What is The Leaven?
Our tutoring centers help students achieve in school and build their self-confidence.
We’re investing in the future through these boys and girls!
What is The Leaven’s Purpose?
The purpose of The Leaven is to share the love and compassion of Jesus Christ through acts of mercy and help to our neighbors. One way we do this is by increasing the academic achievements, self-esteem, and life opportunities for children living in low income, urban communities through after-school tutoring and mentoring directly within our most in-need and often forgotten neighborhoods.
What Does The Leaven Do?
The Leaven helps our community’s most in-need children with practical solutions so they will grow to be confident, capable, and caring members of our community. Here is how we are doing it:
TUTORING AND FUN AFTER-SCHOOL EVENTS
Small-group tutoring means children improve their math and reading skills, making school a place where they can succeed and prepare for the future. And with mentoring from caring adults, they develop self-respect and social skills.
How does The Leaven benefit the community?
Increased academic performance — Survey data, and the testimonies of parents and teachers, indicates The PACE Leaven program students show significant improvement in academic and classroom performance, as well as behavior at home.
Reduced truancy and absenteeism — Leaders from the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District have noted exceptional academic improvement from the children attending The Leaven program’s, as well as a reduction in truancy & absenteeism.
Decreased crime rates — Since the conception and presence of The Leaven program’s in the PACE and Groves/Tabor neighborhoods, there has been measurable reduction in crime in the areas through residents working together with law enforcement, public officials, schools, churches and human service providers.
Revitalized neighborhoods —When residents see they are able to have a positive impact on reducing crime in their neighborhoods, the community & neighborhoods are empowered. Individuals are engaged in act of helping and active community service. Families are being strengthened and lives are being changed.
Improved health and healthy behaviors to reduce childhood obesity- We support prevention-oriented health clinics, vision testing, linkages to health services, and promote healthy nutrition and physical activities in the neighborhoods.
Our History
In 2005, community leaders from Parkway Community Church, City of Fairfield, and the County of Solano identified a need to improve the quality of the most under-privileged neighborhoods in the City of Fairfield. They created The Leaven, an after-school tutoring and mentoring program, as a way to show care and compassion for and proactively address the needs of at-risk and under-performing youth. The Leaven program catapulted a dynamic volunteer force eager to engage in active service to help their neighbors. Together these volunteers, through a grassroots effort, launched the first Leaven neighborhood after-school tutoring center.
The Leaven now consists of two tutoring centers, one in the PACE neighborhood (corner of Airbase Parkway and Heath Drive) and the other in Groves Apartment Complex (855 East Tabor). Each center serves approximately 35–40 students. The tutoring program is free to any student in the target neighborhoods and is operational Monday–Thursday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
In four years, The Leaven has already impacted the lives of hundreds of children and their families, as well as made a significant improvement in the safety of Fairfield neighborhoods.
Our Goals
The Leaven has four main goals:
- To increase student success in the classroom academically and behaviorally.
- To inspire and enable students to make better choices for their health and future.
- To involve and equip parents to positively impact their children and their communities.
- To engage faith based groups in the work of active community service.
Our Services
In addition to after-school tutoring, The Leaven provides elementary school children with:
- Enrichment Activities
- Recreational Opportunities
- Mentoring
How Can I Get Involved?
- Volunteer one or more days a week at either of our locations. Both tutoring centers operate Monday–Friday, 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Come experience the tremendous kids involved in our program while giving them skills to excel.
- Support The Leaven by designating your employee United Way giving to The Leaven.
- Sponsor a child through a monthly gift to The Leaven, or support our work on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.
- Volunteer with foundation and fund-raising efforts.