Kidz Rule is committed to improving the lives of young people. Kidz Rule partners with local organizations that provide educational and support services to the more vulnerable members of our community. We match our organizational and leadership skills with people working on the frontlines. Together, we are able to reach more people and make a greater impact on our community.
Open Doors is an afterschool program that serves at-risk children in Jacksonville, FL. When two elementary school teachers wanted to know why many of their students were not participating in safety net programs on campus, they learned the reason was not a lack of interest. Instead, a lack of transportation in the afternoon, the danger of crossing one of the busiest streets in the city if they walked home, and the cost of extended day programs put these programs out of reach. They also learned that more than 100 of these students lived in the same apartment complex.
In 2006, these teachers decided to visit Timberwood Trace Apartments to assess how they could best help students in their own neighborhood. Beginning with a series of supervised playdates, the teachers got to know students outside the school walls. They developed relationships with parents and laid the foundation for what became
Open Doors.
Over the past eight years, Open Doors has grown to meet the educational and social needs of students in grades K-5 and their families.