see what it was like to work in this particular work environment; a chance. Some were the types of kids that get selected for things everyday. Others are youth that may get overlooked. Each are a part of our ECC Believes initiative.
In 2014, at Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of the City of New Haven we launched the ECC Believes! initiative. ECC Believes! represents our commitment to the young people growing up in our affordable communities or our subsidized units. ECC Believes! represents an explicit expression of the faith that I have that when young people are offered opportunities to thrive, most will. ECC Believes! is grounded in the belief that families want better for their children and will willingly partner with those who they trust have their children’s best interests at heart. ECC Believes! is built upon the notion that we can break cycles of poverty by investing in children to ensure that they graduate high school “ready” for whatever comes next – college, military service or living wage employment.
ECC Believes! begins with our littlest residents by providing supports to families to ensure healthy births. Our initiative supports families so that they have the information necessary and the means to access quality early child education. We support academic achievement through the provision of in-school tutorial supports and after school academic and social emotional supports. Our focus on attendance works to keep kids in school and help reconnect our disconnected students back to the educational system. Our teens are supported with paid meaningful internships, work experience and mentorships. Teens in each development have the opportunity to serve on Youth Leadership Councils as part of our leadership development work. And importantly our teens are supported in their transition and retention to higher education, employment and more.
For 5 years we have made this intentional investment in our young people and I can certainly say, “I still believe”. For 5 years we have seen families and young people take hold of opportunities presented to them. Over five years, babies have been born to moms who took advantage of pre-natal supports, wellness checks and stress and depression management. Over these five years, families have gleaned information and resources that result in toddlers enrolling in quality early child educational settings. During these 5 years we have tutored students in their school settings and in their home communities by certified teachers.
We have 5 years worth of after-school community based academic and recreational programs serving young people throughout our developments. We now have 5 years worth of experience employing our young people in paid internships. During these 5 years we have helped young people who had been disconnected from high school, get re-engaged in school, pursue trades and obtain employment. For 5 years we have supported hundreds of young people in their transition out of high school with most going on to college. Enough time has passed that we have seen our students graduate college and attain their first job opportunities. For these past 5 years we have seen the benefits of investing in our young people and letting them know that we believe in them.
We have seen 75% of the youth engaged in our youth programming demonstrate grade level increases in reading and math scores. We have seen school absenteeism reduced by half. Some of the first interns that worked with us have now graduated college. And this month we identified our graduating high school seniors and celebrated the achievements of these 30 as they announced their plans to attend Gateway Community College, University of CT, Howard University and more.
The stories of our young people inspire me. And for these reasons and more, I still believe!
ECC Believes! is an initiative of Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of the City of New Haven to support youth achievement. Begun in 2014, ECC Believes! partners with students, families, schools and community providers to support youth in and out of school.
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