Earthen Vessels Outreach

EVO's mission is to build and strengthen social, economic and racial bridges that connect and empower communities, organizations and people for the enhancement and transformation of the near east end of Pittsburgh into a more caring and healthy community. The vision of EVO is to walk alongside children and families on a long term basis as they are guided into healthy functional mature adults.

* 100+ children receive academic teaching in STEAM throughout the summer; recreational programs occur in the afternoon for 6 weeks, 8 hours daily.
• Friendship House - our home is located within the community. Community Living is offered as a 'HOME' for young adult interns and local youth needing support. Pastor Chaney and his wife live within the house on a 24 - 7 basis. A community environment is offered to the interns (free room & board in exchange for their services offered to the youth) with weekly pastoral trainings. More than 400 young adults have received training over the last 14 years.
• Friendship House has become a home and place to mature for nearly 12 of the community youth over the last 10 years.
• An After-School Program - academically serves more than 60 children yearly.
• A Summer Day Camp - (110+ children) academic in the morning; recreational in the afternoon for 10 weeks, 8 hours daily - 15 years of service.
• Summer Food Sites - Feeding the hungry- more than 20,000 meals have been served to children 18 and under in the last year free of charge. 12 food sites are partnered with throughout Allegheny County that EVO brings food to on a daily basis. 94% of the children that are recipients of the Summer Feeding Program are part of state free and reduced lunch program throughout the school year.
Project Outcomes for 2016
• 110 youth enrolled for the summer.
• 30 pre-school children received over 100 hours of instructional time.
• 70 elementary children received 75 hours of instructional time.
• 1st - 8th graders engaged in partnership with STEM learning through YWCA Homewood.
• Children engaged in healthy friendships of trust and sharing.
• Children had new experiences in swimming, field trips, tennis and nature walks.
• 15 young adults served the youth for 8 weeks
• 400 meals were prepared daily. 300 were sent off-site to other camps in the city. 100 fed EVO.
• 5 teens served in the kitchen for 6 weeks as they helped in the preparation of the meals.
• High School Diploma for Adults - Young adults and other adults are offered the opportunity to complete their high school education as they are able to transfer their previous credits and apply their current transcripts through Penn Foster High School Program in order to obtain a high school diploma.
• Between us Girls (BUGS) and Between us Boys (BUBS) - teaches 5th - high school youth character building, positive decision-making, song, dance and hands-on projects. Bi-monthly performances are scheduled with the song and dance.
• The Elm Program - (serves 10 - 15 youth per year) Employment is
offered to the youth, Learning is a requirement & Mentoring follows.
• Middle and High School Basketball - teaches youth development, teamwork and basketball skills. The young urban youth develop social skills and the ability to work for a common goal.

Testimonials

Year Round Programming: A Short Narrative Story: EVO first met Aleeshia as a single mother of 5 children living in Lawrenceville in 2010. Three of her children attended EVO for after-school tutoring for 2 years through the No Child Left Behind initiative. During this time, her family had been adopted as a special care package to receive individualized Christmas gifts for each member. The children loved coming to EVO but were often taken home early due to inappropriate behaviors. Contact was lost with Aleeshia at the end of the 2011 school year due to her moving to the Lincoln = Lemington area and changing schools.
After two years of not seeing the children, the staff of EVO coincidently ran into the children and mother at random places in the East End. Her children were invited to re-attend. This time there are 4 children coming. EVO picks them up daily from Lincoln School and drops them at home in the evening. Mom attends some of the adult outreach events at EVO.
Her recent comment," I wish I had remained in contact with EVO 3 years ago. I should have known who my TRUE FRIENDS were, who would stand beside me, and who would love my kids for who they are. I am so sorry that it has taken be 3 more years to learn this. My kids have already started to change since coming for the last 4 months. They are nicer to each other than they used to be. Thank You!"

Adult Literacy: EVO helps adults succeed while helping to put the educational pieces back together that were not successful at a younger age. Latoya was expelled in high school for fighting in her senior year. No diploma was given out to her. She was devastated and never returned to school...