The Newburgh Armory Unity Center (NAUC) is a place where Newburgh residents of all ages and backgrounds come together for the purpose of academic enrichment, civic engagement, and athletic and wellness opportunities. Seeking to be an agent of change within its community, the organization offers a broad spectrum of classes ranging in interest from the arts and humanities; to science, technology, and math; to health and wellness. The facility also houses indoor soccer fields and basketball courts, providing a safe recreational space for youth to gather and build relationships.
To help address the need for educational enrichment in Newburgh, the NAUC has for many years offered after-school and weekend programs. Its Saturday Morning Enrichment Program for pre-K through 6th graders and their families is a tremendously popular example. Every weekend, hundreds of elementary-age children participate in a full morning of free classes in disciplines such as music, computer science, nursing, gardening, chess, reading, and dozens of others. Strong partnerships with the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and regional colleges bring in expertise and volunteers to further enhance the offerings.
For older children and teens, the organization coordinates numerous after-school offerings. These include career-focused computer science programs, health-related programs in the facility’s newly renovated nursing education lab, and drone and aeronautical engineering programs in its aviation lab.
Renewed multi-year project support for the Kindergarten Through Career Program in 2019 reflects the Dyson Foundation’s strong interest in improving academic success for area youth and falls within the Enhancing Education funding theme.