On September 29, 2023, at the Iowa Afterschool Alliance IMPACT Afterschool Conference, St. Mark Youth Enrichment & the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque were jointly presented with the Iowa Afterschool Alliance 2023 Community Partner of the Year Award.
The award was in recognition of the pair’s longstanding partnership and this year’s pilot to offer St. Mark Dubuque afterschool programs on location at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque.
Both organizations have a long history of partnership, with roots dating back to 2015 when the two worked together to reach more students in St. Mark’s summer program.
St. Mark had challenges with limited programming space, preventing the organization from enrolling more students. The Boys and Girls Club opened its doors to St. Mark by providing additional classroom space while also being able to reach more children in their summer meal programs with breakfast, snacks, and lunches.
This partnership expanded this school year with a pilot offering St. Mark after-school programs on-site at the Club.
This year, St. Mark has its own dedicated, independent space within the Boys and Girls Club, allowing its staff to be able to create a physical environment that better supports students’ needs. This new collaboration provides additional resources to families and supports both organizations in reaching more families. Examples include being able to feed students a hot dinner before they go home, having extended programming with the Boys and Girls Club after 5:30 p.m., and connecting to a program students can attend beyond 5th grade.
In an earlier release, Casey Smith, Director of Community Development at the Boys and Girls Club shared what this year’s pilot program means to the kids in both programs, “This gives those kids a spot to go after they age out of the St. Mark program. Then, they’re affiliated with what we have to offer, we’ve already made friends, and it’s a familiar place to come where they can continue to grow and participate in programs with us.”
The joint venture is also partnering with the Dubuque RTA and Dubuque trolleys to transport students who attend Audubon, Lincoln, and Marshall Elementary schools to the Boys and Girls Club each day.
In an email announcement from Heidi Brown, Director of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance, Heidi shared why St. Mark & the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque were selected as this year’s winner.
“This prestigious accolade is a testament to your unwavering dedication, commitment, and tireless efforts in creating a positive and enriching environment for the youth in our community,” she said. “Your collective impact on the lives of young people is nothing short of remarkable, and it is heartening to see your hard work recognized and celebrated.”