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Programs Offered YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM Inner City Youth Engagement Program provides youth with the tools, attitudes, and resources that they need to change their lives. From popular theatre to bus tickets this program makes it possible for youth to succeed. The Youth Engagement Program provides counselling to repair damaged lives, meals to feed hungry youth, transportation when needed, housing referrals, and other preventative programming. INNER CITY HIGH SCHOOL Inner City High School is an independent academic and arts based senior high school accredited by Alberta Education. The success of Inner City High School in creating opportunities for Edmonton's marginalized urban youth to succeed is built on a solid foundation of experience. We have learned in over 20 years of providing educational programming for Edmonton's marginalized urban youth that we must create the conditions for pedagogy to take place through our wrap around programming before academic studies can begin. Many youth carry years of unsuccessful experiences, lack of support, lack of resources and have long since given up on school. They require encouragement, small successes, flexibility, understanding and respect. The purpose of the Youth Engagement Program is to introduce Edmonton's marginalized urban youth to the possibilities that an education can bring, to replace hopelessness with hope, and to enable youth to develop basic skills, habits, and attitudes that will make academic success possible. Inner City High School provides opportunities for Edmonton's high risk youth to earn a high school diploma pursue post-secondary education and/or full time employment and; as a result, prevent their return to a life on the street. We offer a flexible but structured environment with small classes that average between 4 and 8 students with a teacher and a teacher aid, small group and one-on-one support. Without this support many youth who are now completing an education program would be statistics in our social service and/or justice system. In the words of well-known educator Ira Shor, "this [Inner City High School] is a municipal gem." We have an active partnership with the Journeys Cultural Exchange Program which pairs university students with youth from our programs in an ongoing cultural exchange and analysis of their cultural realities. This past year we served 321 youth many of whom, as the outcome data shows, added a degree of stability to their lives, developed plans and hope for the future. Five students graduated with academic high school diplomas which make it possible for them to pursue post-secondary education. OUTREACH PROGRAM The Outreach Program ran Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The program serves youth who are involved in other ICDYA programs and from the surrounding community. Sports, graphic arts, music creation and recording, digital photography and digital video are offered through workshops and open access programming. Attendance averaged at 8-15 youth. Supper is provided each night. Helping Youth Help Themselves ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 Programs Offered 9