Seven full time instructors, three interns, and a handful of tutors all help to run the community center. Many of the Tutors at ONG are University students from around Milwaukee. University students can get a tutoring position by signing up through their school‘s Service Learning program. Some students tutor as a service learner for a class requirement. Others simply embrace the opportunity to help. Community members also volunteer their time and effort at ONG.
The most popular program at ONG is the Homework Club. There are 57 students enrolled in Homework Club this year with 10 children wait listed due to a lack of space. Homework Club is for elementary students from 1st-6th grade. They meet Monday through Thursday after school. The students in Homework Club are provided with workspaces, supplies, educators, tutors, and a meal.
Another program offered at ONG is Outbound Learning. ONG’s Outbound Learning is in partnership with two local Milwaukee businesses: Manpower Inc and St. John's on the lake.These are site specific spaces that allow students to work on their studies in an actual business place. Bailey explained that this is an exciting opportunity for students to experience because learning in a real work environment encourages students to work harder in their studies to achieve their own academic goals.
ONG offers the High School Connection program for its older members. High School Connection provides a mentoring that helps students plan their future, build resumes and applications, work on homework, work on management and organization skills, and make healthy lifestyle choices. High School Connection students meet twice a week but may meet with their mentors upon request whenever they need help. ONG is currently working to extend their available hours for High School students, as many of them want to be able to study at ONG past 6pm.
ONG also partners with other organizations to get kids involved in a variety of life enrichment programs such as art, dance, music, and social networking. Students at ONG also volunteer within their community. Each year ONG kids decide as a group as to what they want to do to help out in their community. These community field trips vary from environmental cleanups to nursing home visits.
All of the programs offered at ONG are designed to enrich the lives of inner-city youth by creating learning opportunities outside of the regular school setting. ONG also provides a safe learning environment for students who might not otherwise have it. The space, time, and support provided helps them to be successful students.
The students at ONG come from various schools around the Milwaukee area. They arrive at ONG either by bus or by walking from a nearby school. They recognized me immediately as a newbie and began questioning me about my age, name, where I got my necklace, what my favorite color was, etc.
I took a seat on the floor next to them for story time and immediately found my lap piled with five giddy girls. They all began touching my hair, holding my hand, and asking me more questions. After story time was finished I got partnered with two girls so that I could help tutor them with their writing questionnaires and coloring projects.
As time went on more tutors arrived and the work load was spread a little more evenly between students and tutors. Bailey said that near the end of semester there is always a surplus of tutors trying to meet their 15 hour requirement. I felt a little guilty myself for helping out so late in the semester, but I think regardless of when tutors come to help, it is welcomed.
After their coloring assignments the kids played bingo, ate dinner, and then sat down to do their homework. Due to the surplus of tutors, each student got individual attention from their own tutor. When I was looking around at the room full of students, I wondered how in the world the regular staff ever manages all 57 kids in the Homework Club. Even with the surplus of tutors, I still felt like more help could have been used. None of the kids were particularly unruly, but the sheer number of them makes management a bit of a challenge.
While I was interacting with all of the students I kept thinking about how Bailey had told me how “refreshing” it was to work with a group of students that genuinely have a desire to learn. I experienced firsthand the excitement and enthusiasm these kids have not only with their studies but also with their social interactions between other students and mentors. They all seemed so enthusiastic about whatever it was they were saying or doing. It was extremely refreshing to be around such a positive group of people.
