The document discusses the need for an improved after-school program in a low-income neighborhood in Waco, Texas. The current Weldon Youngblood Branch Boys and Girls Club program has only 3 staff members and basic facilities, but lacks a vision for growth. A new perspective recognizes that the community is resistant to change and more comfortable with the status quo. The summary proposes reaching out to local churches, businesses, and volunteer programs for support to attract new members, help run the facility, and provide the resources needed to achieve a higher quality after-school program.

1. The Road to Success
The Need for a Quality Community
After-School Program
Mollie Eddy

2. Community Issue
 Weldon Youngblood Branch
Boys and Girls Club
This after-school program is situated in a multicultural,
low-income level neighborhood
In 2010-2011 75.1-100% of students economically
disadvantaged in the Waco area
USA Census reports that 28.6% or more of the
population in the surrounding area are under the age
of 18
The need for a quality after-school program in this area
is important for building students up for academic
and social success

3. The Current Program
The Weldon Youngblood Branch
Boys and Girls Club
 3 staff members
 Facilities include…
◦ Gym
◦ Game room
◦ Outside fields
◦ Swimming pool
 The activities that the students participate in include
time dedicated to homework and playing sports and
other games

4. Striving for Quality
 There are multiple after-school programs in the Waco area
 Most of these programs are striving for providing quality after-
school activities within quality facilities for their participants
 Waco Arts Initiative is a program that has established a
reputation for providing quality after-school programs
 They believe that…
◦ “After-school programs succeed when each child is able to learn, be it a
life skill, school tutorial, or new talent, while feeling cared for and
supported. Quality mentors, members, and volunteers are the key to
that success.”
◦ “Excellence. By this, I do not mean perfection, but I mean the desire to
be great and to make a huge impact and perform the daily work needed
to do that. We are always learning, always adapting, always thinking of
things we can change to improve.”

5. Staying With the Familiar
 The Weldon Youngblood Branch Boys and Girls
Club is not currently seeking to improve
◦ The program lacks a desire for improvement and the
desire to seek for excellence
 They expressed…
◦ That they do not need to make any changes to the
current program besides improving the function of the
heating and cooling systems within the facilities
◦ There is no vision for how to provide a better program in
which the students can grow

6. A New Perspective of the Community
 I have gained the realization that the issue is not about placing
blame on any number of people, but it is about making a
positive change towards providing a safe place for kids in the
community.
 Through a study of the social, cultural, and economic
community that surrounds the Boys and Girls Club, I gained a
great amount of knowledge about their environment.
 This knowledge helped me to form the new perspective that
this environment is not familiar with change.
 I have come to believe …
◦ that it is the mindset and the way of life that the staff members know
and are comfortable with that allows the program to remain in the
state that it is.

7. Making a Change
◦ The costs for after-school programs are great and can be
increasingly substantial.
◦ I do believe that there are ways that the community can begin to
better support this program and the children that participate in it
daily.
◦ I propose that the program and others in the community reach out
to local churches, businesses, and service project programs like
Baylor Steppin’ Out, for support.
◦ Through these resources in the community, the program will be
able to attract new members to help run the facility and give the
program the time, energy, and funds that it needs to support the
current staff.
◦ These changes will help lead the program towards success in
achieving a quality after-school program.