Neighborhood Networks

Deutsche Bank partnered with five Neighborhood Networks, one in each borough, to target young learners and high schoolers of Mexican origin who were most in need of effective education engagement. Critically, networks were attentive to the role of parents in these efforts, and were committed to addressing their needs. Networks were anchored in communities as integrated educational hubs.

Reducing barriers to accessing strong early childhood programs and connecting families to wraparound services (East Harlem, Manhattan)

Union Settlement Association, with Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service and The Boys’ Club of New York established a coordinated battery of supportive services for Mexican families in the neighborhood, including needs assessment, educational counseling and advocacy, referral and follow up. The network increased parental knowledge and confidence, helped families establish healthy home learning environments, and delivered both early intervention and school-age supports – all high-intensity services.

Bringing new literacy and expanded educational supports to children, the toddler years through elementary school (Mott Haven, Bronx)

MASA-MexEd – with Parent-Child Home Program, the Mott Haven branch of the Public Library, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, and Hostos Community College – introduced new and expanded existing programs that promote early literacy development and school readiness among young children in the neighborhood. Specifically, the network provided early learning services through a nationally-recognized home visiting program; facilitated toddler/parent play groups; delivered customized training and resources for family day care providers; and offered individualized tutoring for school-age youth. The network served as a portal for the Mexican community in Mott Haven to better access available social services. To that end, it also conducted comprehensive assessments of families to determine appropriate referrals for housing, legal and employment assistance.

Forming home-school connections and parent leadership to boost 3rd grade literacy (Port Richmond, Staten Island)

Project Hospitality, in a network formed with Wagner College, El Centro del Inmigrante and Make the Road New York, worked closely with PS 20, the public elementary school most heavily attended by Mexican children in Staten Island, to increase reading levels of the school’s K-3rd graders of Mexican descent through a three-pronged focus on basic language development, school-home connections, and parent participation and leadership. The network formed a literacy hub that: facilitated parent-child workshops to introduce and practice home-based learning activities; hosted monthly family literacy events and weekly morning conversation “meet-ups;” connected families to the local library; assisted PS 20’s outreach and engagement of Mexican families; and provided homework help and other types of academic assistance to students. Parent leaders, and others as referred, received adult basic education classes, legal support and work preparation courses.

Creating a new high school to address academic needs and economic demands, and building 21st century skills (Jackson Heights and Elmhurst/Corona, Queens)

Internationals Network for Public Schools designed and opened an educational program for newcomers (students who arrived to the US within the last 5 years) - predominantly young people from Mexico. The program is focused on reaching those who are out-of-school or have never engaged with school in the US. Partnering with the City University of New York and Make the Road New York to form this neighborhood network, the network extended to its students and their families a comprehensive support system that included youth development, mentoring, internship and other work experiences. Parents were involved in school committees, and received adult education classes in ESL, computer literacy and workforce development.

Re-connecting out-of-school youth and their families to educational resources and to work (Bushwick, Brooklyn)

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow - with Mixteca Organization, Churches United for Fair Housing and the Academy of Urban Planning High School - partnered to form a hub that enables access to educational services for Mexican families. The network increased the number of out-of-school Mexican young adults in education and job training programs, and launched a menu of parent support services. It provided academic support, mentoring, occupational skills training, supplemental social services for young people and their families, and extensive career counseling.