Member Directory

Address	945 2nd St SE Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Phone	(434) 817-1121
Website	http://c4kclubhouse.org
Primary Contact	Kala Somerville
Primary Email	kala@c4kclubhouse.org
Executive Director	Kala Somerville
Primary Focus Area	Children/Youth (non-education)
Service Areas	Albemarle Charlottesville

Mission Statement

Computers4Kids is about computers and so much more! C4K's mission is to empower underserved youth by bringing together technology and imagination through supportive mentoring, youth-driven programming, and skill building for life success. We provide a creative and safe out-of-school learning environment where local low-income middle and high school youth work with volunteer mentors and staff to build college and work readiness skills. At C4K young people explore their own ideas, build skills, and gain confidence in themselves through positive relationships, the mastery of technology, and the opportunity to get a free computer with lifetime support.

Overview

C4K provides year-round, one-on-one and group mentoring with a focus on building relationships and skills. Youth are matched with community volunteer mentors and meet at least 1 hour each week for about a year. Our demonstrated strength is to provide youth a pathway to self-sufficiency through mentoring, foundational skill building, and digital inclusion; which we have done consistently since 2001. Our mentoring program, evaluated by UVA in 2003, was found to have a significant positive impact on youth. Our program follows the evidence-based "Elements of Effective Practice" developed by the National Mentoring Partnership. In 2014 C4K earned full partner status with Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP), a validation of quality programming. Our Executive Director is part of a panel responsible for setting statewide standards for mentoring programs.

Key Programs

Program 1
Title:	C4K Clubhouse
Description:	C4K is a member of The Clubhouse Network, an international community of over 100 Clubhouses worldwide, headquartered at the Museum of Science Boston, and started over 20 years ago in collaboration with the MIT Media lab. Through The Clubhouse, C4K has access to a rich set of evidence-based research, industry best practices, and socially innovative programming. Clubhouse @ C4K focuses on creating a community of lifelong learning, productivity, and provides an inclusive environment that embraces and honors the diversity of our community. The Clubhouse affords youth members the opportunity to engage in expanded technology skill-building and collaboration. In Clubhouse, members explore and discover their own interests through hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities. Clubhouse resources provide C4K members greater opportunities to develop college and work readiness skills, learn about potential careers, participate in educational field trips, teen summits and speaker series, and to apply for college scholarships.
Examples of Program Success:	In our 15 years of serving over 1,400 local youth, 97% have graduated from high school on time. We offer daily opportunities for youth to engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities. Youth members receive a free home computer with lifetime support. Clubhouse @ C4K provides youth services unlikely to be available elsewhere without significant cost to families. C4K helps prevent alternative higher cost services to our community including healthcare, additional social programs, lost tax revenue, increased incarceration, and lost earnings potential.

Program 2
Title:	Mentoring
Description:	C4K provides year-round, one-on-one and group mentoring with a focus on building relationships and skills. Youth are matched with community volunteer mentors and meet at least 1 hour each week for about a year.
Examples of Program Success:	C4K's demonstrated strength is to provide youth a pathway to self-sufficiency through mentoring, foundational skill building, and digital inclusion; which we have done consistently since 2001. Our mentoring program, evaluated by UVA in 2003, was found to have a significant positive impact on youth. Our program follows the evidence-based "Elements of Effective Practice" developed by the National Mentoring Partnership. In 2014 C4K earned full partner status with Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP), a validation of quality programming. Our Executive Director is part of a panel responsible for setting statewide standards for mentoring programs.