The people of St. James believe that the life of a child is significantly influenced by the relationships with those around them. An important human value is a sense of belonging and accomplishment and the ability to connect with peers and role models. These relationships can either be of a positive nature or of a negative nature. For example, the relationships teachers, grandparents, and mentors can have with children are often positive, increase a child's self-regard and can be life-lasting and affirming. The inverse is also true, however, as can be seen when a child affiliates with a street gang which may lead to bad choices involving criminal activity, which also has life-long impact. As a people of faith who believe that we are all better off when our children are well-provided for, St. James implemented an innovative after-school program to address the needs of at-risk children. Through the use of our space, volunteers, and staff to foster a positive, nurturing after-school experience focused on music, art, homework assistance and the provision of a healthy, nutritious meal while providing positive role models.

Since 2005, the St James After School Program has provided arts enrichment to low-income fourth- and fifth-graders. We are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization working to foster nurturing opportunities that enhance children's confidence and artistic creativity. We provide the students transportation, nutritious snacks, inspiring role models, and great fun. Currently, we serve 26 fourth-and fifth-graders from Jefferson and Lincoln Elementary Schools.

We enlist professional artists who teach through Wichita's Arts Partners program to work with the children on a regular basis. We also partner with Roots & Shoots, an organization that helps children learn about environmental issues and community care through hands-on creative projects.

Arts Partners

Arts Partners enhances children's learning by integrating the arts into the PreK-12 curriculum in collaboration with educational, civic, and cultural organizations. Through collaboration with Arts Partners, our students have been exposed to a wide variety of artistic disciplines. Our goal is to have an Arts Partners artist work with our students once a week. Recently, the children have worked with artists on pottery, cartooning, collages made from recycled materials, and lyric writing.

Roots & Shoots

Roots & Shoots, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute, is a youth-driven, global network of more than 8,000 groups in almost 100 countries. Together, youth of all ages are working to improve our world through service learning projects that promote care and concern for animals, the environment, and the human community. With Roots & Shoots, our students helped St James Episcopal Church as well as their elementary schools, recycle aluminum cans. They decided to donate the funds raised from the project to the Humane Society, the Children's Home, and the Lord's Diner.

The St James After School Program depends on the generosity of the community. We welcome your tax-deductible contributions, as well as donations of healthy non-perishable snacks and supplies. Please send your donations to:

St. James After School Program 3750 E. Douglas Wichita, KS 67208

Meet our After School Program Director Caryn Johnson. Caryn grew up in Missoula, MT.  She received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Central Washington University, and attended the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.  During her time in Berkeley, she worked with Mentoring for Academic Success, tutoring children in fourth and fifth grade.  She also assisted the director to hold a summer Youth Writing Festival.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Caryn Johnson, afterschool@stjameswichita.org

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