Our Campus

All Locations

Warren United Methodist Church

  • 2606 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
  • Pre-K & Kindergarten

Wesley Center

  • 2701 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
  • Grades 1-5

CARES House

  • 513 Morgan St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
  • Technology center for young kids

Jeron X. Grayson Community Center

  • 1852 Enoch Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
  • Grades 6-12

CARES at Trinity

  • 3105 Allendale Street, Pittsburgh PA 15204
  • Grades 6-12
  • 21st Century Careers

CARES at Wesley Center

Location: 2701 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

During the school year, CARES provides programming for four days a week (Monday through Thursday) for three and one half hours each day. The daily schedule of programming reflects the needs of the age group and focuses on homework assistance; learning activities that boost core academic skills such as reading, math, and science; and recreational activities that stress physical health, positive peer interactions and teamwork.

Students begin the day with a healthy snack and end our programming day with dinner. Each meal supports nutritional needs, provides one-on-one time with staff, and creates an atmosphere of community fellowship.

Augmenting this program is a leadership development component designed for 20 middle and high school youth who serve as Junior Counselors for students enrolled in our two programs that serve PreK through 5th grades. In addition to earning a small stipend, participating youth are offered experiences that build workforce and career skills, assume important leadership roles, and have opportunities for service. These Junior Counselors experience work situations that, not only introduce them to careers in education and social work but, prepare them for careers and future opportunities to exhibit an enhanced work ethic and increased level of responsibility.

Since many of these older youth have “grown as CARES participants”, they provide many ideas about how the program can be more relevant to other youth. This type of continuity provides the opportunity for program improvement and the ability to do some long range assessments and forecasting.

CARES at Jeron X. Grayson Community Center

Location: 1852 Enoch Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15219

Known by our students as ‘the G Center’, CARES at the JXGCC provides our hallmark homework support, provision of a healthy snack and dinner, and mentoring from a dedicated staff. To augment the academic support, we offer a computer lab, recreational space, and a variety of engaging electives to spark and diversify the interests of our students. More than an after-school program, CARES at the JXGCC is designed to be an experience where students can discover their best self and set a course of action in pursuit of their goals. Overall, we want students to grow from what we offer; to see the Center as a resource and vehicle for sustainable excellence.

Over the years, CARES has consistently served a small cadre of middle school students – incorporating them where appropriate in the traditional PreK through 5th grade program and offering the aforementioned mentoring, opportunities to serve as Junior Counselors, the Summer Basketball League, and opportunities for recreation and cultural exposure. Beginning in 2012, CARES joined with several other Hill District afterschool providers in an effort called ‘The Zone’ to offer programming for middle school students at Milliones/University Prep.

With the opening of the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center in the fall of 2014, lessons learned from The Zone experience and current afterschool research are applied in a state of the art community center designed to:

  • Expose youth to a 21st century world of careers
  • Build STEAM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) competency
  • Promote positive values
  • Engage youth in their community
  • Offer a safe and nurturing environment while providing recreation and a place for friendship