Bold Goals Coalition partners in both health and education have been making strides in Walker County. In September, the Walker County School System was awarded a three-year $450,000 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant to enhance learning at its Oakman Middle School. Under a joint application, Walker County Schools, United Way of Central Alabama and YMCA will provide after school and summer program services to 100 k-8 students enrolled at Oakman Middle School. UWCA is serving as the fiscal agent for this program and the curriculum-based programming and expertise is being provided by the YMCA, which has extensive experience providing such services to youth. Local instructors have been trained and the after school program launched Monday, October 3rd. The overall purpose of the program is to provide meaningful opportunities for academic enrichment, offer students a broad array of activities that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic school day, offer families of participating students opportunities for personal development in areas such as literacy and educational enchantment. Summer programming will provide students with an opportunity to participate in year-round learning opportunities. Academic enrichment will include but is not limited to reading, MATH, participating in STEM-related activities, tutoring services, recreational activities, arts and music education, nutrition education and
character education. In addition to the academic enrichment, participating students will also receive a healthy dinner during after school program and breakfast and lunch during the summer program. The 21st Century Community Learning Program Center (CCLC) is a U.S. Department of Education program, administered through the Alabama State Department of Education, providing grants to schools to provide high quality, expanded learning opportunities outside of regular school hours for children in a safe educational 
environment. The grant was achieved by members of the Walker County Health Action Partnership’s Healthy People: School-Based priority group. The goal of the school-based priority group is to support and create school-based health and wellness opportunities to produce a healthy school environment.