The 52nd Street Project



	Over the years that the Project has been working in Hell's Kitchen, we have seen some of the children who shine on stage, who write multiple character plays and memorize page upon page of dialogue, fail or be held back in school. Knowing their abilities and potential, we were moved to try and make a difference in their academic performance. Smart Partners was developed on the belief that the adult/child relationships nurtured through our theater programs help develop a child's sense of accountability for and dedication to his/her work. Smart Partners creates a similar one-on-one relationship for improved academic performance.
	In 1997, Smart Partners was begun with a pilot program of ten students and ten adults. The program has proven so successful and popular that there are now thirty-five pairs of Smart Partners, a full time Director of Education and a part-time Education Assistant. The basic structure from that pilot program remains today. Smart Partners meet at least once a week at the Project Clubhouse for ninety-minute long one-on-one sessions where they work on schoolwork; on improving remedial literacy and math skills; and on planning for higher education. The activities of the various Smart Partner pairs are as different as the children themselves. Pairs focussing on math skills might work on memorizing times tables, or bake pans of brownies to help express different fractions, or play card games that involve solving math problems. Kids and adults working on literacy skills might read, or write in a journal, or come up with a piece for the Project's literary magazine Fivey. The objective of the program is to help children improve their self-discipline and focus their concentration so as to reap academic rewards. In the program each adult is devoted to the success of a single child and, in turn, the child is accountable to his/her adult. The mentors address all facets of a child's life which affect school work, whether by providing or arranging tutoring, finding a quiet place to study, discussing school activities and grades, and even attending school meetings, if requested. The children must report on their academic progress, meet their mentors and any tutors at scheduled times and, above all, commit to the program. Smart Partners is implemented and supported by the Director of Education and by the Education Assistant. They track the progress of each child, develop formal evaluation and follow-up procedures, coordinate a pool of tutors, assist in the navigation of the New York City public high school selection and the college admission processes, and establish critical connections between home, school and mentor. By tracking the academic progress of Project children we expect to observe and quantify improvements in children's school performance that result from participation in The Project's educational and creative programs. If you are interested in volunteering to help kids by becoming a Smart Partner, check out the volunteer opportunities in the Krakatome Library.

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