Genesis City provides youth with a second chance at an education THE GENESIS OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE Life is rarely linear. Yet when it comes to getting an education, our society is oddly conditioned to think that everyone is going to be able to do it on the same time frame. And life can often be challenging, especially for those born into poverty. Poverty, in turn, can force you to make difficult, or even ill-advised, decisions. Those kinds of decisions — sometimes made in the interest of survival, sometimes made because a person doesn’t know any better — can have a ripple effect that cascades through the rest of a person’s life. In the vast majority of cases, that’s what happens to kids who drop out of school. There’s this misconception that kids drop out because they’re lazy, but that’s rarely the case. Rather than pursuing their education in a linear manner, sometimes they have to work or become caregivers, just so their families can survive. Sometimes they experience trauma or heartbreak that slows their personal growth and development. Sometimes, the net of poverty spurs them into lashing out, or committing theft or parenting a child far too young. So they drop out of school, or get kicked out, or get arrested and suddenly there’s no straight-line path forward anymore. They remain in poverty or end up in jail or worse — and the cycle of poverty carries on to another generation. Well, that’s what can happen anyway. But that’s not what’s happening at Genesis City. “There’s this myth that kids who drop out are lazy or don’t want to work,” said Karen Callahan, 28 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JULY 2019 NEXT DOORS {ahead of the curve} Tom Evans | Contributing Editor

executive director of Genesis City. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the kids who come in here are so tired after working 30 or 32 hours a week, sometimes at night. We help give them ways to learn while dealing with that.” Callahan has been with Genesis City since the beginning. Formed in 1991 as an intervention program that was part of Phoenix College, Genesis City evolved over the years, first into a 501(c)(3) and then as a charter school, with the goal of helping students reengage with the educational system and earn a high school diploma. The model allows Genesis City to tap into some state educational funds — but only for about 40 percent of its students. The rest is done through philanthropy and a lot of hard work. Its mission is “to reclaim the promise of Arizona’s disenfranchised youth by providing them with the tools they need to become active contributors to the economic and social welfare of their communities.” The reality is a holistic effort to literally save young people who would otherwise be lost. The numbers around the student population are startling — 95 percent of students live in poverty, 98 percent are minorities, 99 percent are a year or more behind in their studies. A full third have been in gangs or the juvenile justice system; 15 percent are teenage parents; 30 percent have been incarcerated or are on probation. But Callahan said they are young people who often have limitless promise if given the right opportunity. “They’re nonconformists,” she said. “They think outside the box and think differently, and that’s why they can be a huge benefit to the community. They’re sometimes mavericks in their own families. But they’re the type of kids who become leaders.” The Genesis City model removes the linear boundaries of traditional education and adjusts the pace to fit each student. If a student needs time off for a family matter, they can pick up where they left off. Genesis City provides support to students and families — sometimes even financial support — to ensure the home environment is stable. “It’s the thorough, holistic approach that makes us different from other schools,” said Shana Tompa, the organization’s development director. “There are so many kids left behind who have talent and potential … They’re worth fighting for.” Photos by Jillian Rivera Photography Proud scholars and family members recently celebrated the class of 2019 at the Genesis Academy graduation and awards ceremony. JULY 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 29