CSI
Community Schools Initiative
An afterschool program dedicated to equipping youth with the knowledge, support, and tools they need to lead safe, healthy, and empowered lives. Through engaging speakers and interactive programming, CSI brings real-world topics into focus—topics that many students have already encountered without fully understanding their impact.
Welcome to CSI
The CSI (Community School Initiative) Program is a student-centered initiative designed to provide at-risk youth with the knowledge, life skills, and support they need to build brighter, healthier futures. CSI creates a safe, inclusive environment where students can learn to navigate life’s challenges and make empowered decisions.
Programming is held in our CSI Clubhouse — a safe, welcoming space furnished entirely by community donations. Here, students find connection, mentorship, and a sense of belonging after school.
With consistency, care, and community, CSI is helping shape the next generation of leaders who are equipped to rise above adversity.
A Rich & Varied Program
Our sessions cover a range of critical issues including sex trafficking, internet safety, pornography, healthy relationships, gangs, and gun violence. These discussions not only raise awareness but also give students practical tools to respond to threats, make safer choices, and build resilience. We’ve found that many youth are already exposed to these issues—often silently—and CSI helps them make sense of the risks and how to navigate them.
The CSI Program
CSI meets four afternoons each week while school is in session in the Clubhouse space.
Following are the activities and life skills programs offered to empower our youth and help them prepare for a productive adulthood.
In this after school entrepreneurship program, we provide many opportunities for our young people to interact with caring adults. Cookies for Change provides experience in on-the-job/project-based learning, self-esteem and teamwork.
This activity also focuses on developing leadership skills that are needed for success, not only in business but in life, like planning and implementing projects, positive risk-taking and problem solving. Students also learn budgeting, branding, sales and marketing skills, and experience the positive results of hard work.
To further enhance this program, students from the College of Business at ASU are working on the Cookies for Change business with the CSI students to develop a business plan, website, marketing opportunities, and field trips to the campus to introduce the project to other programs at ASU.
This national program sponsored by King Arthur Flour, selected the CSI program to be part of their campaign to teach science, math and teamwork through the baking of bread. The program allows the kids to experience the satisfaction that comes from helping others by providing the students with enough ingredients to eat half of what they bake and donate the other half to those in need in their community.
The students will work with the ASU Business students and professional Web Developers to create and manage an online presence for the CSI program and Cookies for Change.
Held once per week and led by a trained professional chef, this nutrition and cooking activity teaches students the basics of cooking, nutrition, kitchen safety, and meal costs along with skills to prepare healthy foods.
ASU students in the USL program are selected to serve continuously for at least 13 weeks throughout the semester as interns. They assist during CSI program hours, acting as peer mentors to ultimately encourage our CSI students to stay in school and attend college.
With the help of the USL students, we will offer a chess club, film club and book club. Age appropriate media are offered and the students meet to discuss what they’ve seen or read. Chess will help teach them critical thinking and consequence of actions, along with the many other benefits of this strategic game. These activities will help develop social, conversational and critical thinking skills.
To broaden the students’ exposure to the community and offer positive experiences, field trips to local sites of educational and cultural interest will be conducted.
Our Community Partner Presentations bring trusted local experts directly to students to address critical topics that impact youth today. Through collaborative programming, we offer engaging sessions on issues such as sex trafficking prevention, internet safety, healthy relationships, gang involvement, substance abuse, and more.
These partnerships expand the reach and depth of our programming, providing students with diverse perspectives, practical tools, and relatable role models. We strive to empower our youth with the knowledge and confidence to make informed, positive choices.
Why CSI matters
Many students in our program come from environments where positive role models, long-term goal setting, and a sense of stability are missing. For these youth, school becomes a refuge—a safe space where hope can be nurtured. CSI builds on this by offering mentorship, education, and community. We know that when given the opportunity and support, these kids can thrive.
These are amazing kids!
To further that sense of belonging, we established the CSI Clubhouse—a welcoming, after-school space furnished entirely through community donations. It serves as a second home, where students feel safe, valued, and supported.
Data on High School graduates show that about
Continue on to college
Of that 50% obtain degrees
Our Goals
Our mission is to prepare students to be life-long learners, responsible citizens, and thoughtful decision-makers. We want them to know that graduating from high school is within their control—and that it opens doors to a brighter, more secure future.
We are grateful for those who have come forward to help enrich our after school program for these deserving kids, and encourage others to reach out to see how they can become involved.
