Out-of-school-time programs provide a significant return on investment, with every $1
invested saving at least $3 through increasing youth’s earning potential, improving their
performance at school, and reducing crime and juvenile delinquency (Afterschool
Alliance, 2020).
Yancy’s non-academic offerings are diverse to ensure something for every student’s
interest. They include chess, hands-on science, arts, photography, journalism, and
several choices for physical movement - sports, dance, step, and drumline. Yancy
works diligently to showcase its students’ talents to build confidence and pride and
encourage regular attendance. With community partners, we establish avenues for
performance, competition, and display within the schools and locally at festivals,
businesses, professional meetings, and community events. For instance in Houston,
TX, our drum lines have performed at YMCA festivals, local restaurants such as “The
Breakfast Klub” midtown restaurant, and the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show.
Yancy Life also hosts its events, such as soccer and basketball tournaments, with
performances at school sports halftime. Artwork is displayed on-campus at school
events, in venues in the community, and at Yancy’s annual end-of-the-year festival. We
believe giving our students something to work towards increases the quality of work
they produce and increases confidence and enjoyment to bolster after-school
participation. Parents and community partners are also more involved, which also
encourages attendance.
Because our focus is on schools in areas of chronic poverty and high percentages of
immigrants where parental guidance may be lacking, children often need to develop
social skills to function successfully in our society. To address this, Yancy offers
mentoring and etiquette sessions for boys and girls at all three levels. These include
relationships with mentors with backgrounds like the students as role models,
instruction in appearance and behaviors for success, and communication skills.
