Youth Enrichment
PROGRAMS.
The John. F Kennedy Center Seeks to improve the conditions of work, play study, health and living among the lower income residents of northeast Erie City. Our Agency is responsive to the ever-changing needs of the community, with financial and program accountability, all the while maintaining a high level of integrity within our organization and among those we serve.
Youth Enrichment
THEORY OF CHANGE AFTER-SCHOOL KIDS CAFE® Lower income school-age children living in the disadvantaged neighborhood immediately surrounding the John F. Kennedy Center need a safe place to go during their out-of-school time to help them
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Keep away from street violence
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Avoid unhealthy and risky behaviors
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Stay in school successfully; and
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Be hopeful about their future.
Through a JFK-based program that is open long and late hours, staffed with caring, supportive mentors and tutors, and focused on community involvement and service projects that bring out the best in participants, children and youth served by JFK become more engaged in school, develop stronger bonds with their community, and see themselves as key players in creating a more positive future.
Performance Based Prevention
The John F. Kennedy Center, Inc. is one of several Performance Based Prevention providers in Erie County. PBP is designed to educate at-risk children about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The program seeks to keep children alcohol, tobacco, and drug free and encourages them to succeed in school.
Our prevention-based program focuses on equipping youth aged 5-18 with essential skills and values to make positive life choices. Rooted in the Six Pillars of Character—Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship—we incorporate character education into every lesson to foster personal growth and strong ethical foundations.
Program highlights
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Group Sessions: Held Monday through Thursday for 30 minutes to an hour, these sessions are designed to engage participants in meaningful discussions and activities that promote positive decision-making.
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Experiential Learning Trips: Hands-on experiences and field trips are integrated into the curriculum to reinforce key lessons and encourage real-world application.
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"Too Good For Drugs" Curriculum: Developed by the Mendez Foundation, this evidence-based program empowers youth with the knowledge and skills to resist substance use. Lessons cover goal setting, decision-making, effective communication, and managing emotions.
Sports & Recreation
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
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Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or -
Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or -
Email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov