Cocoa Police Athletic League Program
Alliance for Neighborhood Restoration, Inc
According to the National Afterschool Alliance, “The need for afterschool and summer learning programs is especially urgent for children growing up in communities of concentrated poverty, who can benefit academically, socially, emotionally, and physically from the services and activities these programs provide. More than 20 million children and youth live in communities of concentrated poverty, many of them attending schools with high dropout rates. Quality afterschool programs keep students safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. They can improve prospects for children and youth growing up in impoverished communities. Suppose we are serious about providing equal opportunity and building a workforce that can compete in the 21st-century global economy. In that case, we must ensure that our most
vulnerable children do not miss out on the supports and opportunities afterschool programs provide.”
Cocoa PAL After School Program
Monday - Thursday
3PM – 6PM
Afterschool programs are an increasingly important vehicle for achieving many objectives, from promoting positive youth development and workforce preparation to reducing school dropout rates and community violence.
COCOA PAL ACTIVITIES
Youth Employment And Youth Leadership
Phase 1:
youth (ages 14-16) During the summer, youth receive four weeks of Job Readiness instruction. The curriculum includes researching careers, applications, resumes, interviewing, dressing for success, social and office etiquette, financial literacy, and civic responsibility.
Phase 2:
Leadership Training curriculum includes traits and skills of a leader, team-building exercises, planning and executing community projects, community needs assessments, civic responsibility, financial literacy, voluntarism, public speaking, and voting. Roundtable discussions may include teen dating violence, community violence, accountability, community pride, racism, voluntarism, community/police relations, and education.
Basketball: Basketball is an ongoing sport on Tuesdays and Thursdays from October through July. Approximately 50-60 youth between the ages of 8-14 participate. League games are held on Saturdays at various Parks throughout the county.
State of Florida PAL Youth Director’s Council Program
Florida PAL provides periodic training to each region to help facilitate the development of the YD Council and assists regional directors with community service projects and regional meetings. The Youth Directors Conference and the local youth directors’ councils are an active part of ongoing Police Athletic League programs that aim to encourage and guide our young people. When our youth directors serve their communities, their good deeds are beneficial to the people they help and the youth directors themselves. When many hands work together, much gets accomplished. The Police Athletic League Youth Directors are finding out as they pool their strengths and talents for their regional projects in their communities. The best part is how the young people feel, knowing that their efforts make a difference—knowing that spending some time cleaning up a park or reading to a sick child makes this a better place to live. Isn’t it nice to know that some young people have better things to do than hang out on street corners?
