The Empowerment Factory

Click here to subscribe to our text messages. The Empowerment Factory’s mission is to help children develop the skills they need to lead happier, healthier, more empowered lives. Since its founding as a nonprofit in 2014, by Executive Director Gail Ahlers, TEF has provided RI youth with transformational enrichment programs. The organization has partnered with a range of school, youth, and governmental organizations to conduct afterschool and summer learning programs, positively impacting over 4600 urban youth, 90% of whom live in underserved communities.

While TEF has historically focused on delivering in-person programs in Pawtucket, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way the organization operates. Low-income youths who struggled to learn and thrive in school under normal circumstances are now struggling even more. To respond to children’s and families’ new needs, TEF moved many of its programs to virtual or hybrid modes to create a safe, anxiety-free, and socially-distanced environment. This process has enabled TEF to better structure, document, and replicate its programs, enabling us to train additional staff and teachers to deliver these programs to a much larger number of children, families, and communities. These efforts have produced great enthusiasm and results, positioning TEF for growth and greater impact in the future.

TEF has served low-income, under-resourced communities, concentrating specifically on Title 1 elementary school students in Pawtucket and Rhode Island’s Core Urban Cities (cities in which more than 25% of the children live in poverty - Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook). TEF’s curriculum aligns with the Rhode Island Department of Education common core standards, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards set by Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). In October of 2017 the Rhode Island Department of Education identified SEL as a priority in early learning.

The Empowerment Factory’s distinctive “Creative Squad” programming blends reading, writing and hands-on art projects. Any child who attends our programming is in our Creative Squad. TEF’s creative workshops are generally taught once or twice a week over a period of time. However, there are several stand alone projects that can be done as one-day workshops. TEF has conducted these programs for RIDE, COZ, PASA, RISCA, GroundworksRI and Crossroads RI. As a result of participating in TEF’s Creative Squad programs, students are better able to

Understand and manage their emotions

Set and achieve positive goals

Make responsible decisions

Feel and show empathy for others

Building their Self Esteem

Develop and maintain positive relationships

• “Art in the Park” Program - TEF hosts a series of free in-person art and literacy programs geared towards elementary children in grades K-5. Each session begins with mindful moments, followed by a book read-aloud and a group discussion about how the story relates to one’s own feelings and experiences. The class closes with a creative activity that stimulates one’s imagination and uses recycled materials. This program also takes place in an outdoor venue, allowing for the blend of environmental education with literacy and socio-emotional learning. It fosters mindfulness, creativity, and a love of literacy. One of the greatest benefits is that children are able to be outside with their peers in a socially-distanced space at a time when there are few opportunities for youth to gather in a casual setting.

• Reading Adventures - TEF introduced this program as a summer pilot promoting literacy and empathy in 2019. Of the 95 youths surveyed, 46% of students reported they read more than usual at home, 82% cited that their reading improved, 69% of students saw other students being more caring as a result. This program blends creativity, empathy and literacy material to meet the direct and current needs of students at risk of falling behind in reading. It is sometimes accompanied by a readathon.

• “Nature Drawing” program - Students learn to draw from nature, explore their creativity, discover new talents and learn new artistic skills guided by a team of artists and environmental educators. Nature Drawing focuses on the rich biodiversity present in Rhode Island’s ecosystems. While drawing, students explore facts about the animals, where they are from, why they are endangered, and how they can help with conservation efforts. By sharing their drawings, they also raise awareness about our planet’s needs. Above all we have fun!

• “Trash to Treasures” Program - These 3-day, in-school workshops teach about recycling through reading and hands-on art projects. 60% of children surveyed learned more about recycling, 75% said they enjoyed learning new skills using hand tools and art supplies, 95% were proud of the artwork they made, and 30% said they would be more likely to recycle at home. “Trash to Treasures” is usually a 6-hour series of workshops, over a period of 3 days. It can be adapted into a one-day 3-hour program depending on needs and funding.

• Building community - TEF has hosted over 400 free public workshops and events. TEF offers volunteer opportunities for highschool students and adults. TEF provides Community Service letters when needed.

TEF welcomes your involvement and support. TEF is seeking program partners, board members, volunteers, donations and grants to support our staff, programs, planning, materials and other needs. Your resources, volunteer hours and advocacy helps us to build a better world. When our children succeed, it creates a powerful ripple effect that’s felt in families, schools and communities.