Harlem Youth Access is a project of HPC and is an Internet based after school youth program that teaches young people between 8 and 18 communications and leadership skills. The purpose of the program is to provide underserved youth with skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in school, pursue higher education and lifelong learning, becoming community leaders and find employment requiring skills in electronic communications, research and publishing. 

To form a bridge from our community to the nation at-large HPC has teamed up with PBS via a television program geared to develop mathematical skills for children 8 -14 years old. CYBERCHASE is a program offered by WNET-13 programming each day. HPC uses this program in its three (3) 21st Century Learning Centers after-school programs. The programs utilizes video and an interactive online interface.

The Harlem Partnership Center is one of 18 community-based-organizations selected to participate in the national launch of Science Quest - a unique after school program funded by the National Science Foundation. The program's goal is to foster the next generation of scientists and educators in under-served populations such as minorities, girls, and children with disabilities. Community volunteers and center staff provide youth participants with support, guidance, and mentoring.

As a participating member of the CSD Six 21st Century Learning Grant the HPC teamed up to use the Spaghetti Book Club, which is a place for kids who love to read and talk about books! It is the largest site of book reviews written and illustrated by kids for kids. The Spaghetti Book Club was created as a way to support and encourage kids' love for reading by giving them an opportunity to connect, on a personal level, with the books they are reading and then share their reactions, thoughts, and opinions with family members, friends, and kids around the world.

Also, the Spaghetti Book Club's Literacy Program is an innovative literacy program that integrates reading, writing, art and technology by teaching students how to write and illustrate book reviews. Much to their delight, the reviews are then published on the Spaghetti Book Club web site.

The Spaghetti Book Club helps students develop critical reading and writing skills by providing them with a meaningful context in which they learn how to think critically about the books they read; engage in reflective dialog with teachers and peers; express their opinions and reactions in conversation and writing; and write and publish for an intended audience. At the end of the project, it is quite a thrill for the students to see their work published on the web!

HY Access