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Kenosha YMCA seeks funds to sustain Achievers afterschool program at Frank Elementary
Summary
The Kenosha YMCA requested CDBG funding to support the Achievers afterschool program at Frank Elementary, which serves academic and social‑emotional needs of predominantly low‑income students. Presenters provided program metrics, volunteer capacity and described ancillary feeding and family programs.
Cynthia Altergad, CEO of the Kenosha YMCA, and site staff presented the Achievers afterschool program at Frank Elementary, seeking CDBG support to continue academic enrichment, social‑emotional learning and family engagement programming.
Gabriela Ruiz, site director, described programming that targets math and reading improvement alongside social and emotional learning. The YMCA noted 45 enrolled students at Frank, a neighborhood food distribution of about 120 boxes per month, volunteer involvement and additional family and community service activities such as neighborhood cleanups and veteran outreach.
Mitch Thomas, Frank Elementary’s dean of students, said Frank serves a high‑poverty student population (approximately 98% economically disadvantaged) and that no‑/low‑cost afterschool support is integral to students’ school engagement and family stability. Presenters cited measured academic outcomes (site figures reported: third‑grade reading performance far above district averages and year‑to‑year gains in math and reading) and described a capped enrollment of 50 students per their current budget model; funding constrains expansion.
Committee members asked for outcome data and whether funding gaps forced students to be turned away; presenters said capacity is controlled by budget and physical program limits and that modest increases in funding could expand slots.
The YMCA asked the committee to consider the program’s role in closing achievement gaps and reducing unsupervised afterschool time for high‑risk students.
