Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Kids on Course

Learn how Kids on Course is making a difference in the lives of youth in our community & truly working to break the cycle of poverty.

For more than 100 years, United Way of East Central Iowa (UWECI) has been working alongside our funded partners to support, embrace, and improve our community. Throughout this series, we are highlighting our partners in education, financial stability, and health who are truly working to break the cycle of poverty in East Central Iowa.

Last month we got an insider’s look at Eastern Iowa Health Center, and this month we’re learning more about Kids on Course, whose mission is to close the opportunity gap, and do whatever it takes to help students achieve their dreams and succeed.  

The program, which is part of the Zach Johnson Foundation, serves more than 1,000 kids in Cedar Rapids throughout the year. They are located at Grant, Harrison, and Van Buren elementary, Roosevelt and Wilson middle schools, and Jefferson and Kennedy high schools (the inaugural class is in 9^th grade!). Although the strategies look different at every age, the focus areas remain the same:

• Academics
• Enrichment
• Parent Engagement
• Addressing barriers

The program partners with other organizations in the area to remove any barriers outside of academics that could prevent students from being successful. This could include making sure students have food for the weekend, warm-weather clothing during winter months, or making sure late buses are available so students can participate in programming not only through Kids on Course, but additional activities happening at the schools they serve.

Students can get connected to Kids on Course during kindergarten through Page Pals, but the full program starts in first grade.

“The younger you start working with an individual, the more impact you can have on their lives,” said Tracey Myers, Executive Director of the Zach Johnson Foundation.

Kids on Course helps students improve their reading and math skills from day one, develop strengths and passions through extracurriculars, build time management skills, understand how to navigate difficult social situations, prep for the ACT, plan a path for after high school, and more!

Growth and enrichment aren’t limited to the school year, though. Through Kids on Course University, Scholar Camp, and High School Boot Camp, students are able to focus on academics and developing positive relationships year-round.

“Hearing the barriers [some of the students] have, sometimes they just need extra support to grow and get to the next level,” said Heidi Brown, Director of Resource Development at the Zach Johnson Foundation.

At the end of the day, Kids on Course staff and mentors are dedicated to ensuring students are on a path to leading fulfilling, productive, successful lives.

“Everyone can get behind helping kids, but we’re truly changing their futures,” said Myers. “To know that you play a small part in helping kids get on a path to a bright future when they might not otherwise have the chance is really meaningful. Our staff is truly dedicated to helping these kids find success.”

This fall, Kids on Course is expanding its reach to Hoover Elementary.

“We have been wanting to expand for a long time, but the timing needed to be right. And that time is now. We’re thrilled we’ll be serving Hoover next school year,” said Pat Cobb, Chairman of the Zach Johnson Foundation. “Expanding to Hoover means we will be serving four of 21 elementary schools in the Cedar Rapids School District, so you can see, our journey is far from over and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”