The Renaissance Project
This is an incredibly unique and focused program built around the operations of city government in numerous grassroots “not-for-profit” entities which provide hands-on experience for urban planning and management interns. The program is geared toward business development and entrepreneurship and provides a laboratory in which new business approaches can be spawned. Participants meet with governmental personnel including department heads, elected officials, appointed citizenry, and many volunteers. Courses in business development, budgeting, fund- raising, entrepreneurship, assessment/evaluation, marketing, public relations, communications, risk-taking, management skills, or core subjects. Support and guidance for the program is made possible by a group of citizens, established as a special PTO/PTA, to nurture the program day by day. All facets of community involvement, made available to MC² staff and participants, are necessary for successful program results.
MC² programming always seeks to: build strong educational achievement among program participants by reviewing and modifying programs through best practices; developing strong relationships between and among supporting organizations and agencies; And maintaining a solid community-based structure which is responsive to local needs by staying in good communication with all the stakeholders involved in the program. Built into each year is summer programming focusing directly on service opportunities.
Overview
The course of study focuses not only on community awareness, but also on the individual needs of each participating student. Work/study opportunities are presented. Professionals from various aspects of the community's life and governmental responsibility service resources. A year-end expo will conclude the course. All areas of planning and involvement strive to exceed local, state, and national averages, with respect to educational achievement, during both the normal academic year and the targeted summer options.
Areas of direct service
Online program participants will have hands-on experience in such areas as: assisting with targeted job fairs for the unemployed and further recent graduates; Handling designated responsibilities with respect to localized health fairs; Ensuring that the homebound or elderly have appropriate access to needed services; Monitoring the homeless or the very poor with respect to adequate food and shelter; coordinating with service or philanthropic organizations (Cancer Foundation, Rotary, Heart Association, Red Cross, CRT, Urban League, NAACP, etc.); promoting after-school and summer programs for children, youth and teens; Participating in neighborhood block watch; Becoming knowledgeable about community recycling efforts; Establishing programs on diversity and understanding in a multi-cultural world; plus many other areas.
This program, in total is designed to prepare students for work in the “not-for-profit” or governmental fields, through achievement and success with a compelling curriculum coupled with a challenging learning environment. Those who complete the program will be asked to return, throughout succeeding years, to give 500 hour of community service in selected, to-be-defined, locations.
