UrbanPromise Charlotte Continues to Provide for Students Despite Remote Instruction

Everything around us has been forced to change in some way.

UrbanPromise Charlotte. (Photo provided by Jaqueline Alvarez)

We have experienced a change in classes being online, a change in our daily routines by being inside and a change in our interactions with one another by relying on virtual platforms.

Another group that has been forced to adapt to this change is UrbanPromise Charlotte, and they are doing it in their own special ways.

UrbanPromise Charlotte is a nonprofit organization that offers after-school and summer programs to low-income students in the area. They strive to aid students in important aspects of their life: spiritual, social and academic.

UrbanPromise Charlotte offers their students in grades K-8 hot meals, academic help and a place to form a spiritual bond. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, they had to modify their daily programming to being online instead of a face-to-face interaction.

During regular scheduling, students would arrive and attend multiple classes that help with their homework and reading. They would have breaks to have snacks and take part in other fun activities.

Now, the high school youth leaders, who are known as StreetLeaders in the program, are facilitating activities with their students online.

Jaqueline Alvarez, the middle school coordinator at the UrbanPromise East location, spoke on how they are handling this transition.

“As of right now, we are using Zoom to connect with our staff and students,” Alvarez said. “We try to keep our calls with the kids as engaging as possible, providing games to play and working on problems together to keep that strong bond we have with them.”

They are also taking over Instagram by posting videos that show the StreetLeaders reading, doing science experiments and even singing songs with the students.

Alvarez said because of seeing the StreetLeaders take action online, students are beginning to do the same.

“The campers are starting to take part in the videos, sending us videos of themselves singing songs or doing experiments,” Alvarez said.

So far on the organization’s Instagram, students send in their videos with their siblings doing many activities to connect with one another.

UrbanPromise Charlotte team hands out “grab-and-go meals.” (Photo provided by Jaqueline Alvarez)

UrbanPromise Charlotte is also going the extra mile by providing quick meals. These meals are provided as grab-and-go meals at all sites for the students and families who attend the program.

Alvarez said parents are aware of the importance to keep the relationship between UrbanPromise Charlotte staff and their students.

“We are learning how to use different resources for our families and campers to grow stronger with each other during difficult times while also understanding the necessities of each family and camper,” Alvarez said.

This is something that can be said for all of us. During these moments, wherever we are, we can learn to use the resources that we have to grow. As UrbanPromise Charlotte is doing, we can motivate each other to make the best of the situation.