Community Projects The Junior League of Rockford researches community needs, identifies community problems and develops projects to address those problems. Through the work of its trained volunteers and ongoing fundraising efforts, the Junior League implements programs that benefit the community and its residents. Following is a list of some of the League's most successful efforts. Please download 'The Junior League of Rockford’s Legacy of Programs' Press Release in PDF format. |
Current Project RAISE Reaching and Inspiring Students for Education In 2007, the Junior League of Rockford, Inc. in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Education and Lifelong Learning, the Community Education Partnership, and Rockford Public School District 205 developed and implemented the RAISE Project at Jefferson High School. The RAISE program is aimed to increase access to and success in post high school education for financially disadvantaged, underrepresented and first generation college students from the Rockford Public School System.RAISE (Reaching and Inspiring Students for Education) is a unique one-on-one mentoring program working to change the lives of students in our community by effectively guiding them in furthering their education after high school. Post-secondary education is the key to opening new doors for our youth and improving the Rockford community. Consider these alarming statistics:
Increasing the education level of our younger citizens is critical to the future health of Rockford. In its third year at Jefferson High School, RAISE volunteers mentor and assist students who are unfamiliar with the post-secondary application process, and educate them on the opportunities a higher level of education can provide. Selected Juniors and Seniors receive one-on-one mentoring from Junior League members and community volunteers who guide them in their journey to post-secondary education. The Junior League of Rockford develops and implements workshops on various topics related to the college application process such as ACT test preparation, college applications, financial aid & scholarships and college survival skills. There are also opportunities for students to tour various college campuses. The workshops and college tours are open to all Jefferson High School students. The Junior League of Rockford employs a part-time program coordinator who works on-site at Jefferson High School. The Junior League of Rockford plans to develop and implement the RAISE program to be used as a model for all area high schools in the Rockford community. |
- RAISE volunteers mentor a total of 36 Juniors and 24 Seniors.
If you would like to become a RAISE mentor, please contact us at 815-399-4518 or raise@jlrockford.org for more information. |
Past Projects
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First location of MAYA'S House Mother's And Youth Attaining Stability Volunteers Reading to Children According to local sources, the number of homeless women and children in the Rockford area is growing. Presently there are over 800 children in School District 205 in some state of homelessness. These families have few places to go during daytime hours, since most shelters provide refuge at night and those with daytime hours do not provide activities or supervision for children. Mothers who need to apply for a job, attend job training, or look for housing have few, if any, options for safe childcare. Children who are homeless are at risk for falling further behind developmentally, psychologically and socially, because of a lack of a safe and reliable environment in which to play, learn and be nurtured. M.A.Y.A.’S House, the first center of its kind in the Rockford area, provides recreational, educational and life skill building programs for homeless mothers and their children. For the mothers, the center provides training in important life skills to help them on their path to self-sufficiency, including training for interviewing and job skills, parenting skills, money management, housing applications, and tenant rights and responsibilities. The center offers services such as healthcare, legal assistance, temporary childcare, transportation, and laundry facilities. While at the center, children participate in supervised educational and recreational activities including off-site camps, tutoring and reading time -- healthy, fun activities that most young people take for granted in their daily lives. The women and children also have access to medical services. Shelter Care became the managing partner of the MAYA'S House program in 2005 and a long list of local agencie s and organizations collaborate to deliver the resources for MAYA’S House, Northwest Community Center, WAVE, District 205 Early Childhood Department, Rockford School District Homeless Program, Carpenter’s Place, Crusader Clinic, Mildred Berry Center, Youth Services Network, the Rockford Park District, Rockford Housing Authority, Court Street United Methodist Church, Rockford College, Grace United Methodist Church, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
Halloween at MAYA'S House Active Member, Beth Holmertz Christmas at MAYA'S House with a Baby at MAYA'S House |
Homework Helper Program at Patriots' Gateway Center Patriot's Gateway Center is a 39,000 square foot community center built in 1998 in southeast Rockford. Its' mission is to provide life enriching opportunities for all, with an emphasis on youth. The children in this region of the city are ethnically and socio- economically diverse and the majority are extremely disadvantaged. The center strives to provide a safe, positive experience for all participants and to be a place of fun and learning. Numerous community organizations have come together to offer programs and much needed services in Patriot's Gateway Center. The Junior League's commitment is to develop and establish a Homework Helper program two days per week after school for children in grades K-8. The Junior League will recruit and schedule volunteers; obtain the necessary equipment; establish a training manual, tutorial orientation packet, and student orientation packet; provide 100 disadvantaged children with scholarship memberships to the center, and provide a public awareness campaign. The established duration of the project is three years. (1999-2002). The Discovery Center is a "please touch" children's museum that provides a participatory learning environment through its interactive exhibits and programming. As the only museum of this type within a 90 mile area, it is used extensively in the Rockford area schools to promote learning experiences in the arts and sciences. The Museum began in 1979 as a joint venture of the Junior League and the Rockford Council for the Arts and Sciences. Discovery Center incorporated as a not-for-profit museum in 1983 and transferred the responsibility for its development to the Board of Directors. Rock River Discovery Park is the first community-built science park in the US. The Junior League of Rockford, the Rockford Park District, and the Discovery Center were partners in this project which is located directly adjacent to the Discovery Center. The park exhibit areas were developed by a steering committee composed of engineers, educators, parents, and students who worked under the leadership of New York based architect Bob Leathers. Over 4,300 volunteers helped construct the park which was completed in June, 1991. Exhibits include: Bridges, Caves, Kinetic Ball Sculpture, Distorted Room, Maze and Mirrors, Navigation, Solar Tunnel, Newton's Cradle, Earthquake Walk Friction Slide, Duck-In Kaleidoscope, Sound Walk, Friction Slides, Balance Bridge, Pendulum and Sympathetic Swings, Echo Tubes, Whisper Dishes, Telephone system and Transmission Tunes, Water Area, and Weather Station. In the May 1992 issue of Child Magazine, the Discovery Park was featured as one of the "10 Best Playgrounds in America". The Park also received the Heart of Rockford Award from River East and Downtown, Inc. in recognition for the community volunteer work and the impact the park has made on the downtown area. The park also received the 1992 Golden Rule award from J.C. Penney Company. The Junior League of Rockford, along with W.A.V.E. and the 17th Circuit Court organized the center to assist domestic violence victims in obtaining orders of protection against abusive partners and to educate them on breaking the cycle of violence. Originally, the 25% of the women who started the order of protection process carried through with it. Since the center opened in June of 1998, this has increased to 60%. Through the efforts of this center, Rockford will become a safer community. In addition to the Domestic Violence Assistance Center the Junior League created the Domestic Violence Order of Protection Information Line (398-Save). A recorded message will give the caller information on the following: what to do in an emergency situation, information about the Assistance Center, the specifics of obtaining an order of protection and other agencies to contact for help. The Community Center is a project aimed at educating people in health and wholesome use of leisure time, develop leadership within the community, provide varied activities designed to fill the needs of the total community and give opportunities for the development of special skills and interests. This project also helps to curb delinquency and develop character and morals through shared planning and democratic action. Past activities included community picnics, kit-flying contest,
ping pong tournament, soft ball program with over 500 players, music
program, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, craft classes,
bible club, story hour group, young people's club, woman's club,
well baby clinic, kindergarten, and neighborhood groups. |
