245 State St. SE; 2nd Floor
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Shannon L. Harris, OCC Executive Director
(616) 456.3558; sharris@grand-rapids.mi.us
Branden Pecor, ELO Program Coordinator
(616) 456.3558; eloafterschoolgr@gmail.com
Who We Are
The ELO Network is one of the initiatives led by Our Community’s Children (OCC), the shared partnership between the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Public Schools. OCC also leads T2C Studio, which picks up where after-school programming leaves off — helping Grand Rapids Public Schools students get to college and earn their degree. Together, the ELO Network and T2C Studio support Grand Rapids kids from the after-school years all the way through college. Learn more about Our Community’s Children at ourcommunityschildren.com.
organizational Identity
Name: The name of the collaborative shall be Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Network and hereafter be referred to as the ELO Network.
Purpose: To promote and align community efforts in the provision of quality after school programs. This is accomplished through public education and advocacy, professional development and training on best practices, a data-driven system on shared outcomes for children, and continuous collaboration.
Mission Statement: To ensure that children have access to quality after school programs that prepare them for college, work, and life.
membership
Composition:
General membership is open to individuals, organizations, and other community stakeholders who agree with and are committed to the vision, mission, and goals of ELO Network.
General Responsibilities
- Commitment to the vision, mission and goals of ELO Network.
- Annual renewal of commitment to Network and its membership (requires a signed letter of commitment).
- Use of ELO Standards of Quality in after school programming.
- Regular committee participation.
- Pay annual membership dues.
All general members are expected to attend the annual meeting.
Voting Privileges:
General members may vote for Leadership Council members at the annual meeting. They may also make recommendations for new and renewal of leadership to the Leadership Council through the Nominating Committee.
values
Belief Statement: Due to the fact that children spend 80 percent of their waking hours outside the school day, we believe after school programs provide safe places with an array of academic and enrichment activities that help children learn life-long skills for their healthy development and success.
Students who consistently participate in quality after school programs achieve better grades, have lower rates of truancy and crime, demonstrate greater self-confidence, and feel more attached to their schools and their peers.
Values:
- Children’s success is primary in all our work
- Collective action drives greater capacity and stronger impact.
- Inclusion and diversity generates better ideas and practices
- Quality practices are critical to ensuring the best outcomes for children
- Data-driven practices informs better decisions
- Meaningful involvement of all stakeholders creates better synergy