Gettysburg College has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education-funded 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative to support the establishment of a new community learning center on the college campus designed to provide high-quality bilingual education programs to disadvantaged students and their families in Adams County, Pennsylvania.
The center, which is expected to begin operations in September, will focus on providing comprehensive services, including academic support, arts and cultural enrichment, and counseling services.The effort is being spearheaded by Brenda Reyes Lua, associate director of the university's Center for Public Service (CPS).
The center will partner with local organizations, including Vida Charter School, the university’s Spanish department and the Innovation and Creativity Lab, to help local students in kindergarten through sixth grade and their families meet state standards in core academic subjects like reading and math.
Gettysburg CPS Director Jeff Rioux highlighted the school's commitment to community service and its role in fostering social engagement and critical thinking among students. The center is expected to serve about 90 students from local elementary schools and provide bilingual instruction, cultural activities, physical education and other programs.
Additionally, the center will operate out of two locations, Vida Charter School and Gettysburg College's El Centro program, which specifically serves Spanish-speaking families.
Key community partners in this effort include the Adams County Arts Council, Gettysburg Community Theatre, YWCA of Gettysburg and Adams County, and Phoenix Counseling.
The Public Service Center is actively seeking a Program Director for this new initiative and invites interested candidates to apply and contribute to this community-focused project.