The Ferry Street Resource Center offers a variety of programs designed to assist you and your family with improving your quality of living in the Niles Community.  If you believe we can assist you in reaching your goals, please don't hesitate to give us a call or stop by FSRC anytime.  We'll be waiting to meet you.


GED Preparation Program - FSRC provides tutors in all five areas of the General Equivalency Diploma examinations.  Tutoring is scheduled by teachers and may be presented Monday t Thursday at varying times.  Participants are adults ages 18 to 85.

Adult Basic Education Program - This program teaches remedial reading, language and math for those adults 18 and older seeking to obtain a GED.  All instructors are teacher certified or Literacy Council trained. Classes are provided Mondays through Fridays.

    

Employment Training - This program utilizes the Michigan Works Employment agency.  A representative from Michigan Works is available once a week to help participants utilize our computer lab in search of possible jobs.  The program includes training by our volunteers which is scheduled both in groups and individually for each participant throughout the week.

This program also encompasses training in basic computer applications, resume development, good application completion procedures, interview must knows and appropriate business dress. 

Computer Lab - Ongoing program to allow school age children  access to computers to research homework assignments or to type and print reports, etc.  Computer Lab is also used for "homework help" nights when students bring their homework and receive instruction not only on how to search the web for needed information, but also individualized homework help.  Computer lab time is also scheduled for adults from 9:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. daily.

                        

Pre-School Prep - This program provides a service to those young children who have not yet been enrolled in pre-schools sponsored by the school system.  Some of these children are too young, but others miss out on regular pre-school for a variety of reasons.  The Pre-School program also provides early childhood development activities including learning to work as a team, socialize with our children, basic ABC's, a love for reading books through story time, motor skills development through constructive game play, etc.  Lots of fun activities for your little ones. 

Daughters of Imani - The Daughters of Imani are young girls between the ages of 7 and 11.  These children learn basic hygiene, how their bodies work, proper dress and good manners.  They engage in many educational field trips to libraries, municipal buildings, parks and other low cost destinations.  A special emphasis is placed on building self-esteem and self-confidence and providing a person of trust to ask questions of or to confide in.  The children learn about history, get help with school work, and put on plays and other activities.

   

Leadership Academy - The Young Men's Leadership Academy provides young boys and men from ages 12 through 18 with educational, cultural and social tools to best serve their community through leadership training in a safe and fun atmosphere.  The goal of the program is to develop skills that young men can use throughout their lives to take on leadership roles in the community.  They will also learm to help others and themselves identify and achieve fundamental goals to facilitate such issues as family preservation, positive community involvement, continuing education, demonstrating moral behaviours as well as mentoring and leadership of others.

Home Needs Referral - Home Needs Referrals assist residents who may need help in finding agencies that can assist with paying rent or heating bills, food stamps and other financial assistance. 

FSRC also helps as many homeless individuals as possible.  Sometimes, FSRC is simply a place that the homeless can come into for a couple of hours just to get out of bad weather.  People are referred to the correct governmental or other agency that can assist them.  However, many times the participant needs help in completing the required forms or gathering the necessary paperwork.  As the Department of Human Services has no offices in the surrounding community, FSRC offers help in not only completing forms, but also in providing transportation to agencies that can be of help.

    


Ferry Street Clothes Closet - We attempt to keep on hand as many used, but nice, clothing as possible.  Shoes are the hardest item for us to provide.  Need arises for clothing for babies, children, pregnant mothers, young men, business attire, etc.  All clothes are donated and a volunteer coordinates this service.  Limited space makes it necessary to keep only a few items on hand.

Annual Black History Program - This program allows a variety of participants at FSRC to interact with the community.  One past year, the Daughters of Imani dressed in period attire and took us through a history lesson.  This program gives opportunities for students to sing, become presenters or masters of ceremony, provide dance routines, read speeches, etc.  This free project takes six to eight weeks of preparation and is well attended by the community. 

Fund Raising Projects - Fund raising projects include the annual social dance, bake sales, annual chili sale and many other activities.  Volunteers coordinate fund raising projects. 

For more information on these or other programs, please contact us at:

Ferry Street Resource Center
620 Ferry Street
Niles, MI  49120

Lisa Busby, Director
(269) 687-9860
(269) 687-9865