Statements
Mission
Our mission is to empower and develop youth in underserved communities to be productive citizens in society. In addition, we strive to improve the home dynamics of our participants. As a program that is holistic in nature, we recognize the need to support participants while programming with us, but also improve their home-life. With this, we encourage better parent -child relationships, and work with both to combat growing health concerns such as, but not limited to, childhood diabetes, childhood obesity, violence, and sedentary lifestyles of families.
Background
Why We Can't Wait, Inc. was conceived after years of working with youth in a traditional fashion. The 8:00 am - 4:00 pm worked for some youth; however, as we looked at the statistics and the various crimes and murders among African American boys, we knew something had to change. Why We Can't Wait, Inc. looked at the obvious, female headed households, lack of summer employment for teens, lack of exposure to men role models, missing fathers, open air drug selling in the community, poor graduation rates, violence, and we constructed a nontraditional program to reach and teach this population. All of this, coupled with one of our colleagues crying with a mother after her 17 year old son was killed; Why We Can't Wait, Inc., was birth. The critical times in these communities for teens range from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Why We Can't Wait, Inc. brings hope, provides opportunities, develops character, and mentors these boys on there way to becoming men. Our motto: Kids don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Why We Can't Wait, Inc. has expanded since it's beginning to include WWCW After-school Academy which is funded by NAZA and includes girls as well as boys to complete homework, eat dinner, engage in social /emotional workshops and fitness activities. We also provide an aesthetic experience through field trips to the Children's theater and Tennessee Performing Arts Center(TPAC). WWCW Career Applications Regarding Students (C.A.R.S.) summer teen jobs program allows our agency to put 80 teens, 18 college students and 9 teachers to work at various sites throughout the city, courtesy of M.D.H.A and Metro Action Commission Opportunity Now Program. In addition, we provide the rites of passage program at two schools in partnership with M.N.P.S. 's Safe and Drug Free Schools. Why We Can't Wait, Inc. has a Boys to men / Girls to women Rosebuds program that operates on Friday's during the school year in conjunction with two middle schools and one high school. WWCW East started in the past couple of years mimicking our program in south Nashville. Lastly, one of the longstanding programs has been Cultivating Character in Millennial's Leadership Academy. It is an eight-week, city-wide summer enrichment program for youth, ages 6 - 16. It operates Monday through Friday, providing left and right brain enhancement, breakfast, lunch, snack and college tours as well as weekly field trips.
Impact
Why We Can't Wait, Inc. provides both traditional and nontraditional programs for youth that reside in underrepresented communities. Our impact includes in the past seven years, 300 teens gainfully employed during the summer;2)700 plus youth and teens are living a healthier lifestyle because we provided fitness and nutrition sessions that transformed the participants B.M.I. at the conclusion of each summer. 500 teens have been certified in CPR/AED/ First aid; Lastly, during the past year, all of our participants were promoted to their next grade. Our goals for the 2021 year are as follows: 1) Provide drivers education for all the participants 16 years of age and above.2) Certify participants 16 and older (swimmers) in life guarding.3) Certify participants 14 and older in First Aid and CPR training.4) Reach out to more businesses to assist in providing jobs for our participants.5) Launch the WWCW Jessie Mai Caldwell Scholarship brunch. 2020 summer impact of the WWCW South, WWCW Cultivating Character in Millennials Summer Enrichment program and WWCW C.A.R.S. Opportunity Now jobs program the following: 1) We served 30 plus boys ranging in age of 12 - 18. 2) We served 100 youth in our summer enrichment program 3) We served 40 teens in our summer jobs program. 3) 50 of our participants received certifications in CPR/First aid/ AED. 4) All the participants in the programs remained drug free and had no incidents of violent acts or criminal activity. 5) One of the original participants from the program is now a Jr. staff of our program. Cultivating Character in Millennial's Leadership Academy served 100 youth / teens with 95% of them achieving one grade level in reading during the eight-week summer enrichment experience. The number of youth served in 2020 increased from 250 to 270. The Harvard study indicates that two requirements for youth/ teen success are: 1) Self control and 2) Emotional health. Our organization will provide more social /emotional learning sessions, restorative practice circles, and a youth advisory board. Summer of 2021, Why We Can't Wait, Inc. is looking to serve 80 teens, 18 college students and 9 teachers in the W.W.C.W. Career Applications Regarding Students (C.A.R.S.) summer jobs program. Cultivating Character in Millennial's Leadership Academy is looking to expand and serve 200 youth and teens at two sites. We are introducing robotics, coding and flying drones with our partnerships with Tennessee State University 's Engineering Department and Vanderbilt University.
Needs
Why We Can't Wait, Inc.'s staff has witnessed first hand how the COVID-19 has diminished the educational process for students in underserved communities. We are holding virtual school for parents, grandparents and foster parents that have difficulty assisting their youth through the virtual learning experience. We have also partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to pass out 100 fresh fruit and vegetable boxes twice monthly. We have extended hours of service and introduced youth and teens to the power of using their voice through voting, organizing , service to the community and interactions with authority. Our agency impacts many families through partnering and being a great steward of funds. Additional funding would allow our efforts to expand, serve and empower families; therefore, producing productive adults in society.
CEO Statement
Why We Can't Wait, Inc. is unique because it provides traditional as well as nontraditional programs. Our motto: kids don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care; reminds us daily of the need to develop meaningful relationships. This is motivation to visit homes, schools and provide summer employment. In addition, our mentoring relationships have developed into all of the staff becoming surrogate fathers and mothers. We serve all ethnicities believing that they can become the next doctor, lawyer, plumber, dentist, fireman, policeman, engineer, carpenter, electrician, scientist, astronaut, entrepreneur or teacher . Our staff have lived in the housing projects so we can identify with the day to day struggles of the youth served . More importantly, we listen and give the participants an opportunity to express ideas to develop all of our programs.
Board Chair Statement
Why We Can't Wait, Inc. faces challenges in the following areas: families transitioning, business partnerships, and resources. In an effort to combat these challenges, we fundraise year around. Secondly, we continue serving the participant and family even if they move from the program service area. Lastly, we are meeting with businesses and open to meeting more in developing partnerships that would provide them with reliable workers. The successes of the program include participants developing a healthy attitude about school and getting an education. We have 100 participants that have graduated high school and are gainfully employed. We have also reduced violent incidents and witnessed more matriculating to higher education.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Youth Development - Youth Development Programs |
| Secondary Category: | Employment - Job Training |
| Tertiary Category: | Education - Educational Services |
Areas Served
Why We Can't Wait, Inc. serves youth and their families city -wide. Our nontraditional program serves inner-city boys 12 - 18, that reside in south Nashville and east Nashville. We also serve youth and teens city-wide in our summer enrichment program. Additionally, we provide WWCW After school Academy for girls & boys in middle school as a funded partner of the Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA).
| TN - Davidson |
