Youth Programs
YWCA Helps Children Grow
YWCA Central Carolinas has a long history of providing high-quality out-of-school programs to students K-5 throughout Mecklenburg and Union Counties. Our goal is to provide each student with an exemplary academic experience filled with fun, personal growth and parent participation by utilizing the following core competencies:
- Literacy Focus
- Parent Engagement
- Cultural Identity and Enrichment
We support children in their schoolwork while offering instruction and engagement grounded in historically responsive literacy (HRL). HRL cultivates the genius within students and creates spaces of empowerment and confidence. This closely aligns our youth programs students to YWCA’s larger mission: to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
You can learn more about how we are serving students and their families by contacting our Youth Learning Center Coordinators; their contact information is listed below.
Literacy Focus
YWCA’s literacy-based program is designed to improve students’ reading skills, with programming provided after school each day and all day during breaks and teacher workdays. Our staff utilizes a literacy-based platform which strengthens children’s literacy skills and enables them to be better readers. The highly engaging lessons provide a thoroughly immersive experience, guiding students on their path to becoming thorough and analytical readers. Detailed, easy-to-read reports help our Coordinators understand what each student’s individual needs are to strengthen their reading and vocabulary comprehension. Our Centers measure students’ progress in 5 different skill sets: phonological awareness, phonics, high frequency words, vocabulary and comprehension; each of these skills are components of mastering literacy.
Cultural Identity and Enrichment
Our after-school and summer programs provide a safe learning environment for academic growth through a culturally responsive lens. If students know themselves, they are engaged with the confidence to learn new skills. When they have the skills, they can learn new knowledge and critique that knowledge.
Real Results
From July 2023 – June 2024, 56% of students increased their reading level or maintained grade level proficiency while enrolled in our program.
Hours of Operation
YWCA’s Youth Learning Centers operate during the academic year, as well as the summer.
During the school year, Centers are open Monday – Friday: 3pm – 6pm (after school).
For our summer sessions and teacher workdays, YWCA offers support from 9:00am – 5:00pm.
Locations
There is a need throughout Charlotte and the surrounding communities for accessible education. YWCA is here to provide to the community’s need, wherever it may be.
Billingsville Elementary
325 Skyland Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205
Gwendolyn Forney at 704.430.2036 or
gforney@ywcacentralcarolinas.org
Old Armory
500 S. Johnson Street, Monroe, NC 28112
Kelsey Livingston at 704.282.5765 or
klivingston@ywcacentralcarolinas.org
Southside
435 Fairwood Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203
Amanda Canteen at 704.332.1622 or acanteen@ywcacentralcarolinas.org
Sunridge
4005 Sunridge Lane, Charlotte, NC 28215
Carrie Tucker at 980.999.2771 or
ctucker@ywcacentralcarolinas.org
Exciting News! We're Moving to Brightwheel
YWCA Youth Programs Afterschool is now using Brightwheel, a secure and user-friendly online platform, to manage all registrations and student information. Starting this year, all parents must create a Brightwheel account in order to register new or returning students for our programs. Brightwheel allows families to easily complete enrollment, manage payments, and stay connected with program updates—all in one place.
Program Fees & Sliding Scale
We remain committed to making high-quality afterschool programming accessible to all families. Our new fee structure includes a sliding scale based on household income (using the Area Median Income matrix for Mecklenburg and Union Counties).
Families will be asked to provide income verification during the registration process in order to qualify for sliding scale rates. Click here to review the weekly fee per child and register.
We’re excited to make enrollment simpler and more efficient while continuing to support our families with flexible payment options.
Alternative Bus Stop Request
CMS Parents & Families – To request bus service, please click here to access the Alternative Bus Stop Request link for CMS Schools.
Union Co. Public Schools Transportation – UCPS requires parents to visit their student’s school(s) to request transportation. The Data Manager at each school location will enter the request into PowerSchool. The transportation department will be notified automatically of the request.