Launched in September 2000, Long Beach BLAST - Better Learning After School Today's mission is to improve after school learning for at-risk children and youth through collaboration.
BLAST
prepares volunteers to mentor children who are at-risk for school failure
BLAST's
main service is to recruit, train, place, and support college student volunteers
as academic mentors helping children at-risk for school failure. BLAST recruits
college student volunteers from California State University Long Beach (CSULB)
and Long Beach City College (LBCC). To date, over 3,000 skilled and caring
volunteers have been placed with students K-12. Some provide one-on-one tutoring
and homework assistance. Others bring rich lesson plans in technology, recreation,
media literacy, science, and the arts. Volunteers function as role models,
opening the doors to the possibility of higher education and/or careers.
BLAST
operates an after school program
BLAST
began operating two after school programs in the 2005-06 academic year, and
continued to operate one of the after school programs at the Northpointe Housing
Community in north Long Beach. The Northpointe After School program is open
Monday through Friday, year-round, serving approximately 50 kids in grades
K-8.
BLAST
provides literacy tutors
Partnering with the County of Los Angeles' Probation Department, BLAST provides
tutors through our Operation Read Program. Tutors work with youth in the areas
of reading, literacy, and writing.
BLAST
convenes the community around after school issues
BLAST
takes a leadership role in facilitating meetings, conferences, and collaborative
activities that improve the quality and quantity of after school options for
children and families. BLAST leads the Long Beach After School Advocacy Partnership
(ASAP). BLAST also chairs the Long Beach Mentor Connection.
For more information about our programs and services, click on the "Programs" section above
View
BLAST Newsletters, "Partner News" online
Click
below to view a pdf version of any of our past newsletters, "Partner
News"
