The purpose of each of ASLAN’s programs is to impact the whole person – body, mind and spirit. This is accomplished by encouraging youth to overcome their negative environments and become productive members of society. When young people learn to respect their value as a human being and a child of God, they learn to respect the lives of others.

• YOUTH CLASSES: Each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon ASLAN operates "Right Choices" character development classes for 40 primary and junior high-school-aged children from the greater Red Bank area. Tuesday and Thursday evenings are reserved for 20 high school youth. On Wednesday afternoons and evenings during the school year, ASLAN operates youth classes in the public housing projects of Long Branch for 50 children, ages 5-16. Thursday afternoons are dedicated to Aslan children in Asbury Park. During the summer months, ASLAN operates a summer day camp for 50 Long Branch youth and 25 Asbury Park children. The purpose of these classes is to provide strong moral guidance through the teaching of Judeo-Christian values. Numerous educational & recreational activities are employed through the youth classes, including: back-to-school clothing, field trips, holiday gift programs, etc.

• RECREATION: ASLAN provides many wonderful recreational and cultural enrichment activities for area youth. These field trips and activities include: bicycle adventure trips; swimming at the YMCA; winter alpine ski trips; whitewater rafting; hiking; summer camping; and, summer softball.

In January of 1999, ASLAN initiated a Wednesday evening mentor and sports program at the Red Bank Primary School. This new effort reaches boys and girls (ages 8 – 15) and incorporates one hour each night of group mentoring/counseling that addresses real life issues such as drug abuse, premarital sexual activity, anger management, etc. The students also participate in basketball drills and games, double-dutch jump rope, dance and other sports activities. Field trips to cultural and professional sporting events, museums, and other activities are also incorporated in this program. Over 50 young men and women presently attend each Wednesday night. Monday afternoons are dedicated to 15 Long Branch girls for ASLAN’s interpretive dance team. Friday afternoons during the school year are reserved for our Asbury Park choir which teaches children basic musical concepts and prepares them for performance in area churches..

• MENTOR/TUTORIAL PROGRAM: ASLAN as developed a successful and highly respected mentor/tutorial program which presently serves 65 children. Conducted on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (at Red Bank’s Middle and Primary Schools and at Monmouth University), ASLAN’S volunteer tutors work one-on-one with their students and provide much-needed educational and emotional support for their students. The heart of this program is the relationships that are built between mentors and children. Many individuals spend quality hours with their students outside of tutoring – attending cultural events, taking the children home on weekends for church activities, sporting events etc. ASLAN incorporates a peer mentoring program, which involves 25 high school students from this area in working with ASLAN children. ASLAN also works in cooperation with Monmouth University’s Education Department through their Partners In Learning Program. Thirty Monmouth University students work with Long Branch students on Mondays and with the Asbury Park children on Thursdays.

COLLEGE BOUND: Select high school students are chosen each year to participate in our College Bound group. ASLAN provides college and career counseling, life skills training and college tours for these students. ASLAN also offers substantial scholarship assistance to students who are regular participants in our youth classes and mentor/tutorial programs. During the past 4 years, ASLAN has provided over $50,000 in scholarship assistance to graduates of our programs.

• SOCIAL SERVICES: ASLAN operates an emergency food pantry to serve families of the children registered in our programs. During Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, we provide sumptuous food baskets for the families of our children. We also provide nice gifts for all of our young people at Christmas. In Long Branch and Asbury Park, ASLAN has a monthly clothing distribution program that reaches 75 to 100 individuals. During cold winter months, we also provide hundreds of warm blankets each year for the families in need.

• ASLAN ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE: ASLAN’s "RESPECT" adult league reaches 100 area men ages 18 and over. Some of the players are ASLAN basketball team members from years past. On Saturday evenings, from January through April, friends and families gather for an evening of fun and exciting basketball competition. The "RESPECT" Summer League is operated during June – August at the Count Basie Park in Red Bank (in association with the Red Bank Recreation Department)

• PROJECT HAITI: Since 1996 ASLAN has taken a select group of our teenagers on humanitarian aid mission trips to Ouanaminthe, Haiti. The lessons learned by our young people during their 2 weeks in one of the world’s poorest countries are invaluable to their personal growth. Spending time with Haitian children in a summer day camp, distributing eye glasses and working in a medical clinic dramatically changes the focus of our youth. The extreme heat and lack of electricity and other things taken for granted in America help place poverty in our country in a broader perspective. ASLAN youths return with a renewed hope for their own lives and a greater desire to achieve in school. Being given the opportunity to serve also helps, as young people realize that they can make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

THE ASLAN STAFF: ASLAN presently employs seven full-time and four part-time staff members in addition to over 300 caring adults who regularly volunteer their time and talents to serve as tutors, "Right Choices" teachers, board members, coaches, office helpers, bus drivers, etc. Many other professional people provide valuable in-kind services such as computer consulting, legal help, dental work, holiday gift programs, etc. To accentuate the effectiveness of our programs, several ASLAN youth have gone on to work for the organization. One graduate, Melanie, currently serves as our tutorial assistant, choir director and Haiti Project coordinator. Cheryl served as a field staff member for two years before moving to Haiti to work in missions. Lawrence served for two years as a program assistant. ASLAN’S staff is multicultural in nature and brings together individuals from many and varied ethnic backgrounds.

• ASLAN ALUMNI: Since 1975, ASLAN has served as a leader in work with at-risk youth in Monmouth County. There is no greater evidence of this than in the lives of young people who have participated in ASLAN’s programs and gone on to lead successful careers and lives. Our graduates include: Chris, a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy; John, a top systems analyst for AT&T; Richard, a medical technician and world class martial arts expert; Melanie, a Licensed Practical Nurse; Cheryl, a missionary to Haiti; Terry, a graduate in engineering from the University of Tennessee; John, a graduate of Princeton University; Felicia, who earned her masters degree in mathematics; Teresa, a computer scientist; Jason, a business graduate for whom ASLAN provided a scholarship for study at Wroxton College in England; Daryl, a college teacher in Florida; Sheldon, a professional singer; Ebony, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University; and, Earnest, a senior engineering student at Georgia State.. These are only the tip of the iceberg of the many lives changed through ASLAN.

A PRESIDENTIAL POINT OF LIGHT: Due to ASLAN’s successful work with youth, former President, George Bush, designated ASLAN one of his 1000 Points of Light. ASLAN was chosen for this singular honor from among over 15,000 worthy nominations submitted to the White House during the Bush administration. The New Jersey State General Assembly has also recognized ASLAN with a resolution commending ASLAN for their ongoing work. ASLAN has been honored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and has received World Vision’s prestigious Mustard Seed Award. Since 1990, ASLAN has been a member in good standing of the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability), a 900+ member national organization dedicated to the highest ethical standards in the areas of public relations and fund raising.

In January of 1999, ASLAN was selected to receive a major grant through New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman’s Faith-Based Initiative. This new state program supports faith-based organizations that have proven they are having a positive and major impact in the lives of the less advantaged. Funding from this initiative has enabled ASLAN to establish a full-time presence in the public housing projects of Long Branch and begin a satellite program in Asbury Park. Additionally, exciting new opportunities and expanded programs have been made available for our Red Bank area children.

THE FUTURE OF ASLAN: In the year 2000, ASLAN celebrated our 25^th anniversary of work with children. We continue to explore new ways to profoundly impact the lives of disadvantaged children and to prepare leaders for the 21^st Century.

P.O. Box 270, Red Bank, NJ 07701

phone: (732) 741-7824, (732) 741-9075 fax: (732) 741-3284

internet: http://www.aslanyouth.org e-mail: aslanyouth@aol.com