The Renzi Education and Art Center is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows founded the Renzi Center in 1997 for the children living in Shreveport's Highland and Stoner Hill neighborhoods, so they would have a safe, nurturing, educational, and fun place to go to after school.
Since its founding, the Renzi Center has been an oasis for children growing up in poor, crime-ridden areas in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. Our free After School Program and free three-week Summer Camp have given at-risk K-12 youth opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise. They receive one-on-one assistance with their homework and learn supplementary knowledge and skills from professional teachers, which boosts their academic performance. They explore, discover, and express their creativity under the guidance of professional artists. Caring staff, teachers, artists, and volunteers are positive role models for our students, which helps counter the negative influences of the streets.
We see the results in very short time: kids who are more self-confident and happier. They do better in school. Their grades go up, their behavior improves. Their families and communities do better, too. They can have peace of mind knowing their children are safe after school; they can be more productive at work; they save money by not having to pay for a babysitter or daycare; their children behave better at home; and they get to see and feel proud of their children's accomplishments -- both in school and at the Renzi Center. They see their children become civic-minded citizens, willing to give back to their families and communities.
To see the Renzi Center make these real, positive impacts on at-risk children every day, watch our video, "This is Renzi."
