Experiential and Community-Embedded Learning

Runs two two-week exploration units annually focused on global problems, incorporating reading, expert engagement, community interaction, and visits to cultural and educational institutions in New York City to deepen student understanding of the world.

Operates a volunteer interest program to involve families in school activities, including parent support for library operations such as book circulation and shelving.

Organizes and hosts academic and community-building events including a STEM bridge-building competition, science fair, Diversity Potluck, and all-school bowling trip. These events promote student engagement, family participation, and hands-on learning.

Conducted renovations to the school cafeteria, including upgrades to seating and meal distribution areas, to improve student experience and operational efficiency.

Hosts in-person school tours at its Brooklyn facility and conducts virtual open houses to engage prospective families and the broader community.

Offers free after-school programming from the end of the school day until 5:45 p.m., including academic support, arts, sports, and creative writing, funded by NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development. Includes Enrichment Club sessions held twice annually and after-school tutoring in ELA, science, and math provided by school teachers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Operates as a learning community committed to diversity, equity, and justice, supporting student agency, exploratory learning, creativity, academic and civic engagement, and preparing students to graduate with a sense of personal agency to create positive change.

Supports Middle School 915 by promoting student welfare and education through engagement of parents and the community in school and home environments.

Hosts an annual dinner to recognize educators, camp owners/directors, board members, scholarship campers, and their parents, featuring testimonies from scholarship recipients about the impact of camp on their lives.

Collaborates with over 30 education professionals from various school districts during the school year to support program development and outreach.

Provides campers with essential non-scholarship items such as clothing, athletic equipment, trunk transportation, canteen fees, and trip costs to ensure full participation in summer camp programs.

Provides full tuition scholarships to for-profit sleep-away or day camps for underserved children during the summer, placing 403 children in camps in 2025 and distributing $3,876,347 in scholarships that year. Since 2003, has distributed $40,464,284 in total scholarship funding and engaged 82 camps in the program.

Offers free workshops to underserved youth and athletic teams focused on concentration, listening, and present-moment focus, delivered in schools, community organizations, summer programs, and universities. Workshops have been conducted at institutions including Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, and UCLA, with reported improvements in listening, concentration, and athletic performance.

Provides $1,000 cash scholarships annually to high school seniors who demonstrate strong character and intend to pursue post-secondary education or training. Selection is based on character essays and supporting recommendations.

Provides financial support in the form of mini-grants to schools and youth-serving organizations to implement sustainable character education programs. Requires recipients to submit project reflections, photos, and impact data within 3–6 months of funding.

Organizes and hosts annual community-wide events including conferences, a Character Carnival, and a Character Chase 5K to promote awareness and practice of character virtues in Western New York.

Creates and offers downloadable PDF posters of character traits, designed for printing on standard 11″ x 17″ paper, to support character education efforts in schools and communities.

Encourages primary school students to practice good character with a focus on long-term personal benefits, as part of sustained community-wide character education efforts.