New After-School Sites For Youths
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Stephanie Ceus, a Mililani wife and mother of four, had a good idea and she ran with it. Now North Shore teens and preteens can benefit from her brainstorming and year-long planning effort in the form of a new after-school project.
Leading Edge Network will kick off its free program for positive youth at 3 p.m. March 16 at Kahuku Community Center and March 17 at Waialua Community Association. Each center will be open twice weekly, serving snacks and themed activities for middle and high school students.
“We’re all about life skills, character development and giving kids a positive direction,” Ceus said of her “baby.” Getting nonprofit status, applying for grants, cultivating funders and finding the right space took a great deal of time, she admitted.“But it never feels like a lot of work. I feel like I’m supposed to be doing this.”
Ceus said she has a master’s degree in elementary ed and is licensed to teach here. She also has a marketing background, and her husband sells compact fluorescent light bulbs. Still, Ceus saw a need she could fill among the sad statistics of after-school crime and the U.S.‘s 14 million latchkey kids.
“It’s open, free, and all kids are welcome, and we are just excited we have a space!” She initially approached the schools, but found the community centers more accessible. A Kahuku parent will assist her at the KCC site, and a WCA trustee has expressed interest in running the Waialua program.“At Kahuku, we’re right next to the school, and they can still take the bus home,” she added.
She promises youth-led initiatives in community service and guest speakers on topics of interest to the kids. The “laughing yoga” man is already booked for September. March’s theme is Nutrition and Wellness, April is Being Green, May is Money Matters, etc.
Leading Edge also will offer a teen dialogue called Diversity Circle, career explorations, art, a book club and self-journaling.
Kahuku hours are 3-6 p.m. Monday and 2-6 p.m. Wednesday; Waialua is 3 -5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information, call 623-3402.
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