About Us

Mission

The mission of ACH Clear Pathways is to provide low-cost visual and performing arts programs to urban community at-risk youth to nurture their social, emotional and long-term development skills. "We believe that the acquisition of a moral compass, civility, knowledge of culture, and service to the communities in which we serve are important as the academic prowess in t he finding and leading of a full and productive life"

Vision

ACH Clear Pathways vision is to become a diverse artistic program that will bridge the gap between community programs and agencies. Through cultural awareness, dance and artistic expression, ACH Clear Pathways will provide artistic avenues of opportunity for at-risk youth. ACH Clear Pathways believes through commitment and personal development our children's artistic expression will ignite each participants inter-personal relationships, physical prosperity and spirituality.

Benefit to our Region

While we believe that challenging and empowering our entire region's children to lead fulfilling lives and to participate in society in a meaningful way has ontological merit and needs no justification, we also recognize that there will be obvious benefits to our region:

Children living in a supportive environment, which has clear-cut standards and values, promotes healthy growth and development - including academic achievement among young people.

Location and Structure of ACH Clear Pathways

We are pleased and excited to report that ACH Clear Pathways has found a home in the HIll District area. ACH Clear Pathways has been donated space in the Ammons Recreational Center which is under the umbrella of City Parks at 2217 Bedford Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Together with City Parks we are committed to the ongoing Renaissance of the Hill District area.

The Program will eventually serve children in grades K through 12.

Each session will enroll 5 to 20 children.

The program will begin at 6:00 pm and ends at 8:00 pm.

Extracurricular activities will be scheduled between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm and will be handled through partnerships with established educational and cultural institutions, and volunteers.

The program is designed by level not by grade, giving us the flexibility to work with children possessing a range of ages, abilities, and competencies. We can remain fluid by starting each child at the appropriate level for each program. Children will move up a level only after certain competencies have been met.

Founder/Executive Director Bio

Tyian Battle Founder/ Executive Director of ACH Clear Pathways received her Associate Degree in Business Administration from Duff’s Business Institute in 1999 and graduated in 2009 from Point Park University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Science, Organizational Leadership.

With her education and work experience, Ms. Battle registered ACH Clear Pathways as a non-profit organization with the State of Pennsylvania in 2010.  In 2011 the Internal Revenue Service classified ACH Clear Pathways as a charities organization, exempt under section 501 © (3)  It’s purpose is to enrich the lives of children and youth in Pittsburgh, Pa inner City Hill District community and is dedicated to the memory of Amon Cashmere Harris (2001-2009).  United Way of Pennsylvania has named ACH Clear Pathways as a Contribution Agency. Since then ACH Clear Pathways has partnered with the Hill House Associate, Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Public School System, Pittsburgh City Parks, NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Street Pales, Art Expression, Ozanam Inc, Wesley AME Church and Carnegie Mellon University.

Ms. Battle has been by recognized and awarded with the Simply Excellent award by Women For Excellence.  A woman’s organization that aims to bring women together for the promotion of civic and philanthropic betterment of the community and to create interest in religion, education, fine arts, and topics of spiritual and public interested by securing friendly relationships through the word, spiritual healing, prayer, and sisterhood.

The City of Pittsburgh issued a proclamation honoring Ms. Battle for her commitment to enriching the lives of children who participate in ACH Clear Pathways.  On July 21, 2011 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of the City of Pittsburgh declared it “ACH Clear Pathways Day” here in the City of Pittsburgh. As the founder of ACH Clear Pathways, Ms. Battle’s plans is to expand ACH Clear Pathways to other urban communities within the City of Pittsburgh to “Nurture the Hearts of the Arts” and also plans to development a 24 hour Daycare Center, to service parents who work a non-traditional work schedules.  Clear Pathways will tap into the arts with the Wolf Trap Early Childhood education curriculum. 

 It is the goal of A.C.H. Clear Pathways to serve children and families who have not had the opportunity to thrive in the arts. The “least of these” that fall through the cracks of the life of our community are those whom we wish to touch A.C.H. Clear Pathways will play an ongoing and critical role in the economic, artistic, and spiritual renaissance of Hill District.  Finally, A.C.H. Clear Pathways will play an active role in the transformation of children, families, and the Hill District Community.

Staffing

Next to our children, the most critical component of ACH Clear Pathways is our instructors and staff. We will have one master teacher and one teaching intern per discipline per every 10 students. Since we see most of our teaching interns at art majors doing their internships at ACH Clear Pathways, a major component of our staffing program will be our collaboration with the Arts Department of local Universities.

Our program will create an environment in which our teachers can truly teach and flourish. We support them in their ongoing professional development; we listen and respond to our teachers' suggestions; we encourage flexibility and collegiality; Teachers teach, mentor, develop curriculum, provide one-on-one assistance, and work with the administration to assure the smooth running of the daily life of the program.

Critical to the operation and success of ACH Clear Pathways will be community partnerships with youth and social service agencies, churches, day care centers, schools, job training programs, educational training programs, and cultural institutions. Whereever possible we will forge such partnerships in order to learn from the experiences of others, to avoid duplication of services, to maximize efficient use of resources, to enrich the cultural life of ACH Clear Pathways, and to provide opportunities for community service.

Our most important partnership is our relationship with our children's parents. We believe the key to any child's success is insightful and skillful parent support and participation. We will seek to make all parent interactions with ACH Clear Pathways as positive as possible. Our monthly parent meetings and support groups will help our parent body become more insightfull and aware. Eventually, our dream, as part of a larger vision, is to becoem an educational center for both adults and children.

Contact Information

P.O. Box 53091

Pittsburgh, Pa 15219

412.620.8862

ACHclearpathways@ymail.com

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