Mayor Nicholls’s vision to enhance accessibility to higher education culminates in plans for the Yuma Multiversity Campus (YMC). Mayor Nicholls serves as chairman of the YMC’s Governing Board, which includes multidisciplinary industry leaders from throughout the community who are working to develop a centralized campus in Yuma. The YMC will offer a full range of baccalaureate programs, utilizing the academic programs and specialties offered by the state universities and local community colleges.
Enrichment
Mesa K-Ready
This City-initiated, community collaborative, led by Mesa Public Schools, provides early learning opportunities for three- and four-year-old children and their parents. Funded through public and private contributions, the program serves about 200 participants each week. The goal is to increase the percentage of Mesa’s preschoolers engaged in quality early learning from 36 percent to the national average of 48 percent. Focused on cognitive development, social-emotional learning, and strong families, the program ensures seamless access to existing resources, enrichment activities, and fun activities at museums, parks, and libraries.
Tempe PRE
In 2017 the Tempe City Council allocated $6 million for 20 preschool classrooms now located in 12 elementary schools and serving approximately 360 children. This high-quality, tuition-based, full-day preschool program is open to families living or working in Tempe and neighboring cities. The program is five days a week with schedules corresponding to those of the individual elementary schools. Benefits include small class sizes, a play-based curriculum, and certified teachers. Financial assistance — including full tuition, half-tuition, and free tuition — is available to qualified families.
PHXteens
Created with input from teens and operated by the Phoenix Department of Parks and Recreation, PHXteens provides opportunities for youth to engage with their communities through consistent, unified programming at sites across the City. The initiative has produced a range of materials and resources that help facilitate youth engagement, including a mobile recreation van, promotional videos and posters, and an active social media presence.
Phoenix Youth and Teen Services
The City of Phoenix Department of Youth and Teen Services connects young people with afterschool programs, employment opportunities, and sports leagues, and provides educational programming through PHXTV Classroom, a dedicated cable channel.
Marana Cares Mobile
The Marana Cares Mobile navigates the streets of the community, offering nutritious meals, Chromebooks, and literacy activities to students during school breaks and the summer months so that students are better prepared to return to school ready to learn.
