In just a few years, college acceptance rates have doubled at Manual Arts Senior High School, just one of many improvements since LA's Promise became a helping hand.
The ever-changing South L.A. neighborhood builds a new image, making the transition from profound crime to nascent renown with continual investment from USC.
From free Internet to family-oriented programs, patrons of all ages and librarians consider the Vermont Square Branch Library to be a valuable and central resource for needs in their community.
Crime, particularly violent crime, has dipped in Los Angeles over the past 10 years. This can be attributed to new laws, but it can also be attributed to a rise in prevention programs for kids and teenagers living in the city.
Gang and crime prevention programs, in essence, try to improve youth's self-concept – how they feel about themselves, their family, and their neighborhood. Youth who tend to join gangs usually do not have many friends, give in easily to peer pressure and have little interest in academics, which all contribute to a low self-concept.
However, research shows that kids and teenagers who get involved in after-school programs have a higher self-concept, and, consequently, are less likely to form destructive habits such as doing drugs, joining a gang or committing a crime.
After-school programs give students a chance to make friends, have a mentor, exhibit leadership and explore a passion all within a safe environment. They can stimulate student interest in a subject matter and have lasting positive effects, especially on those students who live high-crime neighborhoods like Vermont Square.
With crime during the school week occurring mainly between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and peaking between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., it is all the more pertinent that after-shcool programs keep kids invested in productive activities and off the streets.
With money for public education waning in California, despite the recent tax hike, a few involved teachers and local organizations have stepped up their game to give youth an opportunity to get involved outside of the classroom.
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