ARYSE 2018 Annual Report
Summary
Looking Back on 2018...ARYSE has come a long way! We have grown from hosting 1 program to hosting 4, over 150 youth served annually, and we’ve broadened the conversation in our community about what it means to support immigrant and refugee youth.
But of course, there is still a lot of work to do. In addition to seeing our students at PRYSE Academy and during weekend and after-school programs, we envision becoming a support system that is with our kids on every step of their journey: from the time they arrive in the U.S. and throughout their process of integration.
At ARYSE, we are kicking off 2019 with energy, focus, and determination! We are so proud of our students and grateful for the generous support and encouragement of our volunteers, donors, and foundation partners.
Thank you for being with us on this journey!
Where Our Students Are From
Congo
Kenya
Somalia
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Eritrea
Syria
Iraq
Afghanistan
Guatemala
Brazil
Mexico
Nepal
Burma
Uzbekistan
Girls Group
Girls Art and Maker Group is a monthly meetup for immigrant and refugee teen women to create art and share stories, build community and leadership skills, and gain mentorship. The program combines creative expression workshops, facilitated dialogue sessions, professional development activities, and field trips to art studios, cultural events, and landmarks throughout the Pittsburgh region.
Through the program, participants develop friendships, engage in art-making workshops to share stories, become part of a larger network of refugee women and artists in the Pittsburgh region, gain mentorship from peers and caring adult women facilitators, and identify strategies for managing stress and opportunities to overcome barriers to achieving success.
Goals
1. Create a safe and supportive space for young immigrant women to express themselves and their shared experiences.
2. Use a variety of art forms as a way to explore a variety of issues and topics that are important to the participants.
3. Gain mentorship from peers and caring adult women of color who facilitate the program.
4. Develop the leadership skills of the participants by providing them with spaces to sell and showcase their art.
“At Girls Group I like that we can share our different opinions with one another. I really like that I can talk with girls from different cultures and learn from them. Everyone at Girls Group is like a family to me and our meetings means a lot to me.”-Fartoon
“Girls Group is a safe place to leave my troubles behind where I feel like I belong. It is a place where I can take my mask off and be myself and know that I will be accepted for who I am.”-Aisha
After School Club
In 2018, ARYSE launched its first after school program in partnership with JFCS Refugee and Immigrant Services and the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. After School Club is a safe and fun space for refugee and immigrant youth of all ages living in Pittsburgh to receive homework help, tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment.
The After School Club operates at two sites: one for youth in elementary and middle school, the other for high-school age youth. In addition to providing 1-on-1 homework help to support students’ academic readiness and growth, the program combines sports, team-building activities, college and career readiness curriculum, and creative expression workshops. The After School Club serves 60 youth in K-12.
Goals
1. For mentees to improve their academic readiness and English literacy skills
2. To see our mentees develop mutual understanding and positive relationships with their peers.
3. To heal through art and storytelling workshops.
4. For our mentees to build positive, caring, and helpful relationships with caring mentors.
Partners
JFCS Refugee and Immigrant Services
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
Dr. Jennie Shultz, Duquesne University
The Center for Community Engaged Teaching and Research, Duquesne University
Cameroon Football Development Program
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - West End
Crafton Heights United Presbyterian
PRYSE Academy
This summer, we hosted the 6th year of PRYSE Academy! Over the course of 6 weeks, we served 81 youth from 13 different countries who, on average, have lived in the U.S. for less than 5 years time. PRYSE Academy was held in two, three-week sessions; each enrolled a different group of 40-45 students.
Program activities included team and literacy-building games, classroom activities that build students’ academic readiness, sports, and creative expression workshops where students develop personal storytelling projects. Each three-week session of the program culminated in a Final Showcase where students presented their projects and experiences at camp to a public audience hosted at City of Asylum in Pittsburgh’s Northside.
“From the curriculum to outdoor activities and workshops, PRYSE Academy really delivers. I think PRYSE taught all of us the importance of emotional expression and that we are global citizens that want the best for each other. I feel the students were able to explore new skills through workshops, develop confidence in their language learning, and walk away feeling appreciated, celebrated, and like they have new friends and mentors to reach out to.”
“The experience of being a camp counselor was incredibly impactful and positive. Training week [the week before PRYSE commences] was jam packed with useful lessons, information, skill building workshops, and positive interactions with other counselors. This atmosphere carried into the summer sessions perfectly as we all worked together to ensure a positive environment for campers. Personally, I left PRYSE with a heart spilling over with love and happiness. The final showcase and all the amazing performances from campers demonstrated just how much fun we all had. ARYSE is a blessing to say the least!”
Goals
1. To improve the overall literacy skills of our mentees. In 2018, 83% of participants reported that attending the program improved their literacy skills.
2. To help our mentees build learning skills. In 2018, 88% participants reported that the program helped them feel more confident to succeed in school.
3. For our mentees to meet new people and forge new friendships. In 2018, 96% of our mentees reported making new friends.
4. For our mentees to have pride in their work. In 2018, 100% completed a personal storytelling project and 90% presented those projects on-stage at the Final Showcase.
5. To give our mentees an oppurtunity to express themselves. In 2018, 100% participants reported that PRYSE Academy gave them a space to share their personal stories.
6. For our mentees to take pride in their culture, language, and heritage. In 2018, 96% responded that they had opportunities to celebrate their language and culture.
Partners
The Opportunity Fund (funder)
Grable Foundation (funder)
PNC Charitable Trust (funder)
Cameroon Football Development Program
Pittsburgh Playback Theater
LevelUp Studios
Andy Warhol Museum
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - West End
Steeltown Entertainment
JFCS Career Development Center
Heinz Fellows (Center for Urban Education, University of Pittsburgh)
Global Wordsmiths
Pittsburgh Public Schools
In The Media
Next Pittsburgh:
Kids missing school for the worst kind of reasons. How one group is helping young refugees.
90.5 WESA:
Refugee After-School Program Aims To Bridge Gap Of Language Learning In Schools.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In a foreign land, these youngsters spend their Pittsburgh summer piecing together a new language and confidence.
Pittsburgh City Paper:
After-school program helps refugee students acclimate to Pittsburgh schools.
Next Pittsburgh:
After-school program helps refugee students acclimate to Pittsburgh schools.
Financial
Total income in 17-18 fiscal year: $59,387
Grants: $35,000
Charitable Contributions: $24,387
Thank You!
Without the generosity of our donors and foundation partners, we could not have achieved such impactful growth in 2017-2018. At a time when it feels more important than ever to support immigrant and refugee communities, we are humbled by the growing community of passionate ARYSE supporters. Thank you for joining our movement to support immigrant and refugee youth in becoming engaged, confident, and celebrated members of our communities!
