Villanova University Young women’s Leadership Academy at Rhodes

The partnership with The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) at Rhodes is new this year to both Villanova and the Rhodes School. When Villanova forms a partnership with an agency or school in underserved communities we ask the question, “What do you need that Villanova University can to provide?” The answer from the principal at Rhodes, Ms. Wayman, was ‘although Philadelphia is only 5 miles down the road, most of her students have never been in the city.” She told us that her students “need to learn how to navigate the world, the world outside the neighborhood if they are going to succeed.”

It is our goal to engage in academics with the students in school but also to help the students engage with the world outside the “neighborhood” which is dangerous, poor and does not provide the students with role models who can provide inspiration for academic or vocational success. According to Philadelphia Commission on Children, 46% of students in Upper North Philadelphia graduate from high school in four years, 80% of adults are employed, the average cost of a home is $31,000 and 67% of families are single headed households, 99% of the students at Rhodes are eligible for free meals and the incidence of violence in comparison to other parts of Philadelphia is high.

Two years ago proficiency in math and science at Rhodes was 0%, in two years it has improved to 33% proficient in math and reading. Our mission is to learn with the students and to broaden our view of the world so that we all become better citizens of our community and country. The goal of the Rhodes School is to graduate 100% of their students and to have 100% of their students apply to college. We can help them achieve this goal as well as learn from their students another perspective on life.

The TYWL School at Rhodes opened in 2002 as an all female school, grades 7-12 in North Philadelphia. In an effort to increase school success the Philadelphia public school system and the Young Women’s Leadership Foundation formed anall girl’s high school. “YWL Foundation gives inner city youth choices in their education. We partner with urban public school systems to create single-gender public schools and guidance programs that raise expectations, increase performance and inspire leadership.” (YWLF Mission: http://www.ywlfoundation.org/).

The Purpose of the Partnership

The purpose of this partnership between Villanova and TYWLS at Rhodes as with all Community Based Learning Partnerships is for each institution to share their culture, strengths and gifts with one another. It is the goal of the Office of Service Learning at Villanova to enhance our curriculum with opportunities to learn and serve in communities that are challenged by poverty, violence and lack of successful education. We hope to be part of the effort that will give young people choices for their future because it is the mission of Villanova University “to educate students who impart a sense of the importance of values and the moral responsibility of caring for others and working for the betterment of society.” (Mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences).

The first year of our partnership will include:

1. Co teaching and learning English Course “African American Women Writers.” Villanova students and their learning partners will share two works of fiction in common.
2. Co-teaching a Political Science course “Citizen Education,” The purpose of the course is to explore the rights and responsibilities of our educational system. Our students will explore.
3. Co-direction of spring theatrical production and Theatre Class.
4. Villanova students will tutor in after school programs.
5. Villanova students will act as tutors for seniors who are required to complete a research paper to graduate
6. Provide opportunities to share in outside activities with the students at Rhodes School.

We hope in increase the number of courses that are co –taught or directed by faculty TWLS Rhodes and Villanova University.

Extra-curricular activities:

1. Celebration dinner September Villanova University Cost $3000.
2. Theatre Production October Mc Carter theatre Cost: 100 students at 10-20 per ticket 1000.-$2000 plus transportation $2600.
3. Day at Villanova for Rhodes learners November Villanova University No Cost—Villanova University will provide lunch and tour guides.
4. End of the year celebration December Villanova/Rhodes Undetermined cost.

Ongoing needs of the program:

Vans: Our most pressing need at this time is vans for transportation to and from Villanova for Villanova students. Public transportation is difficult to this area of the city and unsafe. Our students will park in a school parking lot monitored by school safety. We need 2 eight passenger and 1 twelve passenger van at this time.

• Estimated cost of these three vans is $80,000.

Books: We intend to provide a copy of each book that is shared reading assignments between Villanova and Rhodes Students.

• 100 books at $10 per book $1000.

Uniform Shirts: We intend to provide our student with the same uniform shirt as the student at Rhodes in order to break down boundaries between social classes and to define roles of students and learners.

• Cost $20 per shirt for 60 shirts $1200.