Seeing the big red buses and volunteers picking up children outside her apartment, Tiffany was curious. She asked around and soon learned it was an organization called CityKidz that was putting on the weekly program that seemed to spark such excitement in the neighbourhood children. Tiffany decided to enroll her own children, Noah and Emma, hoping that they too would enjoy the programming.
Her hope was granted.
From dancing in the theaters to weekly Home Visits, Noah and Emma are always excited to be involved in anything CityKidz has going on. They keep the CityKidz calendar posted in their home, making sure they never miss a scheduled activity.
“They love it!” Tiffany says. “They look forward to the phone calls and Home Visits. If they know CityKidz is coming on a Saturday, they don’t want to do anything else until they come.”
Besides the obvious joy it brings to her kids, one of the many things that Tiffany loves about CityKidz is the fact that Noah and Emma get to interact with other children from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
“No one is turned away,” Tiffany admires. “It doesn’t matter your background or status – everyone is welcome and I love that my kids get to be in an inclusive environment.”
This inclusivity is especially helpful for eight-year-old Noah, who is rather shy and can find it hard to make friends. However, since joining CityKidz, he has opened up and felt more comfortable around others. Tiffany shares that now, when he sees kids around the neighbourhood, he is more inclined to say “hi” because he knows them from CityKidz’ programming.
Emma, on the other hand, is very outgoing and “loves everything and anything CityKidz does,” according to her mother. She is a particularly artsy six-year-old, making even the simple colouring sheets she receives during weekly Home Visits a huge hit.
Tiffany hopes that her kids’ love for and devotion to CityKidz will continue to grow as they get older.
She sees the maturity and kindness of the youth in her neighbourhood who participate in CityKidz and is hopeful for her own kids’ futures.
“I see those teenagers and those who are on the right track to doing good things and hope my children grow up to be like them,” she says.
Knowing Noah and Emma, knowing their joy and enthusiasm, seeing their growth and incredible potential, we can’t help but be hopeful too.