Kennedy Heights Community Center

About Us

The Kennedy Heights Community Center is a not-for-profit organization located on the far north side of Madison, Wisconsin.

The Center serves primarily the low-income residents of the 104 townhouses within the Kennedy Heights complex. Over fifty percent of the residents are Southeast Asian refugees, primarily Hmong. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operating as a community center since 1986, the Center is committed to enhancing the lives of the residents through quality programs and services.

The Center provides the following programs and services:

• Early Childhood Program:
  Preschool program for 3-5 year olds designed to help them prepare for success in kindergarten and life. This program is State licensed and City of Madison accredited. 25 children are enrolled each year.

• After School Program:
  The After School Program provides an enriching safe place to elementary school age children to go each day from the time school gets out until 5:00 PM when many parents return home from work. The program provides opportunities for children to play, complete their homework and build positive relationships with adults and their peers. The after school program is state licensed. The program serves 45 children each day 75 different children each year.

• Youth Program:
  This program provides social, recreational, and educational activities for middle schoo youth 4 evenings per week and a daily camp program during the summer. The program actively engages youth in decision-making roles and focuses on helping youth explore positive options for their future. The program serves on average 15 youth per night and 60 different youth per year.

• Girl Neighborhood Power:
  The Girl Neighborhood Power program is an education program for 9 – 15 year old girls. The program meets daily and provides activities that focus on health, academic success, community services, leadership development and recreation. The program serves 35 girls each week. In 2008 the program become an affiliate of Girls incorporated.

• Asian Outreach Program:
  Serving the Southeast Asian residents through social, recreational, and educational programs designed to enhance their lives and reduce social isolation. Translation, interpretation, informational, and referral services are integral parts of this program.

• Food Pantry:
  Provides free food distribution for residents of Kennedy Heights and the greater northside community on a weekly basis.

• Cultural Events:
  The Kennedy Heights Community Center coordinates free and low cost tickets for the Overture Center, American Players Theatre, and the University Theater, enabling residents to access a variety of cultural events in the community.

• Boys Group:
  A weekly boys development group for young men in 5th - 9th grades. Boys group meetings are focused on building a positive identity, learning conflict resolution skills, and violence prevention activities. 30 boys in the community participate each week.