East Side Heritage Program

Merrick Community Services’ East Side Heritage Project (ESHP) is a program for African American children ages 5 to 14 and their families on Saint Paul’s East Side funded by the Saint Paul Children’s Collaborative. MCS and its partners are specifically committed to ending the disparity and disproportionality as it impacts African American males through academic enrichment, cultural awareness, mentoring and strengthening families.

ESHP Family Project

Through home-based services, parenting groups and workshops, parents acquire the knowledge, skills and tools to increase their families’ strengths. Through family outings and events families are given the opportunity to learn how to have fun together. A Parent Advisory Group partners with the Family Worker to develop programming that is relevant to the families. For more information, please contact Jennifer Watson at (651) 771-9339 -OR- jwatson@merrickcs.org.

ESHP Youth Outreach Worker

The Youth Outreach Worker engages African American males through groups and one-to-one mentoring and refers participants to ESHP programs. The Youth Worker also serves as a bridge between the youth and the parents. For more information, please contact Dedric Payne at (651) 771-9339 -OR- dpayne@merrickcs.org.

Saturday Heritage School/Summer Heritage School

To bridge the gap between the African Ancestors and current African American culture, the African American Academy for Accelerated Learning (AAAL) provides a Saturday Heritage School in six-week segments and a five-week summer school. Participants learn about African history and it contribution to civilization and traditions; African drumming and dance; visual arts that reflect the important aspects of history, culture and values; storytelling and incorporating science and math in to the process of art.

In conjunction with the Saturday School and Summer School, AAAL provides leadership training for your ages 13-16. The youth receive hands on experience serving as mentors and tutors with younger children.

Sankofa Reading Tutorial Program/Parent Power

Through Sankofa Reading Tutorial Program, the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) empowers youth to improve their reading skills, increase their reading levels and develop an appreciation of learning. The Sankofa Reading program is offered for eight weeks, meeting three times a week for ninety minutes.

Through Parent Power, NdCAD teaches parents the skills to help their children improve their reading skills, as well as learning to love and appreciate the joy of reading. Parents learn how to model and practice effective strategies that help their children become better readers. They also become equipped with the tools to advocate for their child and communicate with their child’s teacher and the school. Parent Power sessions are held once a week for four weeks.

Mentoring

Past Athletes Concerned about Education (PACE) is committed to improving the social skills, academic performance and the civic and social responsibility of the students they serve. Through weekly mentoring groups in Saint Paul Schools, one-to-one mentoring and a twice a month Basketball Academy African American males serve as role models and life teachers.