CHRYSALIS AFTER-SCHOOL ENTERS 12th YEAR!

"Before Whyld Girls, I was surrounded by negative things and people. I was shy and silenced. I didn’t have too many dreams and especially didn’t think I could fulfill my dreams. Whyld Girls taught me to speak for myself and speak out. I gained so much knowledge on survival within my community and world." Angelique, Student Mentor of Whyld Girls, and past middle school participant.

Chrysalis After-School Fast Facts:

• Created by Chrysalis in 1998 and now in its 12th year
• Provided free of charge to over 5,000 girls to-date
• Staff training and program evaluation included each year
• Total Chrysalis investment over $2 million
• Lead partner in Iowa Afterschool Alliance (statewide and national network of afterschool providers).

According to our 2008-09 program evaluation, girls who participated in Chrysalis After-School:

• Believe in themselves and their goals (75%);
• Learned to communicate better with their parents (75%);
• Learned to take care of their health (89%);
• Expect to graduate from high school (93%);
• Want to go to college (92%).

Chrysalis After-School provides girls with a core curriculum of leadership, academics, career, volunteerism, and women’s history.

Each program is conducted and evaluated according to these goals:

• LEADERSHIP – accountability, communication, ethics, people skills, social responsibility;
• ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT - critical thinking, financial literacy, personal responsibility, self-direction;
• RESILIENCE – health and wellness, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability;
• CONNECTEDNESS – global awareness, collaboration, teamwork, school success, community involvement.

Chrysalis After-School 2009-10 Elementary Programs

The Chrysalis Foundation awards up to $1,000 per elementary school program serving girls in 4th – 6th grade to prepare them to successfully enter middle school. In the coming year Chrysalis will serve 188 students through the elementary programs!

Chrysalis After-School 2009-10 Elementary School Programs include:

• Bondurant (Bondurant-Farrar);
• Capitol View (DMPS);
• Carver (DMPS);
• Edmunds Academy (DMPS);
• Hillis (DMPS);
• King (DMPS);
• Monroe (DMPS);
• Samuelson (DMPS);
• South Union (DMPS);
• Holy Family (Des Moines Diocese);
• Clay (SE Polk).

The Chrysalis Foundation also continued funding for a second year to middle school programs to begin long-term tracking, continuity, and impact. Schools have flexibility in scheduling once or twice a week and developed optimum structure based on the needs of their students. Activities are guided and evaluated according to Chrysalis, Iowa Core Curriculum (Iowa Department of Education), and Framework for 21st Century Learning goals. In the coming year Chrysalis will serve 284 students through middle school programs!

2009-10 Middle School programs include:

• Brody (DMPS);
• Carlisle (Carlisle);
• Goodrell (DMPS);
• Hiatt (DMPS);
• Holy Family (Des Moines Diocese);
• Hoyt (DMPS);
• McCombs (DMPS);
• Merrill (DMPS);
• Moulton (DMPS);
• SE Polk Jr. High (SE Polk);
• Woodside (Saydel).

Chrysalis After-School Special Funding Programs

New this year, the Chrysalis Foundation awarded funding to 4 special programs. Each program offers unique and innovative after-school and out-of-school programs serving girls grades 5 through 9.

In the coming year Chrysalis will serve 104 students through these programs:

• WONDER GIRLS - through Children and Family Urban Ministries
• GIRL SMART- through Geez! Louise
• FIRST LEGO LEAGUE - at Harding Middle School through Girl Scouts
• MOVIN’ ALONG IN MIDDLE SCHOOL - through Young Women’s Resource Center.