Focus Area: Youth Development

Grant Amount: $10,000

Located in Brooklyn Center. Founded in 2019, Relentless Academy provides affordable and accessible S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math, Art, Reading, Technology) programming that includes music and financial literacy instruction for youth. Their mission is to close the academic achievement and wealth gap among families in underserved communities.

Grant supports the SMART summer program, which launched in 2021 with 25 kids and this year will serve 85 students in grades K-4, with a waitlist. The program runs five days a week, 8 am to 5 pm, for 10 weeks from June to August, and takes place at Brookdale Covenant Church in Brooklyn Center. This program is designed to curb the learning loss that happens over the summer break. It uses a holistic, engaging, and student-centered approach, incorporating academic support, social-emotional development, opportunities for creative expression, STEM and technology lessons, and culturally relevant student experiences.