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 Attendance is one of the best predictors of whether a student will drop out of school. As early as middle school, high absenteeism is a powerful indicator of dropout risk. Citizen Schools’ alumni, however, attend seven weeks more in high school than their peers and have had a 20% higher high school graduation rate.
Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for low income children across the country. Citizen Schools uniquely mobilizes thousands of adult volunteers to help improve student achievement by teaching skill-building apprenticeships after school. The organization’s programs blend these real-world learning projects with rigorous academic and leadership development activities, preparing students in the middle grades for success in high school, college, the workforce, and civic life.
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| Since Fall 2009, 13 Belk employees have volunteered as Citizen Teachers, Guest Speakers and Store Guides to local Belk stores in Charlotte, Durham, and Henderson with five Fashion Retail apprenticeships directly serving 44 students. |
Founded in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has grown into a national network of 31 “campuses” – middle school partner sites – in low-income communities across seven states. The North Carolina Citizen Schools program launched in 2006 and will serve over 550 students and engage nearly 180 volunteers in the 2011-2012 school year.
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Belk, Inc. sponsored the venue for Citizen Schools’ 2011 “Six Degrees of Charlotte” event at NASCAR Hall of Fame. Randy Dell, Manager of Belk SouthPark and corporate employees joined the evening of networking with students to help shape their paths to success in school and beyond. |
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Grant: $75,000 to support Citizen Schools in NC
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From time to time, The Belk Foundation and Belk, Inc. partner to support grantees. Our relationship with Citizen Schools is one such example. For the past three years, The Belk Foundation has supported the organization with annual grants of $75,000, while Belk, Inc. has enhanced this grant by working directly with the students to emphasize the importance of education in preparing for exciting careers in fashion.
In the Belk Fashion Retail apprenticeships, Belk employees help connect education to careers in fashion merchandising. These hands-on projects bring to life the business side of fashion through exposure to merchandisers, designers, and management. Fashion Retail apprentices develop team-building, oral presentation, and advanced literacy skills while partnering with local Belk stores to create a themed visual merchandising display.
Belk, Inc. and the Belk Foundation have invested time and resources in ensuring the success of students enrolled in Citizen Schools. In the last year Belk, Inc. has expanded its partnership from Eastway Middle School campus in Charlotte to include two additional Citizen Schools campuses in Durham and Henderson.
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