In 1989 Cherokee Park United Church began volunteer-based, after school tutorial program for children attending public elementary schools on St. Paul’s West Side. The program, which annually serves approximately 20 to 30 children each year, has developed a strong reputation for excellence in the community and beyond. The congregation of Cherokee Park United supports the program with their time, en
ergy, resources, and prayers. They also secure the funding to operate the program. For the first twenty-five years of the program, Building Blocks tutoring took place at the church. In the fall of 2013, the program will be part of the After School Collaborative Program at Riverview School. The school is located at 160 E. Isabel St., two blocks east of S. Robert Street on the West Side of St. The Program Director will continue to office at the church. Teachers from West Side schools recommend children who need academic support. Many of these students come from economically disadvantaged homes or homes where English is a second language. Building Blocks works with the schools to monitor each child’s learning needs and progress. Building Blocks is a Community Partner Program of the Saint Paul Public Schools.
