Examining a Resident-Led University-Assisted Model for Out-of-School-Time Education in a Public Housing Community

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 31
  In Roundtable Session: The Contexts of Education and Policy: Discussing the Relationships Between School Policies and Communities

Abstract

This paper further explores a resident-led, university-assisted model for delivering out-of-school time (OST) education within a community center located in North Philadelphia. The resident council of a public-assistance housing community was partnered with to implement educational programming and oversee daily operational aspects of an after-school program. University researchers provide the curriculum, professional development, and conducted program evaluation to ensure the integrity of service delivery. Results explore outcomes after three years in operation and expand upon best practices for engaging in community-based partnerships, including: contextual understanding, transparency, joint-decision making, responsiveness, and sustainability efforts. The significance of the model lies in its potential to be replicated in other low-income urban communities as a way for universities to engage in meaningful collective impact.

Authors

• M. Meghan Raisch, Temple University

• Juwan Z. Bennett, Temple University

• James Earl Davis, Temple University