S.T.A.R.S. Community Development Corporation (STARSCDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to uplifting disadvantaged communities in Las Vegas through disruption of at-risk lifestyles, empowering individuals and families for success. We provide innovative accessible opportunities for all ages uplifting communities and optimizing existing social programs.
Our primary focus is mentoring youth by expanding our services that provide early childhood education, affordable childcare, elementary, middle, and high school mentoring, and striving to ensure high school graduation for our participants. S.T.A.R.S. (Striving To Achieve Real Success) helps individual kids by building relationships with their families. This approach enables us to support conditions and behaviors more effectively that help youth make smart choices.
We currently are serving more than 300 families in Las Vegas. We are committed to supporting family pursuits and ambitions by servicing children, youth, and adults, one household at a time. Providing service to the individual helps to provide service to the family, and ultimately the entire community. This is the most realistic manner in which we can help to introduce self-sufficiency to children and families who may not have had the knowledge or access to necessary resources to ensure this level of success previously.
We want to create an environment that will remove barriers for our families. The areas that we are seeking support are helping families to have access to affordable, reachable services right in their neighborhood. We want to provide access to healthcare, transportation, childcare, and job referrals.
Mission
STARSCDC is dedicated to uplifting communities who may otherwise fall victim to at-risk lifestyles by providing charitable services to children, youth and adults that allows communities to become empowered and successful.
History
Founded in 2008, STARSCDC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Las Vegas, Nevada, has a proven track record of success with youth and their families. Community support has been wide, including police departments, school districts, churches, and community referrals from other organizations. Our collaborations have built this organization up and helped to sustain it for 14 years.
STARSCDC reached a huge milestone in May 2016. With the generous support of Stout Management Company, our summer home was optimally positioned to pursue this mission. Situated within a large (798 unit) multifamily residential complex that is home to approximately half of the students enrolled at Peterson Elementary School. Families in the Peterson Elementary community need help desperately. One hundred percent of enrolled students qualify for the free/reduced lunch program, and one hundred percent read below grade level. Unfortunately, this new home did not last.
Upon completion of the summer camp, we were informed that we would need to find a new location. At first disheartened, we were quickly provided substantial media attention by the Las Vegas Review Journal. They also provided a feature video supporting our efforts. Their large readership assisted us in finding a new home, which now houses our Legacy Learning Center. In this facility, we have been able to also expand our family engagement, community civic engagement, and add entrepreneurship programs.
STARSCDC was founded from a heartfelt and sincere desire to curtail the numerous community at-risk crises facing so many brilliant, capable, and promising individuals. Whether the risk was derived from economic challenges, race, or lifestyle, at STARSCDC we address the way in which individuals are:
at risk of underachieving both academically and professionally;
at risk of believing the labels placed upon their lives from birth;
at risk of not servicing their community to their fullest capacity; and
at risk of not being spiritually charged and positioned to fulfill their God-given destiny;
at risk of not enjoying a fulfilling and fruitful quality of life.
STARSCDC provides services that cater to the needs of these underserved individuals in our community.
Demographics Served
The demographics we serve are a broad range of cultures, races, and ethnicities. We serve those who are economically disadvantaged, struggling with educational pursuits or employment issues, single parents, foster care children, youth serving probation, and those at risk of homelessness. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation. We also do not discriminate on the basis of handicap, ability, or psychological condition. STARSCDC extends its services and programs to a diverse population in our targeted communities, paying close attention to those aged between 3-26 years of age in order to address educational challenges faced by these groups.
We also serve college students at The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and in many other locations throughout the City of Las Vegas.
Community Collaborations
STARSCDC works collaboratively with the following organizations:
Southern Nevada youth WIOA program
Baby Bounty
Democracy Prep
Batteries Included Next Generation Program
Three Square
Life Change Outreach enter
Kingdom Television Network
Problem
Many schools in Las Vegas have as much as 93% of their students receiving free or reduced lunch. Middle school student outcomes are below standards with developing/emerging and approaching the standards rates of: 30% in reading, 43% in math, and 42% in science. 12% of students have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 32.4 students are English language learners (ELL). Due to the high levels of poverty, these students struggle academically due to lack of support and resources to assist them. This is also very unmotivating for many of them. STARSCDC provides referrals to various agencies and charitable services for very low to no cost to our participants and their families.
Programs and Targeted Accomplishments
S.T.A.R.S. Leadership Empowerment Academy, hosted by The Community Healing Project, provides a safe and creative learning environment supported by mutual respect,
open-mindedness, and diversity. Our current goal is to ensure that the academy helps 100 low-performing students achieve academic success while simultaneously developing leadership skills. This academy provides the following:
Fundamental and Life Skills Training
Tutoring
Mentorship
Personal Reflection, and
Family Engagement Activities
The Academy’s goal is to increase the number of students who improve their test scores for their remaining scholastic years. The program is composed of a host of mentors, paid interns, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors as well as several community partnerships.
S.T.A.R.S. Leadership Empowerment Academy has a well-designed formula to ensure each student is equipped with the support and resources they need to succeed academically, emotionally, socially and physically.
Objectives
In this six-week course the Academy will aim to:
Increase the % of student leaders and guardians’ knowledge of available resources in raising their student’s CRT scores
Increase the %of student leaders who are promoted to the next grade level on time and are on track to graduate
Increase the % of student leaders who raise their reading score by the next grade level
Increase the % of student leaders’ guardians who actively engage in activities associated with assisting student leaders in their academic preparation
Increase the % of student leaders who regularly attend school
Increase the % of student leaders and guardians who possess knowledge of available resources in pursuing a post-secondary education
Increase the % of student leaders who improve their citizenship or behavior
Goals
By the end of the Academy student leaders will:
Show Academic Progress
Establish Individual Identity and Aspirations
Demonstrate an Understanding of Leadership
Gain Understanding of Student Leadership Styles
Create a Model for Humanitarian Services and Social Justice
Scope of Work: Lessons & Activities
Phase One
Personal Growth: Participants will develop knowledge of self and others through a series of activities that promote healthy relationships, self-esteem and leadership skills.
Phase Two
Leadership Development: Youth will learn the basic concepts of leadership and will understand
what it means to be a leader through participation in workshops on decision making, critical thinking, student-parent communication and responsibility.
Phase Three
Academic Success: Participants will learn how to manage their academic responsibilities as well
as enhance their academic performance through preparation for postsecondary education
workshops, activities and resources.
Phase Four
Community/Cultural Involvement & Awareness: Participates will develop knowledge and
awareness about different cultures. They will develop consciousness of issues related to the
needs in the community and diversity. They will also examine the influence of culture on the
community and participate in a community service project.
The Humanitarian Revision Movement (THRM) is a leadership outreach program that focuses on at-risk youth and operates as a component of STARSCDC. THRM was founded upon spiritual principles driven by the pursuit of social change, in respect to THRM’s mission statement, “A philanthropy-based program enhancing visionaries through symbolic creative services that promotes community, leadership and personal Prosperity.”
The Humanitarian Revision Movement is a bridge to student success by incorporating partnerships and community organizations. THRM aims to marry both its mission and that of the
Clark County School District (CCSD) to reinforce and empower student success. Each partner brings an array of resources and support to THRM. THRM provides several volunteer opportunities for high school students, parents, teachers, and other members of the community.