Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma

On behalf of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Iowa Tribal Library will establish an afterschool library youth program called “Gathering Hope” with the goal of improving educational performance while also instilling traditional Iowa cultural values in youth as a point of reference for balance and harmony in their lives. The program will follow the school calendar and provide consistent and structured afterschool programming during the week, including fall, summer, and spring break. A part-time assistant librarian and summer youth assistant will work to improve family literacy and offer traditional cultural activities, while a professional tutor will provide afterschool assistance to help maintain and improve grades. Project staff expects that half of the “Gathering Hope” students will commit to attending college, making them eligible to apply for the Oklahoma’s Promise program, which supports college tuition costs.