Executive Summary

For decades, East African Community Services has co-created cultural spaces framed in knowledge of, and love for East African cultures, histories, and achievements. Well-being is more than economic: it is inclusive of social, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual needs. We address low-literacy in immigrant children, through Afterschool, Summer, mentorship, digital literacy, and one-on-one tutoring programs at both our community centers.

We successfully address the high levels of Black immigrant juvenile incarceration through our Promise Fellowship Program for youth returning home from incarceration (“reentry”). This program allows us to implement anti-racist and restorative justice strategies that address the root causes of youth violence. Fellows make amends for harm they caused and work towards education completion and gainful employment. We are proud of the 42 Promise Fellows that’ve successfully graduated our program – four of whom were accepted into Ivy League colleges.

Year over year, youth enrolled in programs show significant improvements in math and English language Arts and more than 95% of our youth transition into College. To help parents understand and acclimate to American civic, legal, and political processes, we convene Citizenship and Digital Literacy classes, and a Parent Leadership Training and Advocate Institute. Additionally, we co-created spaces for networking, social engagement, and physical fitness. Altogether, our community-rooted, and culturally responsive services interlock and support families as they chart futures inclusive of social, cultural, and economic mobility. Annually, our Pre-K through College programs reach 700 participants, and our parent engagement programs reach 1,200 adults.

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