2025 Summer Impact Report
Beyond the lemonade stands and adventures in our Green Mountain State lies the true magic of a King Street summer: the lasting memories and profound growth of our youth. The 2025 Summer Impact Report is a window into that world, serving as a testament to the power of showing up and the incredible difference our community makes.
Early Childhood Wins: Trust, Safety & Belonging
This summer, our youngest learners made meaningful emotional leaps, many for the first time.
One toddler who used to shield himself from teachers by putting a hand to his forehead — a clear signal of overwhelm — began calling teachers by name and engaging joyfully. That familiar “talk-to-the-hand” gesture? Gone. He now cries when it’s time to go home, a clear sign of how safe and connected he feels.
“We were noticing how much more connected he is to teachers now. In fact, now he cries when his parents come to pick him up.”
— Stacy, Early Education Director
For two new King Street Center families living in crowded housing, our early education staff and Family Support Director were able to connect with partners to help ensure they transitioned into more stable homes before the end of July, enabling consistent attendance and peace of mind for both parents and children.
Elementary Highlights: Literacy Meets Laughter
Book Buddies sessions were full of movement, magic, and imagination. In one standout moment, a child asked her mentor to read to her, not the other way around. The book? A princess story filled with flaps, riddles, and colors. By the end, they were curtsying, doing cartwheels, and laughing down the hallway.
These moments aren’t just about reading. They’re about relationships, trust, and joy, creating positive associations with learning that ripple far beyond one summer.
“These weekly Book Buddy sessions are not just about reading — they’re about building trust, responding to a child’s emotional cues, and creating a joyful space for growth.”
— Kimberly & Kaylee, Book Buddy Pair
Middle School: Young Innovators Take the Stage
One of the most exciting moments from the Middle School summer program came from an unexpected rainy-day activity that might just shape programming well into the fall.
With weather limiting outdoor options, our team brainstormed indoor alternatives — and staff member Gabbi came up with a brilliant idea: King Street Center Shark Tank, inspired by the TV show Shark Tank. The concept? Kids would become young inventors and entrepreneurs, creating solutions to real-life problems.
Participants worked in groups and individually to:
● Identify a challenge they wanted to solve
● Design a product or invention
● Create a pitch, including cost, pricing, and value
● Present their idea to a panel of "sharks"
The panel included staff and high schoolers — Joe, Tavian, Mariame, and several of our Academic and Career Exploration teens — who asked thoughtful, sometimes tough questions:
“How did you come up with this?”
“What’s your price point?”
“Why should we invest in your idea?”
What started as a filler activity quickly transformed into an all-out, high-energy event. Kids were fully engaged — sketching prototypes, practicing their pitches, cheering each other on, and stepping into roles as confident problem-solvers and presenters.
Not only did it build creativity and teamwork, but it gave kids a safe platform to practice public speaking and critical thinking. Some of the ideas and enthusiasm sparked by Shake Tank are already being considered for ongoing afterschool programming this fall.
Teen Impact: Record Participation, Real Leadership
This summer marked a major leap forward for King Street Center’s Academic & Career Exploration (ACE) program — and it’s all thanks to you.
At the high school level, ACE has grown significantly, expanding from 18 to 30 actively enrolled students across all four grades. Your investment allowed us to fully launch our structured, four-tiered model, guiding youth through a developmentally aligned journey from 9th to 12th grade — with academic support, career readiness, and post-secondary planning at every step.
This summer, our teens’ calendars were packed with transformative opportunities — making this our highest level of participation to date:
● 7 students were accepted into the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, diving into advanced, career-focused tracks like Global Issues, Health & Medicine, and Youth Activism.
● 10 teens enrolled in UVM’s Upward Bound, a pre-college program that includes intensive academic prep and a campus visit to UConn in Connecticut.
● 1 student earned a coveted spot in the Champlain Investment Partners Summer Fellowship, gaining firsthand experience in the financial sector.
● And for the first time ever, 8 students traveled to Boston for ACE’s first out-of-state college exploration trip — where they toured campuses, navigated urban life, and imagined their futures in a whole new way.
Before joining ACE, Hassan was focused solely on trades and unsure about college. He shared, “The career path I’m most interested in doesn’t require college, but I believe going to college will expose me to more opportunities.” Thanks to hands-on experiences like the Husky Technologies facility tour, Hassan is now exploring new paths he hadn’t considered before, gaining valuable skills to help him reach his goals.
Beyond exploring careers, our students are also building essential life skills. Barwaaqo found time management training especially helpful for both school and her future medical career. Stuti learned how to craft resumes and cover letters that create strong first impressions, and Julie and Nuredin gained clarity navigating education options and career planning, understanding that each person’s path is unique.
“We’ve never had so many youth take on this level of opportunity. After a year in ACE, they’re challenging themselves to grow personally and professionally.”
— Joe Ruggles, Director of ACE
These stories are just a snapshot of how ACE is empowering youth — not only to explore careers but to build life skills, confidence, and resilience.
Family Support
At King Street Center, one constant our families can count on is this: when school is closed, our doors are open. But there are four times each year when both are closed — moments that can bring added stress as families work to keep children nourished and engaged.
Food security is a basic need our families continue to grapple with, especially as SNAP benefits decrease under recent federal policy changes. Fresh produce is an essential part of a healthy meal, and thanks to our farmer friends — and a renewed partnership with the Intervale Center — our families received weekly deliveries of fresh vegetables all summer long. We look forward to continuing this support through the end of the harvest season this fall.
In addition, for the first time this year we were able to provide every family with $100 to Market32 during the weeklong closure at the end of June. And again, when our summer program wrapped up on Friday, August 15, our Family Support Director ensured that families had this critical benefit at a time they needed it most.
Looking Ahead
As we bid farewell to our 8-week summer camp, we're energized and looking ahead to the 2025-2026 school year. Just like the falling leaves, this season signifies a beautiful time of change for our youth, full of new classes, new connections, and new possibilities. Our mission is to ensure every young person navigates this transition with confidence and support.
Ensuring that every youth’s needs are met is not an easy endeavor, but it is an achievable one with the dedication of our staff, collaboration with our incredible partners, and generosity of our community. If you want to continue helping us in our mission to empower youth, click the button below for more information on how to get involved with King Street Center!
