More than 500 people support Q Children at The Wiz Meets The Wizard of Oz.

Quality Life Center would like to thank the community for its overwhelming support of its Youth Masterpiece production of The Wiz Meets The Wizard of Oz. Because "The Q" received a high volume of interest in its July 31st Youth Masterpiece production, the organization chose to meet the public’s demand by presenting an encore performance on August 1, 2014.

Over 500 people attended the lively mash-up of the classic movies, The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz. Positive feedback continues to buzz around town as people rave about the talent showcased by Q children ages 2 to 17. Check out the ballet, "Lollipop", jazz and even disco dances! 

The organization prides itself on the inclusion of each summer camp participant, with Director of Youth Programs Keesha Allen explaining that the show is a manifestation of the organization’s commitment to community. 

“Every Q child and staff member was an active part of making this production a success. It is truly a reflection of the power a community holds when it is united in attaining the same goal.” 

Quality Life Center would like to thank Mr. Charles Dailey and the Dunbar

Community School staff, Mayor Randy Henderson & the City of Fort Myers, Judge Archie Hayward, Judge Josephine Gagliardi, Fort Myers Police Department Chief Doug Baker, Florida Gulf Coast University, Hodges University, CommunityTV1 and the many parents, volunteers & community members who attended the show, which ultimately led to a standing-room onlyaudience and a second show.  

See more pictures here. 




Quality Life Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization transforming the community by developing the potential of underserved populations in Southwest Florida through early learning and youth development programs, including afterschool and teen and summer camp programs. For 24 years, the “Q” has been instilling values of discipline, integrity and self-sufficiency. Quality Life Center is headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida. For more information, call (239) 334-2797 or visit http://www.qualitylifecenter.org.

Gulf Coast Town Center businesses help Q Teens.

Somewhere amongst community service, leadership training, academic activities and field trips, Q Teens find time to fundraise.

It isn't easy for teens to earn money, but our teens find creative ways to raise dollars that will ultimately benefit their program. 

Car washes under the fierce Florida sun with no shade are the least bit enticing for our teens. But they often profit from their hard work in the heat. 

Last Sunday, the community pitched in to rally around teens who are willing to work hard for the benefit of their program.

Under the leadership of Twin Cutz Barbershop & S.T.R.A.Y.S, Gulf Coast Town Center and businesses within the center helped Q students make this car wash a success - a true testament to the power of community. Businesses posted flyers in their windows, Pita Pit donated pitas for lunch, S.T.R.A.Y.S volunteers were present and Twin Cutz provided the front of their shop as a place for Q Teens to spread the word about their program. 

Quality Life Center would like to thank the following businesses for their support of this fundraiser:

Twin Cutz Barbershop

S.T.R.A.Y.S.

Pita Pit

Team Willing Boxing Gym

Crossfit Lawless

Calistogas Bakery 

TuxMan

Famous Dave's 

Total Nutrition

GQ Men's fashion

Foster's Grill

Cigar Bar 

Amore Brick Oven Pizza

Our VPK Students are GENIUSES!

100% of Quality Life Center Graduates are Meeting & Exceeding the Florida Department of Education's VPK Expectations

 

 Quality Life Center’s Early Learning Program congratulated the graduates of its 2014 Voluntary Prekindergarten class, of which 100% of the students are now performing at a “Meeting or Exceeding Expectations” level, according to the Florida Department of Education.

When students started the VPK program in the fall, 36% performed at a "meeting or exceeding expectations" level on testing that measured print knowledge, phonological awareness, oral language and mathematics.  In final testing this month, 100% of students were meeting or exceeding expectations.

Quality Life Center’s Early Learning Program was established to provide community students an early boost with quality, child-centered care.  One “Q” parent proudly reported that her daughter exceeded the Lee County School district’s grade-level standards on the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) test, expressing appreciation for the Q’s program.   “My daughter tested with another child who scored below expectations. When the administrator suggested enrolling the child in a summer VPK program, the mother said her child just completed a VPK program.  I feel bad for that parent, but I am also pleased my daughter went to Quality Life Center.”

Wearing shimmering royal blue caps and gowns, students accepted diplomas/certificates of VPK completion as parents and friends cheered.  “A VPK graduation ceremony is special because it is a child’s first real sense of accomplishment in the educational realm,” said Quality Life Center’s Early Learning Program Coordinator and VPK Director Canady Benjamin.

Students entered in true traditional graduation style to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.” The ceremony featured student performances of “We’ve Been Having Fun in Preschool” and “Kindergarten, Here We Come.”  During an interactive keynote address given by former “Q kid” Shari Armstrong, graduates showed their understanding of the message when they exclaimed, “I believe in me!” at the conclusion. 

 The center’s Executive Director, Abdul’Haq Muhammed, encouraged family members to continue to support and encourage the students as their educational journey continued.  The audience showed their appreciation for the efforts of VPK Director, Canady Benjamin, as well as teachers Mary Marion and Fangio Zuniga amid loud applause, and awards for both instructors.  

A reception followed for the graduates and their families.

The center offers fun and education in a safe environment for more than 140 students, ages 2 to 18 years old. Since its inception, Quality Life Center and its staff have been devoted to creating an environment that helps children reach their potential—building confidence, self-sufficiency and a life-long love of learning.

There are limited openings in preschool for the center’s nine week summer camp and fall session for children ages 2-5 years. Call 334.2797 for more information or to schedule a tour.

Quality Life Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization transforming the community by developing the potential of underserved populations in Southwest Florida through early learning and youth development programs, including afterschool and teen and summer camp programs. For 24 years, the “Q” has been instilling values of discipline, integrity and self-sufficiency. Quality Life Center is headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida. For more information, call (239) 334-2797 or visit http://www.qualitylifecenter.org.

 

The Community Rallies for Its Children

Advocates of opportunities for youth in Southwest Florida attended the Fort Myers City Council meeting on April 7, overflowing into the hallway to show their support for Quality Life Center.

Weeks before, many of these Q supporters had also gathered in the streets directly outside of The Q's building to raise money for the organization, which was facing a balloon payment on its mortgage. 

 

As the chamber filled with parents, pastors and participating citizens, the evidence of a community focused on the future of its children was undeniable. State Attorney and Q Board Member Stephen Russell requested $235,000 on behalf of the organization to end its mortgage burden.

Listening to the officials discuss and debate for over an hour, it is clear the members of the

City Council take their jobs – and their fiscal responsibilities – very seriously. Mayor Randy Henderson voiced his support, and Councilman Thomas Leonardo quickly offered his entire neighborhood improvement funds to the cause.  Councilman Johnny Streets also pledged his neighborhood budget. Recalling the building’s sordid past and all of the progress that has been made since the Q took over, Streets described the funding as an investment in the future.

In a 6 to 1 vote, the city council voted to provide funding to keep the Q’s doors open.

Quality Life Center’s Building Sustainability and Reserve Campaign launched nearly two years ago with a $1.5 million goal to pay off the building’s mortgage and to build a reserve to address future building concerns.

In addition to internal planning, fundraisers were held – most notably the Magic Johnson event, sponsored by Quality Life Center’s Board Chairman’s organization Pickup the Ball.  Community members, community leaders, companies, churches and organizations throughout the community raised funds that were directed towards the campaign. 

It was down to the wire, but not enough money had been raised.  Though Fifth Third Bank made a generous offer, the amount raised was short by $235,000. The center requested funding from the city to make up for the shortfall.

The city’s vote ensures that the community’s children will continue to receive enrichment through preschool, afterschool and teen programming.

Further, it ensures that there is power within each member of the community.

 Together, we can create and maintain an environment of possibility for our children.  

Contributor: Jan Sommer
jsommer@qlcswfl.org

Quality Life Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization transforming the community by developing the potential of at-risk youth, and instilling values of discipline, integrity and self-sufficiency. To learn more about Quality Life Center, to sign up for the next tour date, or to make a donation, call 239.334.2797 or visit http://www.qualitylifecenter.org.

You have the tools. Now use them.

You don’t have to get a Ph.D. to make a change.

Of course, no one is advocating that you shouldn’t go to school. It’s important to instill the importance of valuing education within our children daily. So, yes. Go to college.

But take a look at your talents. Then, take a look at the problems we are currently facing within our community. How can you use your talents to generate change?

Consider Jessie Dortch - talented videographer who also happens to be local. If Jessie wanted to, he could be utilizing his talents to enlarge the pockets of national networks such as NBC and ABC. Instead, he is the visionary, founder and operator behind CommunityTV1.com – the production company which highlights the positivity that occurs within this neighborhood and  the minds of community members. Because of the CommunityTV1 team, positive exposure of Dunbar has heightened. Local businesses and entrepreneurs are able to use broadcast technology to advertise for themselves. Local talent is able to reach beyond our community’s borders and share their content online. 

It’s a vision-turned-into-a-reality and it’s a talent that’s stimulating change within our community. 

Inspiration flows throughout the halls of Quality Life Center, as students are challenged to identify their talents and make an impact.  Perhaps you’ve seen Quality Life Center’s students perform in the area, using their talents to inspire others. But the identification and utilization of talent doesn’t always manifest through the performing arts. 

An important aspect of the Teen Outreach Program (T.O.P), which is sponsored by Children’s Network, is that it teaches teens to discover their talents without the input of anyone else. Challenged by this program, QLC Teens managed a holiday toy drive for Golisano Children’s Hospital. Aside from their desire to enhance the lives of others, Q Staff was inspired by the ability of the students to utilize their strengths to make such a project a reality. Students identified their talents in graphic design, marketing, collecting, mathematics and other fields. They then utilized their skills to collect over 80 toys for the hospital’s children. They didn’t need an assignment from their leader and they didn’t need a step-by-step guide to creating a toy drive. They simply needed to identify their talents and their desire – both of which helped QLC Teens to accomplish their goal. 

The time has come to be the change we desire to see in the Dunbar community. Our community members already have the talent to contribute to the needed transformation. It’s interesting how we don’t often talk about Kwanzaa until December, but yet its principles should be an integral part of our everyday life. We can find inspiration in them! Remember Kuumba ? Creativity? Its definition is “to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful than we inherited it”. 

Discover your talent and challenge yourself to use your intrinsic value to enhance our community.

Hark!: The Holiday Spirit Has Arrived.

It can be hard to catch the Holiday Spirit in Florida.

If it's not freezing (which for Floridians...that could mean a frigid 50 degrees), then it's common to hear "It doesn't really feel like the holidays".

This melancholy feeling plagued our staff and many of us shook it off as "just another year".

And then...a holiday miracle happened:

The News-Press ran a story on one of our Q families that is homeless. The story gave an inside look of two boys, a mother, and a young girl who humbly requested the reunion of her parents for Christmas. When further pushed to describe a more tangible Christmas wish, she simply requested a pencil. 

Courtesy of www.news-press.com 

A pencil. 

This story brought to tears to many of the readers that read this Christmas wish, including our staff members. 

We were overwhelmed with emotion because we were reminded of the realities that many of our children face. Daily, we see these children. We hug them, we teach them, we redirect them, we protect them...we love them. For many of the students we serve, Quality Life Center is a safe haven. It is a place to be a child. 

Behind their smiles, these children are often facing hardships. Often times, it is hard for us to even fathom what our kids could and are facing. 

That's why this holiday season was incredibly special to us. 

There was a plethora of love from the community. Donors not only wanted to give to the family, but also to our children. Our children received toys, school supplies...even gingerbread kits! We are thankful for all of the companies and organizations that contributed to both the Ruwinski family and the rest of the Quality Life Center kids! 

Did we mention our teens also conducted a toy drive for Golisano Children's Hospital? As people were giving to Quality Life Center's children, Quality Life Center children were thinking of how they could do their part in giving back. It was truly beautiful to watch our children create, plan and implement this project. 

A sense of love is felt throughout "The Q" on a daily basis. But today, it was overwhelming. 

As we welcomed students to the Holiday Room...

 As we celebrated the accomplishments of those children who exceeded their Read-A-Thon goal...

As we watched overwhelmed students make careful present decisions...

And as we watched students leave with smiles that spanned from cheek to cheek...

 

We couldn't help but welcome the Holiday Spirit into Quality Life Center today. 

The holidays for us are less about receiving and more about giving. It is about giving our time, our efforts and our love to the children whom we serve. 

This holiday season and every day, we give children the gift of opportunity. 


The gift of opportunity allows children to develop self-confidence, discover their inner strengths and use them to enhance the community. We see this through our teens in our Teen Program, who used their individual strengths to create, plan and implement a toy drive for Golisano Children's Hospital. They made us very proud! 

So...

Although there's no Winter Wonderland here...

We are still celebrating the joy of community and the joy of giving, as we celebrate the Holiday Season. 

Happy Holidays!




Contributor: Shari Armstrong
sarmstrong@qlcswfl.org

Quality Life Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization transforming the community by developing the potential of at-risk youth, and instilling values of discipline, integrity and self-sufficiency. To learn more about Quality Life Center, to sign up for the next tour date, or to make a donation, call 239.334.2797 or visit http://www.qualitylifecenter.org.

"No one person, group or agency can do it alone."

Einstein and Mandela

Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was four years old and didn't read until age seven. 
His teachers believed he was mentally handicapped. 

But Einstein just had a different way of thinking. 

He went on to win the Nobel Prize in physics.


We are proud of the children in our program at Quality Life Center. We push them. We know
they are beautiful, smart and talented, each in their own way. We are proud to note their gains:

· 86% of Quality Life Center summer camp children and youth increased their math skills or maintained an A or B grade level.

· 88% of Quality Life Center summer camp children and youth increased their reading skills or maintained an A or B grade level.

· 83% of youth who completed the afterschool and/or summer camp program increased their knowledge and demonstration of positive behavior, leadership and social skills.

We try to remember children learn differently – Einstein thought in pictures - when one
approach does not work, we need to try another. We hope they know that when we correct
them, it comes from a place of love and compassion. We want them to be strong, confident adults who are comfortable in any situation, and among any person they encounter.

A wise person once said one should strive to have strength and confidence in order to “walk in the world without fear, so your mind is free to learn new things.” Ok, QLC Executive Director/Black Belt Muhammed said that during a martial arts class. But the idea translates to a variety of contexts.


Exposure. Demystifying the world. How else will a child know if she or he has a passion for business, inventing, finance, science, communication, fighting for justice?

That child walking down the street may be the next Oprah Winfrey, the next Chris Gardner, the next Nelson Mandela.

Every child must be nurtured, to be allowed to find their interests and pursue them.

Nelson Mandela’s father died when he was 9 years old. He was expelled from college for
fighting a system he believed was wrong.


We owe it to our children to work together to make opportunities a possibility. 

In some ways, our community has made great strides. In other ways, the needle has not moved. Our children need more – and higher quality – education. Our community needs more resources: more and better job opportunities. The long-term health of our citizens needs to be a priority.

No one person, group or agency can do it alone.











Quality Life Center is hosting a free Kwanzaa celebration on December 27th. Everyone is invited. 

One of the principles of Kwanzaa is Umoja  (Unity). 
We are all connected. Like a tree, we may only see the other leaves on our branch on a daily basis, but we are connected to the same trunk, and we are all nurtured from the same roots. Our health and well-being is interconnected.

Exercise your strength. Your contribution is important. You can participate in so many ways:

-Volunteer at your child’s school
- Prioritize reading to or with your children for 20 minutes daily
- Assist your elderly neighbor
- Walk dogs 
- Socialize cats at the nearest shelter
- Offer to help a cause you believe in. 

It will make you feel better, and you will be contributing to a stronger, healthier community that we can all take pride in.

Albert Einstein and Nelson Mandela faced challenges. But they both had families and communities who supported them. It gave them the strength to stand tall, believe in themselves, and soar.

Who will you help rise?

Contributor: Jan Sommer
jsommer@qlcswfl.org

Quality Life Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization transforming the community by developing the potential of at-risk youth, and instilling values of discipline, integrity and self-sufficiency. To learn more about Quality Life Center, to sign up for the next tour date, or to make a donation, call 239.334.2797 or visit http://www.qualitylifecenter.org.