West Side New Beginnings holding business academy
Story Location:
19801 Norwood Street
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States
Continuing its mission to better serve the area’s low-income students, West Side New Beginnings is conducting a business academy this summer.
Brenda Milbourne, West Side New Beginnings founder and executive director, said the program gives low-income students a safe and nurturing environment. West Side New Beginnings began in 2002. The program serves 20 to 25 students during the school year and through the summer.
“We take all children,” Milbourne said. “Every child.”
Milbourne said the business academy is possible because of a $5,000 Carl M. Freeman Foundation grant. In May, the West Rehoboth Children and Youth Program was awarded a Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support grant, which assists nonprofits in Delaware and Maryland.
Milbourne said the grant provides the opportunity to teach students about banking, cooking, money management, teamwork, measurements and other skills that will be useful in life.
“It’s important stuff,” Milbourne said.
Retired forensic artist Rick Norfleet and Milton artist Lisa Lindsay were on hand July 10, teaching art.
Norfleet said he was teaching the kids about line design, which is basically using lines to create geometric figures. He said the kids can find line work confusing at first, but they get moving once they get the basics down.
Norfleet said he does the Tuesday art program because he thinks the kids need to keep learning throughout the summer. It’s just a good thing to do, he said.
Lindsay taught how to weave potholder-sized rugs using yarn of different textures. She said she’s been crocheting since she was 7 years old, and helping the class allows her to push the creative spirits of the children.
“This is a joy for me to share these things,” she said.
Dilinda DeShields, program director, was on hand both days. The first week she taught how to make a healthy trail mix for snacks. She will also be teaching the money management and banking portions of the academy.
During the school year, DeShields works at the Sussex Consortium. This is her first summer helping at West Side New Beginnings, and DeShields said this year she’ll be doing after-school programming twice a week.
“I saw the need in the community,” she said. “The program needs to keep going.”
For more information on West Side New Beginnings, 19801 Norwood St., Rehoboth, call 302-227-5442.
