Word Diversion STL

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For over 15 years, the GCI's Word Diversion has offered best practice programs to incarcerated, supervised, post supervised, and high-risk youth ages 9-19 focused on literacy, leadership, personal development, and entrepreneurship. Word Diversion participants may participate in Greenhouse Forensics, Applied Organizing, or Learning & Leadership upon completion of the Word Diversion program. Programming occurs within juvenile detention centers and institutions, court approved supervision sites, and on alternative or special education campuses. Parents are encouraged to participate along with their children as much as possible. 

The Word Diversion program provides unique opportunities for learning, practicing democracy, improving soft skills for future employment, and connecting with the community and mentors. GCI programming is the difference maker for those struggling on the brink of destruction, by offering an alternative that places the participants voice at the center of their learning, creating and supporting a new-found path of learning and personal development for the participant. The traditional system has largely abandoned our Word Diversion participants, often leaving them marginalized and with no opportunity to reflect, make critical life changes, and enjoy untold opportunities. We support our participant’s development in creating material and identity changes in their lives. Word Diversion participants develop motivation for completing their education, going to college, and achieving success in a challenging field. Participants are supported in teams and small groups, often recommended for wrap around services provided by community partners.

Most of our participants perform below their grade level in English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Our critical and engaging pedagogy provides a best practice pathway to improving academic outcomes by challenging the participant to “read the world by reading the word”. The learning needs of our participants are improved in a proven model that emphasizes the participant first. Placing the student’s voice and needs first leads to commitment, increased confidence, and eventually competency for the participant. Our learners respond in a ways traditional institutions have failed to uncover within them and apply the moral and academic lessons learned in the program to everyday life. Successful participants complete their short-term educational goals and achieve long term identity changes that lead to improved moral and ethical imperatives that directly benefit the participant and our community. We provide employment, internships, and referrals for our participants to immediately apply their recent learning and leadership development.