Pa'lante Transformative Justice

Breaking barriers lifting spirits inspiring young women to excel intellectually and academically providing access to arts and culture supporting struggling young families as they move toward self-sufficiency shifting from a community dealing with the challenges of poverty to one that is a leader in innovative education reform these define the work of The Care Center. The Care Center is an alternative education program for pregnant and parenting teens who have dropped out of high school. Before coming to The Care Center, many of our students say they had fallen out of love with learning, that they didn't think of themselves as smart, and that school was not for them. All students attending The Care Center previously dropped out of school, most before getting pregnant. They were on track for minimum wage jobs, with public assistance as a safety net. Yet every single one of our students wanted a better life for themselves and their children ; they just did not have the tools to get there. What does it take to instill a love of education, an understanding of one's personal gifts and talents, and the determination to follow a path toward more satisfying and higher paying jobs? We looked at the educational practices that lead young people to become life-long engaged learners. We explored the question: What components create the best education that money can buy? We saw that the quality of education offered at our nation's best college preparatory schools yields students who succeed in the classroom and who carry their learning skills into adulthood. These schools demonstrate proven methods to successfully engage learners and educate young people. We saw that these prep schools share some significant common attributes. All focus on exposure to arts, humanities, and athletics. And they all share three very important building blocks:

The Holyoke YMCA, located in Holyoke, MA, is dedicated to promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility within the community. With a wide range of programs including swim lessons, wellness classes, and youth programs, the Y fosters connections through fitness, sports, and shared interests. With a history spanning over 130 years, the YMCA actively addresses social needs and encourages families to come together while improving overall health and well-being. The organization prioritizes creating safe spaces for children and offering support to those feeling isolated, demonstrating its commitment to community enrichment. Generated from the website

Holyoke Boys and Girls Club is a youth organization providing skills and educational training to the youth. The clubs activities include character and leadership building programs, arts, sports competitions and educational and skills training programs. It offers events, competitions and trainings in dance, music, arts and crafts, painting and photography. It also offers variety of sports programs, including basketball, billiards, aerobics, soccer, rowing, swimming and football. Additionally, the club organizes health awareness camps, nutrition programs and camps on prevention of substance abuse. The facilities offered by the club include a gymnasium, a swimming pool, water park and basketball courts. It also has technology centers, libraries and games rooms. The club publishes newsletters and also offers summer, family support and daycare programs. The club is located in Hollyoke, Mass.