The Youth to College Literacy Program works with multiple school sites and community centers in an effort to combat the growing educational inequities in low-income schools. The program immerses USD students in the community for 10 hours a week through Federal Work Study. This significant amount of time spent in the community allows college students to build meaningful relationships with K-12 students, helps fill the growing needs in school classrooms and after school programs, and raises the awareness of inequities in our education system. USD students are exposed to the larger social issues faced by children and families in the San Diego area and, through intentional trainings and reflections, the program seeks to inspire college students to become civically engaged change-makers.

After School 2.0

After School 2.0 is an adjacent program that creates curriculum for after school programs. The curriculum encourages self-expression, critical thinking, civic engagement, and improved literacy skills among K-12 students. The curriculum is designed through community partnerships, Center for Service-Learning staff, and with graduate and undergraduate students. Federal Work Study students and USD volunteers are also placed in these after school programs to help sustain their growth and create meaningful school-community relationships. The curriculum created by After School 2.0 includes:

• A journaling project and community circle at Montgomery Middle School's Homework Club that seeks to build community, while improving literacy skills, public speaking, and self-expression;

• Grade-level, hands-on science lessons created and taught by undergraduate USD science students at the Bayside at Carson literacy program to improve literacy skills and encourage civic-engagement in the sciences;

• A journaling project tied to culture, self-expression, and college/career counseling with Native American youth through the American Indian Recruitment (AIR) Tutorial program; and

• A service-learning project that seeks to improve literacy, public speaking, and critical thinking skills at the Montgomery Intersession Academy.