WINGS for Kids, a 2017 WIF Grantee, successfully shifted from a school-based model to a community-based model during the pandemic.  The community-based model is through a relatively new partnership with the Steve Smith Family Foundation, which they say is a perfect fit because WINGS needed a programming space and liaison for the schools that could identify children in need and handle logistics.  The partnership has freed up WINGS staff to focus on innovating and delivering high-quality programming.  They served 60 children in this first year and have high hopes for increasing this number through this new collaborative partnership.  Not only did they shift to a community-based model but the pandemic also allowed them to think creatively about how to reach audiences, including some in-school remote programming where they can zoom into classrooms and facilitate a short lesson for students focused on social-emotional learning.  These lessons have allowed them to reach children throughout the school (promoting school-wide unity) and provide teachers with time to take care of much-needed tasks. 

WINGS has many exciting programs and events coming up, including an initiative called “Let’s Talk” focusing on suicide prevention, and is always looking for new partnerships that provide enrichment opportunities for the children they serve (e.g., yoga, STEM).  They also welcome volunteers in their academic center to provide support to children with their schoolwork (e.g., reading support for K-2 especially).  Another service they offer to the community is interactive training and workshops focused on a variety of topics, including family engagement, behavior management, and building resiliency with our own children (e.g., Lunch and Learns).  And, they invite WIF to check out and share a new website they have created in partnership with Discovery Education focused on providing free K-5 social-emotional learning resources for families and educators (www.soarwithwings.com).