1) Executive Summary
Building on 12 years of demonstrated success in the afterschool space, Bringing Refugees, Immigrants, and Neighbors (BRING IT!) is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the youth development space in Manchester. The program began as a grassroots collaboration between a school administrator and a youth services counselor to engage students in activities that weren’t being engaged through other traditional youth engagement venues. What started with rolling out a soccer ball to a dozen or so eager boys has grown over the last decade to become an intentionally focused program that serves over 400 unduplicated youth from every corner of Manchester each school year through drop in and academic enrichment opportunities.
The focused differentiation strategy outlined in this plan will
enable the program to continue to be nimble in addressing pressing community
needs, while at the same time solidifying the program’s position as a leader in
youth development programs in Manchester that offer the full spectrum of
services, from open enrollment drop in programming all the way through highly
focused workforce development training and educational enrichment.
2) Organization Background and overview
a) Key milestones in history—Opening the doors in January 2007; partnership with Boys & Girls Club; partnership with SNHS; partnership with GUW; addition of full time director position; securing grants; developing partnerships with SNHU/St. A’s/City Year/UNH; SNHU’s strategic guidance toward business plan; dance/nursing/busing/food transition from Beech Street School to Hillside;Program celebrated 10th anniversary during the 2015-2016 school year; partnership with IAFF for coats, other support
Program operations started at Beech Street School in the fall of the 2006-2007 school year through partnership with Boys & Girls Club serving as fiscal agent from 2007-2009. During that time program services consisted of soccer and dance, with homework growing organically from students asking staff and volunteers for help. Partnerships were a key source of volunteers for the program, with SNHU and St. Anselm starting as soon as operations were running in 2007 and City Year dedicating a team of corps members to support the program each week. In 2009 the program transitioned fiscal partnership to Southern New Hampshire Services, which allowed for the addition of a full-time program coordinator to focus on service delivery and operations. Program services expanded during this time to include nursing career exploration for students in grades 8-12 through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a variety of art enrichment classes in partnership with the Currier Museum of Art and New Hampshire Institute of Art. During the 2010-2011 school year the program shifted operations from Beech Street School to Hillside Middle School, and added a transportation option for students, running a bus that picked up and dropped off students from several locations around the city. In 2013 we then transitioned to a fiscal partnership with Granite United Way, where we were housed until 2017. During this time they served not only as a fiscal agent, but a partner in program development, fundraising, staffing, marketing, and supported all aspects of program development and operations. We celebrated our 10th anniversary during the 2015-2016 school year, with a record-breaking year for student enrollment and participation at over 450 students participating in at least one service offered by BRING IT! that school year.
The 2016-2017 was one of transition, where BRING IT! began the process of becoming an independently operated nonprofit organization at the end of that school year. SNHU provided crucial guidance in the process by leading the team through strategic planning, and the team is excited to launch the 2018-2019 school year with a new energy and focus on enhanced program services and evaluation.
b) Why was it founded?—To provide more meaningful programming for city youth by having drop -in services that provide mentoring, tutoring, and positive and engaging role models for students. As a middle school ESL teacher, founder Brendan McCafferty sensed the great need and urgency to provide additional programming for middle school girls in Manchester because of all the problems and issues he was observing first hand in his classroom each day. These problems included a lack of access to opportunities, to mentors, and to positive pathways regarding their futures. Once Brendan transitioned roles to be Assistant Principal at Beech Street School, there was now a venue and supportive administrator in Ellie Murphy, Beech Street School Principal, while exploring program opportunities, Brendan connected with Hector Urrea, the ALPHA (what does ALPHA stand for) director who was stationed at the Boys & Girls Club. Together they took Brendan’s initial idea and expanded it to include students of all genders. They decided to start with two simple, yet very popular activities, soccer and in dance to get the students in the doors and excited about the services offered. From there the program grew to serve over 450 Manchester Youth in grades 4-12 each year.
c) What is its mission?—We fight the good fight so that every child has access to success. We inspire kids to believe in themselves, achieve their goals, and do good.
Our kids engage positively with their learning and contribute constructively to their schools and other communities.
We embrace kids for who they are, recognize that each has something to offer, and celebrate these gifts.
We wrap kids in layers of personalized academic, cultural, and social programming.
We connect kids to new opportunities, helpful programs, and useful resources.
d) What problem is it solving?—Improving multiple outcomes for the students, their families and the community.
Giving students opportunity for positive engagement with their schools and communities, giving them an outlet to learn, be active, and engage their families with the systems around Manchester.
Low income youth, especially those with culturally diverse backgrounds, have limited access to and understanding of how to maximize the community supports and resources around them.
e) What impact has it had?—Positively impacted 100s of youth in their development via making connections to strong roles models and mentors and other community resources. Many students credit their experiences at BRING IT!!! for their maturation and success, such as Jean N., who had this to say of his experience with BRING IT!: “I love to go to BRING IT! Because it’s a lot of fun to play [soccer] with a group of people from different countries and meet new people, because you learn a lot from them and they learn a lot from you. The thing I like about BRING IT! Is that they encourage you to stay in school and get a good education. BRING IT! Is a very good program because it connects a lot of kids from different countries and cultures and allows them to enjoy themselves.”
f) What is its “theory of change”? How does it create impact?—
g) What differentiates it?—Connection to the school district, our strong, intentional focus on welcoming and making connections to all. Our ability to meet the needs of our individual students. Our ability to tailor a student’s experience.
We are driving the program from within the school district, with strong connections to peers, administrators, and teachers that the students interact with each day. After the program day is done, we are still connecting the students to their schools and communities, so that any actions in the program are reinforced during the school day through communication with their peers, teachers, administrators, SRO’s, coaches, and other community organizations. And the inverse happens as well, so that we are better able to meet the individual needs of each student. We are building connections with the kids and for the kids, across the program and across the city. The program is a vehicle through which we follow and support each student individually well beyond the program hours, throughout their entire school year, and Manchester School District career.
BRING IT! CHANGE THEORY
Low income youth in the Manchester area have a hard time leveraging the resources around them in order to better their present situation and change their future trajectory. There are many opportunities for students to experience and engage in. BRING IT!!! provides programs to the students that enhances their ability to succeed in education and career.
BRING IT!!! creatively attract students into the program by utilizing sports, performing arts and homework support. Soccer and dance are big attractions to the students we serve. We create a space that every student can participate in activities with no charge and we emphasize a judgement free and empowerming space. We also understand the importance of covering the basic needs of our students. We provide transportation and hot meals for every student at the program.
Long Term Goal:
Students engaging in positive activities after graduating high school that provide career pathways and uplift students away from poverty and crime.
At BRING IT!!!, we believe the work starts now and we focus on 4th-12th graders. The more the students are exposed to and participate in meaningful activities (sports,performing arts, learning activities and career experiences) the more they take ownership in making decisions and commitments. With enough positive experiences and personalized mentorships/coaching, students transform their behaviors and take ownership of their development, behaviors and work ethic to provide for a better future.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenges Student Face
Solutions BRING IT!!! Provides
Low Income/ Reduced Lunch(limited meals)
Provides hot meal at every program night
English is not a primary Language
Provides academic support from an EL perspective(EL Teachers on staff)
Mom and Dad might not always be present(limited adult time)
Surround the students with positive adults from our volunteer team and staff
Family on government assistant program(medicaid, affordable housing program (community surrounding is very similar )
Expose students to different people who are not part of their everyday community(expose to different perspectives)
Limited Academic support at home
Robust one-on-one academic support from teachers or college students
Students can not afford to pay for extra activities out of school (soccer,dance,cheerleading,music lessons)
All BRING IT!!! programs are free of charge
Limited adult advocacy
Our staffs and volunteer advocates for the students
Not challenged academically
Our staffs and volunteer recommend students to take higher level courses
Culturally Alienated (limited opportunity to express their culture outside of their home)
Provide opportunities to students to share their culture through dance, music and storytelling
Students have negative self esteem in their appearance
Positive adults who celebrate each students uniqueness.
Limited access to self development/mental health
Strong relationship with social workers and guidance counselors and advocate for students
Street life seems more attractive than hitting the books
Reinforcement in legal work and find part time job opportunity for students in the community
Improving reading and writing is not enforced
Strong english and writing volunteers to work with the students
Immediate family work low wage jobs (lack of exposure to high paying jobs)
Career exploration program (with academic credits to earn)
Lack of understanding to different career opportunities to pursue after high school/college
Higher education workshop and tours and job shadow opportunities
Student should expect BRING IT!!! to be
Supportive, encouraging, safe space
Sense of belonging- freedom to be their true self
Culturally celebrated-deeper dive in understanding student’s cultural background
Robust academic support student trust and can rely on
Expose career experiences(field trips, internships, accredited extended learning opportunity programs)
Opportunity to engage in performing arts with expert faculties
Soccer skills development and improvement
Staffs/Volunteer Accountability
Be present while serving- Do not miss an opportunity
Non-judgemental to the students and other staffs
Be creative and resourceful
Go out of your way to celebrate students
Be committed in helping students feel connected
Leverage every opportunity to build relationship
Recommend resources to students to help them overcome their challenges
What is BRING IT!!! Weekly Success(weekly bases)
Students attend BRINGIT
Student participate in programs
Student brings up their challenges to a staff or volunteer
Student ask for help
Consistent attendance at dance, soccer, homework support
Improvement of grades based on academic support at BRING IT!!!
Student helps another student out
Student signs up for an additional program through BRING IT!!! partnership(STEM,Currier Museum)
Student is able to bring a parent to a BRING IT!!! event
What is BRING IT!!! quarterly Success
Student not failing a class
Student performing in end of the semester showcase
Student leading an initiative at their school or community
What is BRING IT!!! yearly Success
Graduation elementary, middle school and high school
Attend college or vocational training
b) What are the short-, mid- and long-term milestones it needs to meet to achieve that vision?
BRING IT!!! will be a leader in out of school engagement for Manchester youth, providing culturally relevant educational enhancement and enrichment experiences that position students for success in college and career.
We will be the program the community turns to when they look for
experts to consider issues facing youth in Manchester and how to develop
services that strengthen students and their families.
The milestones needed to achieve this vision include creating a board of directors, developing a fundraising plan and saving money, developing a data collection and analysis strategy, hiring staff and expanding to the west side.
Develop a program and operations plan for 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021
This plan should detail staffing needs and operational budgets
Re-organize so as to more effective operational oversight and strategic thinking, including the seating and empowerment of an advisory board
Codify the core BRING IT!!! ‘Curriculum’ so as to maintain culture and consistency
Develop and implement a fundraising strategy
Complete the process of becoming a 501(c)3
Identify funding sources for who BRING IT!!! Offers a unique solution to an unresolved (or under-resolved) challenge.
Identify the best way to approach each source and the specific ask of each.
Develop and implement effective data collection and analysis
Work with the school district to develop a useful data dashboard
Develop, test, and implement non-cognitive survey
4) What are the financial implications of this plan?
What will it cost to provide services and execute on the strategy in each of the next 3-5 years? $150,000 per year for one site operating services two nights per week, which includes program staff and all other operational expenses.
a) Think in terms of these categories: programs, staff, board governance, organization, evaluation & metrics, systems. Put together a board of directors, a program evaluation system, and a fundraising system; better volunteer utilization for both direct service & administration roles;
Having always operated within the systems of a fiscal agent, BRING IT!!! Needs to think and operate differently in order to be successful. There is a need for creation of a board of directors to support program governance and operations; establishing and executing fundraising campaigns; developing workflows in order to better enhance both the volunteer and student experience; and creating an alumni/student advisory board in order to ensure that student voice and needs remain in the forefront of program operations and service delivery.
7) How will the organization know it is successful?
Survey tools will be developed to deliver to students and the alumni advisory committee at the conclusion of each program year to assess progress towards the vision of becoming the leader in youth development services in Manchester. It is crucial student voice is apparent throughout every piece of the process, as they are the beginning and end of the program. Everything that is done at BRING IT!!! is for their support and benefit. The combination of a successful fundraising campaign, program operations running throughout the school year, and positive results from student & community assessments will help sure the program is on a path for success.