Opportunity Impact: Community support for youth

A new, local youth development program is filling the gaps between schools and family for kids in low-income neighborhoods.

Opportunity Impact is a non-profit organization that devotes itself to providing a support system to children living in low-income communities. Unlike other after school programs, Opportunity Impact offers a wide array of services that include academic counseling, homework help, youth mentoring, referrals and home visits.

“We take a holistic approach,” Executive Director Emily LoSavio said. “Whatever a kid needs, we try to offer it.”

The program offers everything from building confidence to balancing a healthy diet. Students are enrolled in the program for five years, starting at fourth grade. Every weekday – from 1 to 6 p.m. – the youth center, located on 1294 Fillmore St., opens its doors for kids seeking more support in any part of their lives — be it academic or emotional. To enroll, a parent must fill out an application and meet with the staff to discuss the child’s needs. Enrollment is free of charge.

Students are picked up from Rosa Parks Elementary and Dr. William Cobb Elementary. Recruiters and other administrative staff at these schools work closely with Opportunity Impact to identify students who will benefit from the program. Once enrolled, the students will participate in “Life Skills Activities,” academic counseling and tutoring and enrichment programs such as field trips and guest speakers.

The program’s ultimate goals are that the students will graduate from eighth grade learning on grade level, that they will be accepted into a college prep high school and that they will be placed in another support program for their high school years.

LoSavio and Program Director Silena Layne founded the non-profit in March 2008. Before that, LoSavio and Layne worked with local elementary schools and went door-to-door in the community to find kids that would benefit from their program. By collaborating with organizations like Mo Magic and the financial help from private donors, Opportunity Impact became a reality.

“We wanted to work with kids on multiple levels of need,” LoSavio said. “We assumed that parents and schools are doing the best they can. We wanted to fill in the gaps.”

Along with 30 years of experience between them, both LoSavio and Layne have personal reasons for their involvement with children living in low-income communities. For some time, LoSavio’s father lived on welfare. With the support of others, he was able to change his situation and that left a lasting impression on his daughter.

“I realized that wouldn’t have happened without other people helping to support that change,” LoSavio said. “I wanted to facilitate similar change.”

On the other hand, Layne lived in Geneva Towers, a 20-story facility in an economically depressed neighborhood, with her grandmother. Prostitution, drug trafficking and violence were common. In 1998, the buildings were demolished and Layne’s grandmother was relocated to the East Bay. In 2006, Layne’s little brother was murdered.

The first-hand experience of violence and living in that environment, inspired Layne to develop the curriculum for Opportunity Impact. She designed the “Life Skills Activities” to help educate kids about their personal-worth and the importance of respecting others.

“Our goal is for them to be self sufficient,” Layne said. “We want them to advocate for themselves and know that they are able to be their own ally.”

“Life Skills Activities” begin about 3:30 p.m. The activities help the kids develop their communication skills, build relationships with their peers and the staff, raise their self-esteem and alert the children about social issues in their community.

One recent afternoon, part-time staff member Antione Johnson sat at a table with four children. For the day’s activity, the children wrote down one thing that is unique about them on a card. After that, they were asked to color and decorate the card with an assortment of crayons and markers.

Some of the kids struggled so Johnson showed them his example.

“I am special because I was born with a hole in my heart,” he said. Johnson then told the kids the unique medical circumstances of his birth and helped his pupils find their own ideas. One child wrote “I am special because I was born in Mexico.” Another wrote “I am special because I went to Mississippi.”

“Life skills are learning how to be a better person,” staff member Eric Hartwhig said. “I want them to learn that this is their community and you don’t need to use bad words or violence to deal with problems.” Activities like this help build a foundation for the kids at young age, so they are more equipped when they enter high school.

Since Opportunity Impact opened, interest has grown rapidly. Currently about 35 students are enrolled, but LoSavio expects about 20 more students by next fall. Within the next few years, staff members hope to have 85 to 100 students in the program.

“We want to become a fixture in the Western Addition as a program that will benefit the community not just the kids,” LoSavio said. “And, hopefully, become a model for other programs in the country.”