Community Partnerships - Newfoundland & Labrador

St. John's Community Centre Alliance
Youth in STEM Initiative
Building foundational skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) will prepare youth for any future career path they choose. Fry Family Foundation is partnering with the St. John's Community Centres to engage youth in STEM learning and to help launch them on an educational and career path in those fields. Starting in the Fall of 2020, these programs have been identified to encourage a greater focus on STEM for CCA youth.
Free Tutoring from MUN Engineering Students: This pilot program is a partnership with the MUN Faculty of Engineering, and if it is successful, we plan to make this an ongoing initiative for the benefit of CCA students. Laughter Afolabi, Nicholas Hale, Camden Mercer & Nibras Birama have been working with the St. John’s Community Centres during Fall 2020.
Free attendance at the Environmental Education Centre Program: Students in grades 5-8 will be immersed in environmental education during this 2 day/1 night program. All costs will be covered for any CCA youth that attend the program with their school classmates. Read more about this program here. Free attendance at NLESD Mini-enrichment Camps: The NL English School District (NLESD) offers 2-day camps for students in grades 7-9 at MUN, Marine Institute and College of the North Atlantic. Tuition costs will be paid for any CCA youth who attend this program through their school. Read more about this program here. Free attendance at MedQuest and Explore Engineering Camps: Winners of the FFF CCA Junior Scholarships in grades 10-11 will have the opportunity to explore careers in STEM and have their programming fees paid to attend either MUN MedQuest or Explore Engineering Camps. |
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CCA Annual Walk/Run for LiteracyIn 2012, the CCA began a Run/Walk for Literacy as a fundraiser to support literacy programs in the five St. John’s Community Centres. CCA and its member centres have long recognized the impact literacy has on an individual's success throughout their life and saw the vital need to help youth enhance their literacy skills. Fry Family Foundation sponsors the event and makes a donation for every person who crosses the finish line. In 2019, the event took place around the Mundy Pond trail on August 6, and it had the most participants in its history. It was another great celebration of the community coming together. |
In 2020 and 2021, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the CCA decided to put a new twist on the Annual Walk/Run for Literacy. Individuals, Families and 'Bubbles' were encouraged to go on a walk organized by their community centre and complete an Alphabet Scavenger Hunt! The MacMorran Centre took their group on a field trip to walk the Manuels River Trail. The Buckmasters Circle Centre also incorporated painted rocks into their scavenger hunt. Each form completed gave participants a snack bag and chance to win a prize. Form completion also resulted in a donation to the CCA Youth Achieve Literacy Program from the Fry Family Foundation. It was great to see such creativity and community spirit displayed by the participants and organizers. |
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Food Now Fundraiser

The CCA teamed up with Mary Walsh and friends to host the Food Now Fundraiser. The goal was to raise money to provide meals and grocery gift cards to those who need it. Kim White, General Manager of the CCA said, "We have witnessed many people unable to access food or support services in our city, including children, families, seniors and persons living with disabilities. At the start of the pandemic, our work moved to focusing on identifying challenges for the residents in our neighbourhoods and finding solutions. Many food programs and food support services in the city were put on pause because of the pandemic. The Alliance realized that we needed to step in and help." It was a collaborative effort between the CCA, its five community centres and a downtown restaurant. FFF is proud to support this initiative. Read about this Facebook Live event here.