The 2018-19 Rotary International theme is Be The Inspiration - and that is exactly what we heard about at Rotary on August 17. Brad Bryan was our speaker and we heard about City Impact.

In 1996, when Brad’s friends left on mission to Los Angeles, California and he stayed behind, it was a blessing in disguise. While his friends were gone, he learned about a single mom from Nigeria whose three boys were struggling in school.

Brad began tutoring them and suddenly realized he was fulfilling a mission right here at home. Brad’s experience provided the seed of an idea that he and his wife Carma, along with many amazing people, have grown into an abundance of loving service from the community, to the community.

The story starts with a single personal experience and grows into a program that is changing the lives of many of the youth (and their families) in Lincoln.

Today, City Impact serves around 3,000 people per year. There are 400 to 500 in the reading program, they serve about 200 onsite, and more than 1500 were reached through the Gifts of Love Christmas store.

It started with a single family. The kids were reading below grade and they didn't have a male mentor. Brad became that mentor and saw major improvement in the kids. Those kids were introduced to experiences such as eating in a restaurant and reading a menu. Brad tried to ensure that they received Christmas gifts. Other kids in the neighborhood came to Brad - they wanted the same kind of attention. 

It was a challenge to ensure that the parents knew he was not trying to take the place of the kids - but to support them in helping their kids. He worked closely with the parents to develop programs to ensure that support.

He shared a story of one child who was struggling in school. He was an ELL student who was withdrawn in class besides struggling with all of his subjects. With help from the City Impact volunteers he was able to bring his grades up and became a leader in his class. At a parent-teacher conference, when his father was brought to tears upon seeing his grades.

Looking at statistics and realizing the beauty of the program, Brad shared:

20% of HS graduates are iilliterate
74-75% of inmates are illiterate
There is a 60% chance a person will be incarcerated if, as a student, they are 2 or more grade levels behind
It costs $140,000 per year for an incarcerated youth
We can change a kids life for about $250 per year through the City Impact reading program

Brad said the most exciting thing to the program right now is what is happening with the graduating students. Last year they had 6 students graduate and 5 of those 6 are now headed to college most of those are the first in their family to attend college. 

One student he specifically mentioned has a goal of becoming a teacher and helping kids in the school where she attended - and got help by the City Impact program.