About Us

MPowering Kids is an after-school program providing tutoring, homework help, cultural enrichment, and community service programs for motivated students in under-served communities.  We follow the students from 4th grade through high school graduation, and focus on academics, cultural enrichment, and community service to help prepare them for college and a productive life.

Federal studies show that after-school programs have a direct impact on students’ academic achievements, as well as their ability to avoid gangs, teenage pregnancy, and being a victim of crime.

MPowering Kids serves promising, yet economically disadvantaged, students that do not have access to after-school programs that enhance educational learning.

MPowering Kids students have outperformed their peers on standardized tests have achieved major academic gains.  Read More About MPowering Kids' Academic Gains.

 

“MPowering Kids is a tremendous help to me and my family.   Because Spanish is my first language I don’t always know the meaning of the homework and cannot help my son academically as much as the people at MPowering Kids.  I think MPowering Kids is a great program and a wonderful opportunity for my child.” - Mother of 5th grade MPowering Kids student

During the third grade year, MPowering Kids selects promising students who come from economically disadvantaged families to apply to the MPowering Kids program.  All of our students are on the Free/Reduced Lunch program, because their family income falls below the federal poverty level.

Each year a new class of 12-16 fourth graders is added. The majority of students come from Latino backgrounds, with other cultures such as Haitian, African-American and Indian backgrounds also represented. Many of the students come from homes where English is a second language, therefore making it difficult to receive homework help from their parents.

All of the children who participate in the program are considered “at risk” due to income levels and exposure to gangs, drugs and teen pregnancy during their school years. However, each student has demonstrated strong academic potential, sincere motivation, and a commitment to participate in the nine-year program.

About our Staff: MPowering Kids uses a small paid staff to create the curriculum, teach the students, recruit, train and organize a team of volunteers and keep the program running. In addition to our paid staff, we rely on community volunteers to keep our overhead costs low and service level high.  Our staff brings commitment, caring, plus the highest degree of knowledge and professionalism available. When you read the bios of our key staff, we're sure you'll agree.

Elizabeth (Liz) Moglia Jackson — Director of Programs
Liz joins MPowering Kids with a wealth of unique skills and experience that add incredible value to the program and the participants. As the Director of Programs, Liz's responsibilities include creating after-school curriculum that complements the classroom learning, working directly with the students, as well as working closely with the teachers, guidance counselors and school administration to provide personalized attention and support for each student.

Most recently Liz was a consultant and producer at Children’s PressLine, an after-school journalism program for 8-18 year-olds. Previously, Liz produced an award-winning, educational children’s radio show, " New York Kids" on WNYC Public Radio. During her tenure at New York Kids, Liz developed curriculum guides, helped create the show’s corresponding instructional web site, and taught weekly workshops in schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Liz was a museum educator at the Museum of Television & Radio where she taught media history classes to groups of all ages earlier in her career. Liz received her Masters in Communication from New York University’s Graduate School of Education and her B.A. in English and sociology from Bucknell University.

Linda Ritchie — C.E.O. and Executive Director
Linda serves as the C.E.O. and the Executive Director of the MPowering Kids Board of Directors.  As C.E.O., Linda focuses the organization on delivering the strongest array of services to our students, creating strong ties with the community and school district, as well as developing metrics of success for the program in order to measure student and program performance.

Linda's corporate background brings a high level of professionalism and accountability to MPowering Kids.  Her career has focused on launching and growing profitable business units in global high tech corporations. Most recently, Linda ran the $32 million online E-Commerce business for Epson America. Prior to joining Epson in 1995, Linda was the Director of Marketing Communications for Gemstar/TV Guide Corporation, where she launched the VCR Plus+ technology in the United States.  Linda attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for both her BA and MBA studies.

Phoebee Celestin - Middle School Academic Program Coordinator
Phoebee works directly with the MPowering Kids middle school students.  In her position as the Academic Program Coordinator, Phoebee is responsible for creating after-school curriculum that reinforces classroom learning in a fun way, as well as teaching and tutoring the students.  As the students face more exposure to gangs, drugs and teenage pressures in the Middle School, Phoebee uses her skills as a guidance counselor to assist the students with conflict resolution and life skills.

Phoebee is also a Family Educator and Adult Basic Education Instructor at Westbury "Even Start".  Phoebee received her Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Public Justice from State University of New York at Oswego.

Karen Blank - Community Affairs and Program Associate

Karen has a wide range of experience specifically in volunteer coordination, special events and fundraising.  She comes to us from the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation where she was the Special Events Coordinator.  Prior to her work at the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Karen earned experience as the Director of Marketing at Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation as well as the National Geographic Society and GETKO Group Inc.  Karen received her B.A. in English from Le Moyne College.

Find out more about the people behind our organization that volunteer their time to make MPowering Kids the best we can be!

Our Board of Directors is made up of philanthriopic, community and corporate leaders that are dedicated to making a difference in the world; BOARD OF DIRECTORS.   If you have an interest in making a difference by serving on the MPowering Kids Board of Directors, please email info@mpoweringkids.org

MPowering Kids' ADVISORY BOARD is made up of top education and social/behavioral experts in the country.  Their involvement assures that MPowering Kids is constantly bringing the top services to our students and addressing the needs of the "whole" child in terms of the pressures they are facing at home and at school.

The team of VOLUNTEERS that work with the MPowering Kids students creates one of the most special bonds for the students.  The one-on-one tutoring and mentoring provided by the volunteers was one of the favorite things mentioned about MPowering Kids in a student survey.  By helping a student learn, you are empowering their mind and creating a strong, self-confident child.  What a gift!  Check out some of our the profiles of some of our volunteers and how easy it is to sign up for just a few hours a week or for a special event  Profiles

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