Van Buren Youth Initiative reports 1,500 student engagements, pilots transportation with Decatur schools

Eric Wacharski of the Van Buren Intermediate School District updated the Board of Commissioners on June 24 about the Van Buren Youth Initiative’s first full school year of after-school and summer programming across three sites in Van Buren County.

Wacharski said the program recorded more than 1,500 instances of student participation between Jan. 15 and May 21, noting the count reflects individual students attending multiple classes, clubs and workshops. “The majority of our students that we're seeing are seventh and ninth graders, and 100% of those students reported that they learned something new from programs,” he said, adding that 94% said they felt connected to a teacher or peer and 92% said they felt inspired after attending a class.

The numbers, Wacharski told commissioners, are being used to plan a larger schedule next year and to justify further local investment. “Our confidence comes from our competence,” he said, summarizing the program’s approach to building student skills and civic opportunities.

Programming highlights included a four-week comic/manga drawing class taught by a Kalamazoo-area artist who also works at KVCC; an eight-week cooking class that drew primarily male students; a stop-motion animation series that used iPads loaned from Public Media Network; a broadcasting/YouTuber basics class; a three-week floral-arranging series with Holly Berry Flowers; and pop-up intergenerational cooking classes run with Simpson United Methodist Church in Bangor.

Wacharski described community partnerships that supported those offerings: Harding’s grocery stores provided funds for a capstone beef/cuts lesson for the cooking class; Bronson Healthcare donated more than $50 cooking kits and reusable water bottles; Public Media Network supplied iPads and broadcasting resources; Project Shine helped with nutrition and grocery shopping for classes; and Van Buren Tech will supply instructors for a planned basic mechanics pilot.

Wacharski said the initiative applied for a Southaven Area Community Foundation grant to purchase iPads, Procreate software and accessories so Southaven Center for the Arts can host a permanent digital-media lending pool for schools and community partners. He said the equipment has been purchased and is awaiting IT setup by Van Buren Tech before a planned July rollout.

On transportation — a frequent barrier for student participation — Wacharski said the initiative is piloting a sustainable, multi-district transportation system beginning with Decatur Public Schools. “Let's start with a van,” he told commissioners; he estimated initial runs would transport about six to 10 kids, though the Decatur superintendent has prepared for a bus if needed. He said the program aims to implement the sustainable model by winter 2025.

Wacharski said the initiative is focusing more spending in Van Buren County and, when necessary, in Southwest Michigan. He also said the program will pilot a basic mechanics after-school class in partnership with Van Buren Tech to expose middle and high school students to career pathways.

Commissioners and other board members praised the program's growth and encouraged outreach to additional districts and stakeholders; one commissioner suggested presenting the model to regional partners such as Connexus. Several commissioners also offered help connecting the initiative to transportation resources and local contacts.

Wacharski closed by inviting commissioners to visit sites and by noting student testimonials: “I feel more confident in the kitchen,” and “I like that I can just be myself here,” he said, quoting students’ feedback collected after classes.

The presentation was informational; no formal board action or appropriation was recorded during the presentation.