CAPPA - Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action

Programs

Academic Enrichment/Performing Arts Showcase/Gang Prevention:

The CAPPA Academic Enrichment/Performing Arts Showcase/Gang Prevention Project is conducted in partnership with the Williamsport Area School District, Lycoming County Housing Authority, District Attorney Eric Linhardt, Lycoming County Children and Youth Services, and James V. Brown Library, among others. The eleven month program uses evidence-based curriculums administered by staff, certified public school teachers and dedicated volunteer tutors/mentors from local area colleges. The programming takes place Monday thru Thursday 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM, and Saturdays 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM from October to June. The Saturday program culminates each year in June with a professional stage production featuring CAPPA participants at the Community Arts Center. The Annual Performing Arts Showcase is taped and televised throughout the summer months on Comcast Cable to over 90,000 cable subscribers. Summer programming begins July 1st and continues three days a week from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM until August 31st. Students involved in the Academic Enrichment/Performing Arts Showcase/Gang Prevention program demonstrate positive results in behavior and attitude as it relates to anti-social activities, academic performance, relationships with friends, self-concept and social-cultural enrichment.

CAPPA YG's (Young Gentlemen):

CAPPA YG's gang prevention initiative was created to offer young males positive alternatives to gang related and other detrimental activities; to encourage civic mindedness through varied experience and exposure; and build self esteem through improved academic performance and creative artistic expression. The CAPPA YG's are dedicated to creating and performing socially relevant hip-hop music. The music is designed not only to hook the listener but to teach and reach a generation of young impressionable listeners. Professional song writers work with the group to develop high quality content that also meets the standard of the hip-hop genre. The CAPPA YG's first CD single entitled "Listen to the CAPPA YG's" will be released in June 2009, representing the transformation from gangster rap to socially relevant hip-hop.

Summer Youth Basketball/Gang Prevention Workshops:

The Summer Basketball program promotes teamwork, strategic thinking, good sportsmanship and positive conflict resolution among all participants. All youth are required to attend "Gang Prevention Workshops" conducted by law enforcement officers and other community partners. The workshops give an overview of gangs with a focus on the realities of gang involvement. Parents are encouraged to attend all workshops with their children and to bring a friend or family member.

The Summer Youth Basketball/Gang Prevention Workshops program begins July 1^st and runs through August 31st. There are three divisions in the league for youth ages 7-15.

CAPPA Neighborhood Network Centers:

CAPPA Neighborhood Network Centers provide extended learning opportunities for youth in a safe, drug free and supervised environment. All educational software is directly aligned with Pennsylvania Academic Curriculum Standards and is done in direct collaboration with Williamsport Area School District to help students improve academic proficiency levels. Neighborhood Network Centers provide a community based venue for student participants to spend more time on task.

The CAPPA Neighborhood Network Centers are located at the following locations:

PD Mitchell Homes - 570 Memorial Avenue, Williamsport, PA
Michael Ross Homes - 1600 Sherman Street, Williamsport, PA
The Pajama Factory - 1307 Park Avenue, Williamsport, PA

Evidence-Based Curriculums used by CAPPA Programs:

PLATO Learning Achieve Now and Get Real About Violence

Plato Achieve Now is a flexible, research-based program designed for K-6 students, and proven to increase student mastery. The program includes curriculum CDs, learning activities, student assessment, and teacher support materials. The PLATO® Learning Achieve Now program is delivered using Sony PlayStation technologies. PLATO Learning features entertaining stories, characters, and educational games that engage young students as they acquire key reading, language arts, and mathematics skills. Built-in assessments evaluate progress and monitor growth.

GRAV (Get Real About Violence) is a research-based prevention program that addresses a wide range of violent behavior in students in grades K-12th. This includes bullying and verbal aggression in early grades, fighting and social exclusion in middle grades, and relationship abuse and assaults that can occur in later grades. The GRAV curriculum uses instructional tools, activities, and scenarios designed to decrease students' positive attitudes toward violence and to increase negative attitudes toward violent behavior, establishing anti-violent norms in response to verbal, physical or emotional cues.

Testimonials

"Part of why CAPPA is a great program is because it truly fits with the 'collaborative' definition that is the unmet goal of many of our social services. Their partnership with the county housing authority, the local colleges, the city, and especially the school districts is one that should be modeled upon." ~ Anita Gibbons, J.B. Gibbons Construction, Inc.

click here to read more testimonials

"Most importantly, CAPPA brings together the best of what we all want for our young people: Instilling an ethic of community service, placing a heavy emphasis on the vital role of education, and providing exposure to both the arts and the healthful and competitive benefits of athletics. In putting those four things together for our children, we are not sure we can think of a more worthy organization in any community. But we can't think of a more essential one in our own community." ~ Patrick Marty, J.B. Gibbons Construction, Inc.

"For more than five years CAPPA has been engaging youth in after school and weekend programming that requires academic success while providing outlets for young people to develop and showcase their talents. There is no question that without this program the youth of this community, and the community itself will be without a major component of success." ~ Jeff Swope, James V. Brown Library

"CAPPA's awards and accomplishments are numerous and well documented. The importance of this organizations work can not be overstated, it must continue, to ensure the future of our kids and the future of the Williamsport area." ~ Joe Cardone, Giant Food Stores

"This program not only provides youngsters a safe place to be on Saturdays that is an alternative to anti social activities and the risk associated with some groups of peers, but also strengthens their preparation for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment testing that occurs each year. CAPPA programming has impacted the school attendance and behavior of the young people who participate, significantly improving their prospects for success in school. The schools alone cannot solve the issue of failed performance on the part of groups of students; the community's involvement is required. In this case it is the commitment of a youth development agency - CAPPA." ~ David Wright, Williamsport Area School District

"The youth in our developments face a unique set of challenges. As children of low-income (and many single-parent) families they deal with low self-esteem, idle hours at home while parents are working, and peer pressure. As a Lycoming County Housing partner, CAPPA has addressed each of these challenges by providing valuable services to our youth through the Performing Arts Showcase, academic enrichment program, and Summer Basketball program. I have personally witnessed the magic of this program when I see children walk taller after performing on stage to a live audience. Kids whose grades have improved are more confident and I see the pride in the eyes of our youth who participate in community service activities." ~ MeriLyn Ernewein, Lycoming County Housing Authority

"I have come to know that the youth in this community look forward to their participation in the program and relish the opportunity afforded to them to be around positive role models and mentors." ~ Sidney D. Wheatley, Unity Christian Fellowship

"CAPPA founders recognized what the research stated regarding how to best develop resilient students. They infused pro-social and academic skills and experiences into their program activities. This data driven and very intentional approach has resulted in CAPPA recruiting a growing number of students to take part in their program of activities and to be successful in other community activities and school. This organization is essential to our community and is definitely worthy of the communities support." ~Patricia Lowery, former Superintendant, Williamsport Area School District

"As a direct result of their participation, our students have experienced a variety of opportunities that have led to stronger character building, an increased awareness of civic responsibility, increased academic success and, perhaps most importantly, a bolstered self-esteem and sense of belonging. In addition, CAPPA's effectiveness can be attributed to the fact that they consistently strive to 'meet students where they are', which has become an educational philosophy for all of us to emulate." ~ Christina Herman, Loyalsock Township School District

Learn More

Our Mission

Our Mission

CAPPA's mission is to help participants build on their capabilities, increase their feelings of self worth, decrease self-destructive behavior and assist them in making proper life changing decisions.

more>

Media Gallery

Media Gallery

Our media gallery is full of videos, pictures and other information that highlights CAPPA's successes, capabilities, and the community of people that we serve.

more>

Scholarship Opportunity:

Programs

Testimonials

Learn More