Dear friends of Nehemiah:
 
Summer – a word that conjures up a lot: free time, friends, late bedtimes, no school, and fun. For those of us at Nehemiah, it brings to mind other words: academic enrichment, mentoring, positive outcomes and most of all – kids!
Summer is a critical time for Nehemiah because it’s a critical time for
African-American youth in Madison.
Our summer programs offer an important boost to African-American students’ academic success, leadership development as well as their social and emotional growth.  Two programs jump to the top during summer – ACE and BROTHER.
• ACE (Academic Center for Excellence) will serve over 40 kindergarten through 5^th graders this summer helping them improve their math and literacy skills while developing positive behaviors and leadership skills in
a six-week, all day format.
• BROTHER (Building Real Opportunities That Help Everyone Rise) will take 15 African American middle school boys on a trip to Jackson, Mississippi for a service/learning trip. They will explore their cultural roots and will learn about civil rights history. As in all BROTHER programming participants will experience the power of same race mentoring with active learning strategies that tackle topics of self-esteem, character, choices and the academic and career futures.
We invite you to partner with us.
We offer all our programs below cost – but for many families even a reduced fee is too great. You can make a difference. You can make it possible for one or more youth to participate in ACE or BROTHER through your financial gift.  This is a major way that we help our children keep a step ahead of the achievement gap.
Our goal is to raise $12,500 by June 30th for summer 2016 scholarships. Will you give a gift and help youth participate in ACE or BROTHER this summer?
• A gift of $250 will pay for one middle-school boy to be part of our Rites of Passage trip to Jackson, Mississippi from July 17-21^st.
• A gift of $350 will pay for one elementary age youth to be part of ACE from July 18^th – August 26^th.
• A gift of any size will help Madison’s African-American youth have a safer summer with activities that promote positive connections to school and our community.
 
We invite you to give online by going to the GIVING link and clicking on the  “Donate Now” button and selecting “scholarships” as your gift designation. If you prefer sending a check we invite you to use the enclosed envelope to mail your check to Nehemiah. Every gift, whether online or through a check, is tax deductible.
While the word “summer” brings a smile to many of our faces, I think these pictures of youth participating in ACE and BROTHER bring us even bigger smiles.
 
Together Transforming,
Rev. Dr. Alex Gee – President and Founder
Ozanne Anderson – Director of ACE
Anthony Ward – Director of BROTHER
P.S.  If you’d like to visit one of our summer youth programs and see the terrific things that are taking place send us an email using info@nehemiah.org or give us a call at 608-257-2453 and ask for Sue.