The Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action (CAPPA) is preparing to open a third location for its academic enrichment program at the Pajama Factory, 1307 Park Ave., on May 1.
CAPPA's new location will reach more eighth-grade students and incorporate educational software programs such as Plato Achieve Now, a learning program suited for kindergarten to sixth-grade students in the organization, according to Loni Gamble, founder and executive director.
The academic enrichment program is a supplemental tool for students to achieve greater academic success, following state standards, as well as working in cooperation with Williamsport Area School District and Lycoming County Housing Authority for its locations, Gamble said.
Through a healthy dose of academics, culture and discipline, Gamble has constructed a program that has proven itself not only in the growing number of improving students but in the growing number of locations over the past five years.
Gamble believes getting connected and staying connected with children has been the key in redirecting the mindset of the youth involved.
"All kids are good," Gamble said. "You just have to reach them. They have a lot of issues they're dealing with and we need to recognize that. First thing is to engage young people. (CAPPA helps) change the way they look at themselves and the way people look at them."
The organization promotes academic success as well as provides a social and cultural outlet by giving youth opportunities aiming to prevent gang participation, violent and other illicit behaviors, according to program officials.
Its forthcoming expansion speaks to the success of the programs, which, according to Gamble, is starting to be modeled in metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Los Angeles.
The program's impending movement to the Pajama Factory is an implication of the amount of community support CAPPA has received since its inception, Gamble said.
"(CAPPA's) another venue for students to enrich them academically, socially and culturally," he said. "Our philosophy is to meet kids where they are, wherever that may be, and bring them to where they need to be to be successful."
Stephanie Smith, 18, a Williamsport Area High School senior and CAPPA volunteer, said she likes to help out, especially as she was once a member of the organization.
"It helped me out a lot," Smith said. "I got to meet new people, and they tutor well and that helped."
Khaleef Lewis, 14, said at a recent after-school program at Roosevelt Middle School he enjoys the social and performing arts aspects of the program.
"It's fun," Lewis said. "You get to be around friends and it inspires people around here."
Lewis also believes the program is "improving everybody inside and outside CAPPA" by giving others "a brighter outlook."
In order to meet Williamsport's male youth, CAPPA formed the Young Gentlemen's, which offers positive alternatives to gang related and other detrimental activities, according to CAPPA officials. The Young Gentlemen's group helps build self esteem and encourages civic-mindedness through varied experience and exposure through academic performance and creative artistic expression.
Since the Young Gentlemen's formed, participants jumped from seven to 35 in less than a year, according to Gamble.
The group also will release its first CD single in the next month, Gamble said.
"I think it's great," said Aikyu Canty, 13, on being a Young Gentlemen and a part of CAPPA. "It's a good chance to get to know different cultures, meet friends and have a good time. It's fun."
"It's a good program for a lot of kids that want to be a dancer," said Daryl Brown, 12, another Young Gentlemen. "We do a lot of traveling, like we went to Harrisburg."
Liz Regan, 23, a senior at Lock Haven University, knows the benefits of the program as she volunteers each Saturday at Cochran Elementary School.
"These kids are getting direction," Regan said. "They're empowered to know they can make good decisions and given support to help them follow through with that."
"The more you put in front of them, the less likely they are to take the wrong path," said Eileen Harley, coordinator of the academic support enrichment program. "Anywhere we can attract kids and get them there, we create a hook to get them there to make them successful adults. This is a major investment in our youth, by providing additional resources for the community and forging relationships with college level students. We bring together all these resources and relationships and deposit that into a bank account of our youth."
