Program Overview
Description of Programs
Smart Kids, Inc. is a public 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has developed and operated two programs underneath our umbrella, which are our two flagship programs: The Tutor Me Program (TMP) and Explore St. Louis Summer Camp (ESSC). Smart Kids, Inc. was created to end the repeated cycles of poverty through education and to help our students, our future leaders become more successful.
The Tutor Me Program's mission is: We are committed to increasing the learning capacity of every child by helping them realize their full potential. The Tutor Me Program provides 1:1 sustainable tutoring and academic support programming to at-risk and low-to-moderate K-12 students in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The TMP provides 1:1 tutoring/mentoring, homework help, charter development, and STEM activities during the school months of September - May. This program is greatly completed and successful with the help of our Community Partners at Saint Louis University (SLU), University Missouri of St. Louis (UMSL), and Webster University. Through our partnerships, we recruit college students that are completing their practicums, internships, Co-Op Programs, general volunteer projects, Federal Work-Study Program., and Sorority/Fraternity projects/programs. College students are recruited as Student Tutors in the Tutor Me Program
Over the years, we have successfully serviced over 300 students academically through the Tutor Me Program. Over the years, our program was implemented at the Urban Impact Center (St. Louis City - Lincoln University), University City School District at Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School, the Hazelwood School District, and Jennings School District at Woodlen Elementary School.
Currently, our school-age partners include Normandy Schools Collaborative, The Leadership School, and the Missouri Family Court-Juvenile Detention Center. A short-term goal for us is to partner with other school districts and charter schools within the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. This goal will allow us to reach, tutor, and successfully provide the Tutor Me Program as a wrap-around service to the school districts, charter schools, and students.
Our other program is Explore St. Louis Summer Camp (ESSC). Our mission to provide is underserved campers the opportunity to explore St. Louis through different events, exhibits, and field trips outside of their neighborhoods. These opportunities allow campers to explore different performances, shows, community events, and places. Activities include Arts & Crafts/DIY projects, STEM activities, financial literacy, computer enhancement skills, painting, nutrition & health education, Career Day, swimming, child cooking classes, and of course 1:1 tutoring. Our camp also provides campers with breakfast and lunches, so no need for partners to pack their campers a lunch. ESSC runs from June to August each summer. ESSC has partnered with the Summer Youth Employment Program to hire our youth to become Camp Counselors. This program allows youth to work during the summer and sometimes, this is their first employer. We here at ESSC embrace our youth workers and become their mentors for the summer.