CORE 2023 Annual Review

PREPARING SCHOLARS AND FAMILIES FOR CHOICE-FILLED LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY

2023

ANNUAL REVIEW

CORE’S MISSION IS TO ENSURE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND LEAD CHOICE-FILLED LIVES.

Dear Core Champion, 2023 stands as a year of unprecedented growth and achievement for CORE. Our expansion to five school sites and the addition of pivotal roles within our team, such as the Development Director and Director of Innovation, have significantly bolstered our capacity to create lasting impact in the communities we serve.

Highlights of 2023

• ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH: Expansion to five school sites, broadening our impact across communities.

• STRATEGIC ENHANCEMENTS: Strengthening of core operations through the introduction of a volunteer component and key staf appointments including a Grants Manager and Program Managers.

• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Launch of new Community Engagement Director position to forge valuable partnerships.

• FAMILY SUPPORT: Over 2,000 individuals served through our comprehensive family programs, with notable expansion in our Parent Academy.

In the coming year, our focus is on meeting the increasing demands of students and families in our community. We invite you to become part of the process and make an impact in our schools and in our community.

Executive Director, CORE

A YEAR OF GROWTH

2023 was an unprecedented year of growth for our organization. New schools, new staf, new positions for staf, new supporters, and of course, most importantly, new Scholars, and families.

We’ve achieved amazing growth in 12 months, and these are just a few highlights.

3

NEW SCHOOL SITES ESTABLISHED

Percentage of scholars passing in CORE classes:

83% passed Math

85.2% passed English

80.7% passed Science

326 STUDENTS onboarded for a total of 450 SCHOLARS

80%

OF OUR SCHOLARS RECEIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES

100% completed individual SCHOLAR SUCCESS plans

272 scholars benefitted from our Holiday Express program

CAREER WE CAN

CAREER WE CAN PROGRAM RE-LAUNCHED:

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE RATE

72.5%

62 Families assisted by our Operation Santa program

73 Scholars across the 5 SCHOOLS with 204 PARTNERS participating in various mentoring opportunities

• Launched "SPEED MENTORING" and partnered with Leadership Las Vegas for quarterly speaker panels

• Scholars were exposed to a wide range of career clusters

MAINTAINED A BALANCED APPROACH TO FUNDING COMBININGPUBLIC FUNDS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS

As we strive to enhance our services and programs, we uphold the following guiding principles:

IMPACT:

While scalability is essential to our growth, we will continue to emphasize the necessity of upholding the quality of our work to ensure a meaningful impact. Our commitment to community-driven work is evident in initiatives like our Parent Academy program, which has proven to bring lasting change to families and Scholars. Career We Can will continue to grow, ofering Scholars insights into real-world opportunities they might otherwise never have encountered. The 2-Gen approach remains a cornerstone as we strive to assist families in overcoming barriers and achieving economic equity.

Our unwavering commitment to a data-driven approach allows us to refine our strategies and leverage technology to capture real-time feedback, ensuring adaptability to the evolving needs of Scholars and families.

VISIBILITY:

Our commitment to championing underserved students and families is unwavering. To address the inequities they face, we actively work on building visibility and awareness. Recognizing that systemic oppression and institutionalized racism often underlie these inequities, we strive to counteract deliberate eforts to diminish their visibility.

SCALE:

Having achieved our goal of Five sites by 2025 early, we now begin working towards the next phases of growth in our long-term plan. Capacity-building is integral to our growth strategy, allowing us to provide quality programming and resources to a growing number of students.

CORE ACADEMY

Clark County Title One District schools expressed a strong interest in expanding the CORE model, primarily because it directly addresses performance plans at high-demand schools. This demand is driven mainly by the remarkable results achieved by West Preparatory Middle School's initial program. The CORE model's efectiveness stems from directly aligning interventions with school performance plans.

As CORE moves into the first phase at our newly expanded sites, 326 of the most underserved students were identified in the Summer of 2023 for inclusion in the program, which is now in its fourth month. The CORE model focuses on social-emotional learning, academic support, and comprehensive family needs assessments. Despite a waiting list of eligible students, our capacity to serve is limited.

CORE applies targeted methodologies, paving the way for a substantial, long-lasting program. With tangible, sustained improvements. In the short term, CORE aims to foster a sense of belonging among students, which is expected to lead to better attendance, A factor the National Center for Education Statistics associates with academic success. In the long term, from sixth through twelfth grade, the program aims to achieve a 100% graduation rate and positive post-secondary outcomes.

STUDENTS BECOMING SCHOLARS IS AT OUR CORE. Behind the incredible statistics (including a seventh straight year of all CORE seniors graduating from high school), are the stories of the students themselves.

CORE: STUDENT PROFILES

Zay Juan

Zay has demonstrated remarkable resilience and strength in navigating his emotional journey. He identifies moments of intense emotion as opportunities for growth, acknowledging that he is learning to guide his reactions with intention. Collaboratively, we have explored efective strategies to channel his energy into positive outlets. Six months ago, we embarked on a transformative exercise with an anger management booklet, which has proven to be an invaluable tool for Zay. He proudly shares that this resource has empowered him to de-escalate potential conflicts, preventing physical confrontations on three separate occasions. By embracing our shared coping techniques and breathing exercises, Zay is cultivating a mindful approach to his emotions, showcasing his commitment to personal development and emotional intelligence.

Juan, a reflective and introspective scholar, has shown incredible growth in his emotional expression over the past six months. Initially, his mother noticed his need for support and reached out for assistance. The CORE Social Emotional Champion engaged with Juan, and through patient and respectful engagement, a trusting relationship was fostered. By the third session, this bond allowed Juan to share his feelings of loneliness, turning a significant corner as he spoke openly for over an hour. Since then, Juan's school attendance has notably improved, and he has actively engaged in conversations

Desiree

Desiree is working on grieving. She lost her father in the beginning 2023. She never had a great relationship with him, and found it very difcult to grieve. The Champion worked on grieving and provided activities on grief. CORE also provided her with a grieving journal Desiree recently started therapy and she stated that she has been doing much better.

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn was always nervous to talk to her family and friends about sexuality. She attended an LGBTQ workshop CORE held. She asked to speak to a Champion in private, where came out as bisexual. CORE continues to work with her on acceptance and identity She recently told her family and friends that she is bisexual, and tells CORE she feels like she can be her authentic self.

CORE: PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PARENT ACADEMY

CORE’s growth this year included growing our PARENT ACADEMY PROGRAM. Parent Academy is now at all five school sites Brinley, West Prep middle and high school, Findlay & Swainston middle schools. We had over 115 parents participating in various workshops and activities, including:

Family Interest Meetings

Raising Responsible Teenagers

Raising Competent Teenagers

CPR Certifcation

Sound Bath/Mental Health Workshop

Trauma Responsive Yoga

Tie-Dye Art Family Learning

Financial Literacy (Interest, Budgeting, Parent Information Night

Foundations of Money Management Parent University

CORE: PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PARENT SUCCESSES

Jennifer

Jennifer joined CORE a year ago. During this time, she became engaged in the programming that Parent Academy had to ofer. She shared that she had a small business that she was working on. With the support of Parent Academy she was able to take English learning classes and computer classes to build her skills to help her business. She also was introduced to Nevada’s Small Business Development Center at UNLV where she completed their 6-week course for small business owners. She has also been receiving support from them and gained the confidence to join the parent advisory board this school year.

Dionicio and Imelda

Dionicio and Imelda had a shared goal to learn English. They had put this goal aside in the past due to their busy schedules and raising their children. Now that their children are older, they gave themselves the opportunity to learn English together. Parent Academy gave them both the opportunity to join a rigorous English learning program and they are now one class closer to completing the program. They also received English learning materials to support their goal at home. Their instructor has shared their significant improvement in their language skills and dedication. They have also participated in more Parent Academy events due to the support that they received.

Elsa

Elsa has been a part of the CORE community for over seven years. She has had four of her children participate in CORE. Elsa has participated in all aspects of Parent Academy through advocacy, volunteering, and participation. She has attended the majority of parent meetings and shared with new parents coming into CORE about her experience. She has grown into a strong advocate for parents, scholars, her family and herself. Through the support of Parent Academy, she has been able to learn English, gain computer skills, get CPR certified and attend a variety of workshops. She has gained great English skills, and her confidence has grown immensely throughout the years to become a leader for Parent Academy.

PARENT ACADEMY NOW HAS A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT TO PARENTS AT ALL SCHOOL SITES TO HIGHLIGHT PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

ALUMNI NETWORK

Carlos, Once cloaked in the shadow of isolation during the pandemic, embarked. On a transformative journey. The world had contracted into silent stillness and like many felt the weight of solitude as he entered the 10th grade. During these trying times, the CORE program extended a hand, becoming a beacon of support. and guidance. The nurturing environment of CORE, with its dedicated staf and robust social-emotional training, became the crucible for Carlos's resilience. As the world outside battled the upheaval, Carlos channeled his energies into the nourishment of his mind and spirit within the supportive embrace of CORE. Each day was a new step, each challenge a lesson in growth. With unwavering determination, he endured and thrived, his potential unfolding like a vibrant blossom. Once a quiet observer, now stood proudly at the pinnacle of his class as Valedictorian.

The CORE support system doesn’t end at high school graduation. Through the Alumni Network, we continue to check in and provide support to our Scholars as they enter the college and career arena.

50 ACTIV ALUMNI

6 ALUMNI GRADUATED from a FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE and received their BACHELOR’S DEGREE

1 at the LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

22 currently in HIGHER EDUCATION

CORE: PROGRAM OVERVIEW

CAREER WE CAN

In 2023, our Career We Can program took of to new heights. Instituting a “speed mentoring” program at each school allows a number of community professionals and industry leaders to meet with numerous Scholars and give them a taste of what their career paths and goals can be.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERSHIP LAS VEGAS, we present quarterly speaker panels focused on diferent vocational tracks. And field trips to businesses included taking Scholars to visit operations at House of Blues, UNLV and GIRRL Live 2023.

PLANNED 2024 CAREER TRIPS INCLUDE A VISIT TO HARRY REID AIRPORT and MELROSE PRODUCTION STUDIOS

• 73 SCHOLARS from both the AGASSI and BRINLEY cohorts attended at least one Career We Can event

• ATTENDANCE for all Career We Can events in 2023, including scholars who attended more than 1 event, total to 204 TIMES .

CWC also provided six group mentorship sessions. Three sessions were part of a monthly group mentorship series with Anthony Spiegel, in which a group of 4 scholars discussed goals, challenges, and received guidance from Mr. Spiegel. Three sessions were part of a limited series teaching resume building and interviewing skills with a group of 5 scholars

In 2024, we look forward to the following events:

CAREERS IN HEALTH CAREERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

POST-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION PATHWAYS

VOLUNTEERS

This year we had over 200+ volunteers performing over significant hours of volunteer service

Our middle school Scholars are required to perform 30 hours of community service. This year 145 Scholars met their goals and helped our community with 616 hours of service!

OUR PARENTS ALSO GOT INVOLVED BY PARTICIPATING IN:

• CORE End of Year Celebration

• CORE Orientation

• Nevada Department of Education “Lights On Afterschool” event

• Holiday Express

• The Just One Project during the month of April to assist in the distribution of food to the community surrounding J.D. Smith Middle School.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

We couldn’t do what we do each day if it wasn’t for the incredible community support we get from all our partners:

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

WEST PREP ACADEMY

SWAINSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

BRINLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

FINDLAY MIDDLE SCHOOL

DEMOCRACY PREP

CORE SERVICE

PROVIDERS PARTNERS

PROJECT 150

THE JUST ONE PROJECT

PROJECT MARILYN

THREE SQUARE

GENESIS PROGRAM WITH ROSEMAN UNIVERSITY

BABY’S BOUNTY

EYE CARE FOR KIDS

OLIVE CREST

SOLUTIONS OF CHANGE

VIVIDA DERMATOLOGY

YOGA HAVEN

PARENT ACADEMY

PARTNERS

FDR Institute

Afordable Computer Training

Host Global

Small Business Development Center

CPR Society

SCE Credit Union

Dad Inc.

Yoga Haven

Roseman University (Genesis)

A.D. Guy Knowledge Center

CCSD Family Engagement Center

Baby’s Bounty

Solutions of Change

Culinary Academy

SCE Federal Credit Union

Piero’s Italian Restaurant

Nevada Donor Network

Nevada Small Business Development Center

Nevada PBS

Three Square

COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING PARTNERS

Prevent Child Abuse of Nevada

The Aspen Institute

Fulfillment Fund

Local 872

First Friday Foundation

RTC

Odobo Collective

United Way of Southern Nevada

Ladies in Training

SPRAT

House of Straus

Unshakeable

CAREER WE CAN PARTNERS

Lizbeth Lazaro, Core Alumni

Gregorio Alberto, Core Alumni

Vincent Rotolo, Good Pie

Kortney Olson, GRRRL

Live Nation -

House of Blues Las Vegas and Foundation Room

Kristin Vargas and Lindsay Howard, Leadership Las Vegas

Jason Jorjorian, LGA Architecture

Myron Martin, The Smith Center

Flor De Liz and Jack-Peter Guior, Flor De Liz Guior

Fashion

Senator Edgar Flores

Jennifer Hurtado, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tony Penn, Penn Restaurant Group

Anthony Spiegel

Chase Kobrin and Zaur Alikov, Beacon Evo

Dr. Archie C. Perry, Jr., M.D. - Desert Orthopedic Center

Jill Schneider - Vice President of Sales/West Coast / HOSTS Global

Nathan Pinkney, Casey's Cleaning

Michael Birch

Sarah Frankosky, Pacific Advisors

Michael Flores

Dan Sinyard, Reliable Pest Control Business

Steven Peralta, Nevada Donor Network Foundation

Eric Strain, assemblageSTUDIO

Laurae Cliford, Dreamscape Companies

Ricardo Guzman, Interior Logic Group

Rachell Villasenor, RN

Dr. Bo Bernhard, UNLV

Michelle Sanders

FUNDING

PUBLIC & PRIVATE FUNDS

In 2021 we began developing a funding model based on the philosophy that it takes long-term, whole-community investments to solve whole-community problems - like achieving equity and excellence in underperforming schools. With this in mind, we set to work on combining both public funds from sources such as federal and state grants with private funds from foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Our aim is to create a combined community investment in which everyone has a stake.

POWERED BY THE ROGERS FOUNDATION

CORE is “Powered by The Rogers Foundation” - this means that through a long-term commitment of support, The Rogers Foundation continues to cover a majority of the administrative and development costs of our organization. This unique funding model continues to nurture the longterm development of a local, community-based approach to building an education infrastructure designed specifically for our needs right here in Las Vegas. We are so proud to be part of The Rogers Foundation family of organizations and causes, a network that is leading the way in pursuing change and excellence for the education of Southern Nevada’s youth.

NV DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 21ST CENTURY GRANT

CORE is now in its third year of funding from the Nevada Department of Education. The 21st Century Community Learning Center program is designed to provide out-of-school academic enrichment opportunities along with activities designed to complement regular academic programs. The program also has a 2Gen mindset, focused on funding Learning Centers that can ofer resources to parents and school-age students. The CORE model is a natural fit for realizing the aims of the NDE 21st Century grant program, and the program provides CORE with a pathway for sustainable investments that will allow us to match state funds with private resources.

The grant allowed us to launch our successful Parent Academy, as well as support the establishment of a long-term site at West Prep Academy focused on high school Scholars.

ARPA

The pandemic changed life and education as we know it. The American Rescue Plan Act was enacted to help bridge gaps caused by the pandemic. With education and socialemotional learning so impacted by the crisis, CORE knew that utilizing ARPA funding to help bring equity into the mix as schools returned to in-person learning was critical.

CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS

ARPA funds from the City of North Las Vegas helped establish our first new middle school program at Swainston and Findlay Middle School.

CITY OF LAS VEGAS

ARPA funds from the City of Las Vegas are going towards the selection and implementation of CORE programming at a new school in the community zip codes most needed in early 2023.

CCSD ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL

EMERGENCY RELIEF (ESSER) FUNDING

Funding from ESSER went to establishing CORE programming in West Prep Middle School, allowing us to deepen our presence there.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS FOUNDATION

Hometown heroes, the Vegas Golden Knights, continued supporting CORE this year with a $10,000 gift to support programming at West Prep. We appreciate the support of the franchise.

UWSN COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT

Now in its third year of the United Way of Southern Nevada Community Impact Grant, the $50,000 grant for this year allowed us to support growing our staf as we expand programming into other schools.

IT TAKES DEDICATED MENTORS AND PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS OUR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CHAMPIONS AND NEW SCHOLAR ADVISORS TO TURN THE PLANS FOR OUR PROGRAMMING INTO REALITIES. We are incredibly grateful for the investment of the UWSN network in strengthening our organization’s ability to meet the needs of more Scholars and families.

NSHE – UNLV

This $93K grant supports the Career We Can program, supporting mentorship, community service, increased academic standing, and knowledge of career pathways.

DONORS

A. Roxanne Brown

A’Esha Goins Household

Advergus Taylor Household

Alan and Christy Molasky

Amy & Tim Hunter

Andrea Shay

Andrew Calhoun III Household

Andrew Furman

Angela Martin Household

Anna Beasley

Anne Winters Household

Antwine Blade Household

Aristocrat Technologies, Inc

Arnetta Meagher Household

Bank of Nevada

Barbara Molasky and Mike Sloan

Brironni Alex

Cari Marshall

Carmelita Smith Household

Charles Miles Household

Christina Lovato

Ciann Gray Household

Clarence Espinosa Household

Clark County School District

Claudia Rowe

Cristina Hinajon Household

Cultivate

Cynthia and Joseph M. Asher

Cynthia Ellis Household

Damean Hurt Household

Darrel Matthews Household

Darrell Thomas Household

Darren Barnes Household

Darryl Mickens Household

Dawn Mack

Deanna Riccardi

Deborah Jones Household

Derrick Young Household

Dion Davis Household

Donald Barlow

Falisa Deloach Household

Frances Ray Household

Francine Guarino Household

Frank Long Household

Franklin Grifn Household

Garland Jackson Household

Gary Ford Household

Gina Collins Household

Google

Greg Berkowitz

Greg Novak Household

Hosts Global

Jason Mills

Jason Wilhite

Jef Jones

Jefrey Burist Household

Jenny Tate Household

Joe Kennedy (jr.)

John "Chip" Carter

Johnnetta Lamb Household

K. Stephen Chapital Household

Kevin Nash Household

Lamont Hicks Household

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

LaShelle LeLewis Household

LaTonya Foster Household

Latoya Holman

Laura Johnson Household

Lincoln Dynamic Foundation

Linda Harrison Household

Lindsay Harper and Jeremy Hume

Live Nation

Lou Collins Household

Malik Asim Household

Marsha Miller and Sam Schaul

Marvin Bailey Household

McCarthy Building Companies

McKenzie Scott

Melissa Zamora

MGM Resorts International

Michael Frey Household

Michael Jones Household

Michael W Amie Household

Michelle Loosbrock

Michelle Sanders

Molasky Ventures, LLC

Nerolee A Bush

Network For Good

Nevada Department of Education

Nevada Donor Network

Nicolas P Stathakos Household

NV Energy Foundation

Orlando Jones Household

Phil Wilkes Household

Pitney Bowes

PlayStudios

Plaza Hotel & Casino

Premiere Audio

Proect Real NV

ProServ

Rachel Rojas

Rachelle Williams Household

Ralston Murden Household

Raman Sud Household

Rashad Strawter Household

Renee Gresham Household

Republic Services

Robert Turner Household

Robin and Danny Greenspun

Robin Mims Household

Robin Watson Household

Roderick A Oneal Household

Rodney Thomas Household

Roshan Samuel Household

RTC of Southern Nevada

Samuel Casey Household

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Shannon Thomas Household

Sharon Beal-Fowler Household

Sheri Jones Household

Sherry Marlow

Speedway Children's Charities

Stanley Tomchin, Peter Co and Laura

Johns Bolhouse

Stephen Kadoich Household

Sterling Black Household

Steve Martin Household

Steven Johnson Household

Steven Peralta

Stratosphere Las Vegas

Tang Foundation

Tap N Ash Social Club

Terrence Whittier Household

The Big Thistle

The Thomas Spiegel Family Foundation

The Whitt Family Foundation

Timothy Simmons Household

Todd and Sandra Marshall

Tony Pierce Household

Tony Thomas Household

Tremayne Lundy Household

Trina Jiles Household

United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN)

Vania Richardson Household

William Spears Household

Windsong Trust

Wynn Resorts Foundation

Yolanda Brown Household

Yvette Taylor Household

AS WE STEP INTO 2024, CORE is poised for even greater strides in impact, visibility, and scale.

With the early achievement of our goal of five sites by 2025, we are now focusing on further expansion and deepening our engagement with scholars, families, and the community. Our unwavering commitment to driving meaningful change through education remains at the forefront of our mission.

A heartfelt thank you to our donors, partners, and the entire CORE family. Your support and belief in our mission fuel our progress and inspire us to reach new heights each year.

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