Culture of Learning and Literacy

Through the Culture of Learning and Literacy initiative, PASE enabled community-based organizations to make their afterschool programs into rich literacy and learning environments. Utilizing activities linked to the New York State ELA standards, youth development principles, and PASE's peer-driven training model, the Culture of Learning and Literacy reached the staff and youth of nearly 400 programs in its first year alone.

Through workshops covering such diverse literacy-related topics as Integrating Literacy and Music in Afterschool Using Multi-Cultural Themes, Linking Literacy and Learning to Current Events, and Literacy Through the Arts: Music, Storytelling, Dance, PASE prepared afterschool program staff to integrate literacy into existing programs in meaningful, effective, and engaging ways. In years two and three of the initiative, PASE showcased cultures of learning and literacy and closely studied the effect of the culture on youth at five afterschool programs.