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The Third Street Community Center (Third Street) offers a variety of programs for children, youth, adults and seniors. Our Programs are designed to complement each other in order to foster a holistic approach to optimizing the potential of the whole family.
Inspiring Young Minds and Families is a Third Street initiative that promotes life-long learning by inspiring children to want to attend college, be socially responsible and to adopt healthy behaviors. This initiative includes youth programs such as the After School Academic Program, Tech Friday, the Robotics Program and the Summer of Learning Program. Programs are designed to create a pathway of support for children from elementary school to successful transition into middle school and beyond.
The primary educational approach in this initiative is project based learning. This strategy engages children and adults through hands-on interactive activities. Activities are designed to connect theory to practical real-world applications, especially in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM-advocated by advanced learning environments). This didactic teaching method has led to the creation of innovative programs that introduce youth to career opportunities in the technology sector.
Inspiring Young Minds and Families utilizes a project based learning strategy within the framework of a whole child, whole family, and whole community approach. This approach recognizes the impact of volunteers in creating an energetic learning environment that helps children envision a path towards a college education. Parents also feel inspired to become a part of this learning community through their own involvement in the Adult Education Program.
Leading Strong and Healthy Lives is an agency wide initiative that integrates a wellness component into all Third Street programs. The primary goal of this initiative is to increase levels of physical activity and to encourage healthy eating habits in children, adults and seniors.
With the support of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, this initiative started as a series of nutrition and cooking workshops for adults in 2007. In 2009, a Seniors Program brought an array of community based fitness classes and nutrition activities for seniors living in the City of San Jose. In addition, the nutrition content of refreshments and foods provided to children enrolled in Third Street programs was improved, and physical activity became an integral component of the After School Academic Program and the Summer of Learning Program.
Today, Leading Strong and Healthy Lives continue to develop into a community wide effort to promote healthy lifestyles. Third Street Programs do change lives-forever!
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