Mission
Brighter Days is a non-profit organization, created with the mission of fostering an environment specifically designed to fulfill the basic needs of youth and empower them to become productive citizens in society.
To fulfill this mission, Brighter Days focuses on 5 program areas. These programs operate in concert with each other to fully meet the needs of various age groups serviced by Brighter Days.
1. Creative Education
The creative education activities give our youth an opportunity to uncover hidden talents. By exposing our youth to the Arts, we are giving them an opportunity to establish their own individuality through exploring self-expression. It is our desire to arrange several cultural field trips to area Museums, Operas, Art Galleries, and Theaters. Brighter Days will also host a Summer Enrichment Program, to include arts and crafts, such as ceramics, instrumental and vocal music, expressive writing, etc. Our reading initiative will include an After-school Book Club, where our youth can meet monthly to discuss a book of their choice. We will continue to expand programs in this area, including STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) as Brighter Days grows.
2. Mentoring and Tutoring
The Mentoring and Tutorial Program is a vital part of Brighter Days, designed specifically to offer assistance in academics from preschool to high school levels of education. The more support our youth receive from the community, the more likely they are to lead successful lives. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to unlock his or her potential. Our hope is that our mentors assist each child in recognizing and successfully using their gifts. Brighter Days hopes this inspires our youth to make positive goals and to take the necessary steps to accomplish those goals.
3. Life Skills
The purpose of Life Skills is to give teens the skills and tools necessary to live in today’s world. The program will host Teen Summits, Financial Management seminars, Career Coaching (enhancing interviewing skills and resume preparation), College Preparation (Career and Vocational day), Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Clubs (etiquette programs, formal dinners and seminars), as well as other skills needed to function as a productive citizen in today’s society. In addition, the programs will offer inspirational voices of encouragement through guest speakers and skill related field trips. This program is designed to expose our adolescents and teenagers to new experiences and opportunities, thus encouraging development of dreams and goals for their own future.
4. Athletic and Personal Development with emphasis on Health and Nutrition
This is a community outreach program that provides athletic opportunities for children consisting of training sessions, competitive teams and educational values for a healthy lifestyle. Brighter Days will schedule Annual Health and Dental Screenings and offer classes such as yoga, basketball leagues, clinics (basketball, soccer, tennis, etc.). Brighter Days has implemented an Athletic-Nutrition-Health Program to help educate and enlighten today’s generation on the importance of a “healthy” lifestyle. Through seminars on Nutrition and Eating Disorders along with Health and Fitness Camps, youth will be educated and equipped with strategies to improve their quality of life. In today’s fast pace society, quality has been replaced with convenience. Many Americans are eating fast food for many of their meals and have become the leaders of obesity. These problems lead to many health challenges in our country, and especially in the inner city communities. Obesity is even more evident in communities where access to good medical care is extremely limited. Brighter Days will work effortlessly to bring a balance between routine doctor’s visits and a conscience awareness of one’s own health.
5. Fresh Start
Unfortunately, our youth often lack necessary clothing…things that we take for granted every day, such as socks, underwear, coats and shoes. These are essentials needed for daily living, particularly since children are constantly growing. Brighter Days will provide new clothing and shoes to needy children and families through the Fresh Start program. Partnerships have been forged within the community to help in providing these items. We hope to meet the needs of children and their families in a friendly, pleasant and comfortable environment that nurtures their self-esteem and enhances the social experience of both the parent and child.