Horizons GFA partners with students impacted by educational inequities in Bridgeport public schools to develop strong academic, social-emotional skills, and the motivation to succeed in school and pursue a rewarding future.
While potential is equally distributed among children, the opportunities needed to realize that potential are not. Our vision is to eliminate the impacts of educational inequity by providing academic and social-emotional support to our students attending underserved schools so that they can persist, thrive, and build a stable economic future for themselves in a career of their choice, thereby meaningfully contributing to their families and community.
Horizons GFA Community
Horizons GFA is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our community. We believe in the respectful partnership between our families, our staff, and GFA that enriches all community members and engages our student body in a meaningful and holistic learning experience. By prioritizing diversity in staffing, leadership, and governance, we create an environment in which students may interact with role models and mentors who reflect a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences. Our curriculum also takes part in honoring the cultural heritage of our students and the collective traditions, practices, and values of various regions and societies around the world. From our course lessons to our social-emotional learning programs, we continue to celebrate the similarities and differences within our community and devote ourselves to creating an environment in which all voices are heard, respected, and validated. Each of these core values contributes to the tailored educational approach and needs of each student, as well as equipping them with the cultural competence to thrive in a multiracial, interconnected society.
Strategic Plan
Our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan was finalized in 2023 and we are now working on achieving its goals and objectives in the areas of Programs, Governance, Community Engagement, Financial Sustainability, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Program Goals:
Evaluate and strengthen programming to positively impact student academic outcomes; increase the number of students we serve by 25%; expand and deepen the offerings in the High School and College & Career Success Program to position students for successful secondary and post-secondary experiences and entry into the workforce; improve PreK-8 school year supports to help students achieve grade-level performance; expand tutoring and early literacy program.
Governance:
Evaluate and redesign the board committee structure and full-time staff structure to reflect and implement key initiatives of the new strategic plan; hold a board retreat to focus on increasing fundraising capacity and expanding community partnerships.
Community Engagement:
Increase collaborations within the Bridgeport and Fairfield County communities to enhance student outcomes and organizational impact; increase opportunities for community engagement within the HGFA community for students, families, staff, and board members; increase the number of family engagement workshops; hold three community events each year.
Financial Sustainability:
Strengthen efforts to diversify and expand our funding base in order to support new strategic plan initiatives while maintaining organizational quality.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion:
Enhance organizational equity by employing a DEl mindset to create atmosphere of belonging and equitable organizational decision-making for all community members and stakeholders.