Programs
SMART Academy
The SMART Academy evolved from a mentoring program at Toney Elementary that was initiated several years ago through the efforts of Project Uplift member Genard Medley, a coach and Health/PE Teacher at Toney Elementary, and Project Uplift President, Ron Shinault. This program began as a Saturday morning tutorial program with a few students in 2000. The improved test scores that resulted, peaked interest in the Saturday morning tutorial and led to a request to expand the program and establish the SMART Academy.
When the SMART Academy began, more than 200 students enrolled in the program. Today, attendance has exceeded 50 students per week and continues to thrive due to the voluntary support of parents, the community, and members of Project Uplift. Scheduled activity days have included a Science and Technology Day, An Outdoor Experience, which included a demonstration from the Buffalo Soldiers, and a variety of Drama/Theater presentations.
Project Uplift’s long association with Toney Elementary School has led the Foundation to be formerly designated as Toney’s Partner in Education by the Partners in Education Foundation of the DeKalb County School System.
Other Project Uplift activities on behalf of Toney include:
Assault on Illiteracy
Project Uplift established this program as a mandatory vehicle to improve the reading comprehension ability of the community’s children and young adults. Assault on Illiteracy has been active over 10 years in DeKalb County, Georgia, Elementary and Secondary and Senior High Schools. The delivery of this program has been concentrated in economically challenged areas and has often evolved into a tool that ensures proper nutrition, hygiene counseling, exercise, Black History Programs and intra-community athletic competitions for the participants. We have a successful history of improving grades and academic performance to the levels required for continued Government funding.
Male Mentoring Programs
Over the last 10 years, we have reached over 1000 young men and parents associated with our Manhood Uplift Male Mentoring Program. This project involves providing training, resources, programs and leadership training to young men ages 13-19 and thier parents. The program has established partnerships with: DeKalb County School System, Atlanta Business League (ABL), Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and various other schools, civic organizations, churches, restaurants, government agencies and fellow philanthropic organizations. We also have developed a robotics training program to further our STEM initiative for the mentees. The following workshops have been delivered at various schools, these one-hour sessions covered such topics as:
Senior Citizen Program at Golden Living Health and Rehabilitation
During our Program’s operation, our senior citizens at this institution get monthly visitations from Foundation members. The purpose of these visits is to Uplift their spirits by providing them with entertainment (bingo) and health conscious low fat, sugar free deserts like ice cream and cake. The most important aspect however, is the visitations to the individual patient rooms and the conversations held while we deliver desserts.
The SMART Academy evolved from a mentoring program at Toney Elementary that was initiated several years ago through the efforts of Project Uplift member Genard Medley, a coach and Health/PE Teacher at Toney Elementary, and Project Uplift President, Ron Shinault. This program began as a Saturday morning tutorial program with a few students in 2000. The improved test scores that resulted, peaked interest in the Saturday morning tutorial and led to a request to expand the program and establish the SMART Academy.
When the SMART Academy began, more than 200 students enrolled in the program. Today, attendance has exceeded 50 students per week and continues to thrive due to the voluntary support of parents, the community, and members of Project Uplift. Scheduled activity days have included a Science and Technology Day, An Outdoor Experience, which included a demonstration from the Buffalo Soldiers, and a variety of Drama/Theater presentations.
Project Uplift’s long association with Toney Elementary School has led the Foundation to be formerly designated as Toney’s Partner in Education by the Partners in Education Foundation of the DeKalb County School System.
Other Project Uplift activities on behalf of Toney include:
- A fully-funded annual motor coach trip to Historically Black Colleges and points of African American historical significance that includes students from neighboring Wadsworth Elementary School;
- A donation of $ 6000 for a classroom library program;
- Sponsorship of an annual “Turkey Bowl” football game between Toney and Wadsworth;
- Sponsorship of the Annual Black History Program;
- Participation in the Annual MVP Honors Day Program.
Assault on Illiteracy
Project Uplift established this program as a mandatory vehicle to improve the reading comprehension ability of the community’s children and young adults. Assault on Illiteracy has been active over 10 years in DeKalb County, Georgia, Elementary and Secondary and Senior High Schools. The delivery of this program has been concentrated in economically challenged areas and has often evolved into a tool that ensures proper nutrition, hygiene counseling, exercise, Black History Programs and intra-community athletic competitions for the participants. We have a successful history of improving grades and academic performance to the levels required for continued Government funding.
Male Mentoring Programs
Over the last 10 years, we have reached over 1000 young men and parents associated with our Manhood Uplift Male Mentoring Program. This project involves providing training, resources, programs and leadership training to young men ages 13-19 and thier parents. The program has established partnerships with: DeKalb County School System, Atlanta Business League (ABL), Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and various other schools, civic organizations, churches, restaurants, government agencies and fellow philanthropic organizations. We also have developed a robotics training program to further our STEM initiative for the mentees. The following workshops have been delivered at various schools, these one-hour sessions covered such topics as:
- Leadership Characteristics
- Peer Pressure
- Survival Skills
- Reading and Comprehension
- College and Career Choice Determination
- Time Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Team Building
- Newspaper Analysis
- Rap Versus Poetry
- Understanding The Stock Market
Senior Citizen Program at Golden Living Health and Rehabilitation
During our Program’s operation, our senior citizens at this institution get monthly visitations from Foundation members. The purpose of these visits is to Uplift their spirits by providing them with entertainment (bingo) and health conscious low fat, sugar free deserts like ice cream and cake. The most important aspect however, is the visitations to the individual patient rooms and the conversations held while we deliver desserts.