The mystery of the Mann school building lease is now officially solved. We got in touch with Jocquelyn Duncan, who explained that the People’s Family Life Center is starting a new program called “Work It Out”, which will provide educational resources and job training to young people who have dropped out of school. As we reported last week, People’s Family Life Center is a branch of the People’s Institutional Baptist Church, located in the 150 block of 24th Ave.

Duncan says that “Research shows direct correlation between students that drop out of high school and poverty leading to the pipeline to prison trajectory we’re seeing played out across the country.  The WIO pilot project is bring to the table the best thinking and resources to implement a non-traditional, small school model in the Horace Mann School building with an emphasis on personalization, collaboration, social action and learning experiences that are relevant to student’s lived experiences.”

The program will serve ages 16-21, giving the students a chance to develop skills that can save them from poverty and homelessness. A promotional flyer, attached at left, says that the program will focus on three core principles: 

• Rigor: A challenging academic program preparing all youth for college, work and citizenship.
• Relevance: Learning experiences that students find engaging and meaningful to their current and future lives. 
•  Relationships: Small schools provide the opportunity for students and teachers to know each other well resulting in close and supportive bonds between and among students and faculty.

Duncan says that the program will run on a 3-year trial basis.