BRI has served as a long-time evaluator for the 21st Century Community Learning Center program at Rochester’s Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School (EMHCS). As a part of their robust programming, EMHCS provides 4 weeks of summer programming for K-8 students.
2025’s theme was comparing life in the past and looking toward the future. Students initially learned about life in the 19th century, including a field trip to the Genesee Country Village & Museum for a hands-on learning experience. The second half of the summer focused on creating inventions for the future. Students came up with innovative ideas, created a model, and presented their creation in a Shark-Tank format to program leaders. Building on lessons learned in past years, EMHCS encouraged consistent attendance with built in “Fun Fridays” that included a water day, movie day (complete with blankets and stuffies), and a visit from a fire truck. The summer ended with a family showcase in which 80 distinct families attended to see all that the students had created and done. EMHCS serves as a strong example of excellent programming that meets the community and student’s needs.