SCAN went fishing at the Big Brown Fishing Lake & Hatchery to celebrate Father’s Day. The hatchery produces over 260,000 pounds of brown, brook, rainbow and golden trout and about 20,000 largemouth bass, annually. This year, SCAN's anglers will got their share along with a free t-shirt. The group will never forget the fish that was "that big." Too bad it was the big one that got away.

Family Day was a day for the parents and immediate family to get to know La Isla Beacon staff as they interacted in a fun atmosphere. The general theme for the day's activities was fostering parental and participant bonds to build stronger family support systems. This was a day of fun, laughs, and lots of play.

This special workshop on cash flow and investing, presented by members of the Rich Dad NYC Cash Flow Group, was designed for young people enrolled in grades 6 through 12, who are attending SCAN's La Isla Beacon. The workshop introduced these young participants to bestselling author, Robert Kiyosaki's lessons on proper money management and the path to financial freedom.

It was a beautiful spring day. The sun was out,and the air was fresh and clear. La Isla's “Spring into Fun” Family Day provided an opportunity for the parents and other immediate family members of La Isla program participants, to get to know the staff while enjoying themselves in a fun atmosphere. Activities were conducted around the general theme of fostering parental and participant bonds to build stronger support systems. It was a day of fun, laughs, and lots of play!

Reach for the Stars members participated in festivities commemorating the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders. Participants filled 60 seat charter bus traveling from New York to Jackson, Mississippi to celebrate the historic 50th anniversary of the 1961 Freedom Rides. The bus visited several notable civil rights sites along the way including: Washington, DC; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Atlanta, Georgia before arriving in Jackson. Hundreds of young people, including Reach for the Stars representatives, participated in the event's Youth Summit that brought together young people from all over the country. Together they began the work work of bridging the generational gap between the civil rights generation and today’s youth. The conference included youth performances (spoken word/poetry, music, dancing, etc) that honored the Civil Rights movement and made a connection to the issues our young people are facing today.
The bus left New York on the morning of May 20 and returned May 26.

An intimate evening of poetry and artistic performances, from the participants of the Reach for the Stars college readiness program, took place on May 14, 2011 at the SCAN Inwood Auditorium. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the spirited presentations by SCAN students and staff.

As a kick-off to the May 20th departure by bus for Jackson, Mississippi, SCAN-New York, in collaboration with The Renaissance Charter HS for Innovation, hosted the New York City-to-Mississippi 50th Launch Party.
The event included a discussion with original Freedom Riders, presentations by students on civil rights issues and leaders, and a video presentation honoring the original Freedom Riders.

Players from the New York Knicks and the New York Liberty professional basketball teams provided a skills clinic for girls and boys, ages 10 - 16. During the two hour clinic young people learned the fundamentals of basketball offense and defense. Ball handling, proper positioning and fast break drills were also be part of the day's activities.

In celebration of their special day, the "Mothers Rock" Red Carpet Extravaganza celebration honored mothers both in the traditional sense and those individuas who play a motherly role to young people in our community. The show included a variety of musical acts and a fashion show. A tribute to each, individual mother by their child was provided.

Where would this nation be had it not been for the dedicated Freedom Riders of 1961? Those 400 young people who stood against injustice in this country and who catalyzed the modern civil rights era!
On April 17, 2011 a first step was taken to pass this 50 year-old challenge to our next generation — letting all of our young people know how we got to where we are today!
On that evening, we honored the good work of, the late, Hon. Percy Sutton; the late Kwame Toure (Stokeley Carmichael), and Lew Zuchman, Executive Director of SCAN New York, as well as our special guest - Hank Thomas - one of the 13 original Freedom Riders. Funds raised at the event will be used to take as many of Harlem's young people as possible to Jackson, Mississippi (May 20- 26) to participate in the Youth Summit activities at the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides.

The SCAN El Faro Beacon Center in collaboration with Taking Steps to Success (an NCLR Escalera Program) presented a youth seminar to promote healthier and safer lifestyles through cycling. Through a live action presentation, the Chemstar Pro Cycling Team riders explained road hazards, road signals, and the importance of wearing a helmet when participating in sports such as cycling, rollerblading or skateboarding. The Chemstar team also demonstrated the proper fit and positioning of helmets, while distributing appropriate protective headgear to each participating youth.

The African American Heritage Showcase is the Beacon’s annual celebration of African American history and culture. This years showcase was centered around “famous firsts” among African Americans and the significant role that becoming the first of something has had in shaping today’s culture and policies. The Event included student presentations and performances to the assembled group of proigram participants and their parent. Pride in past accomplishments, as well as a sense of the great things to come, filled the room from 5:30 to 7:00pm that day.

WORK was a 4-day series of workshops held during the year-end holiday school recess. These workshops were designed to help participants become properly prepared for the employment world. Featured workshops covered everything from properly filling out an employment application all the way to creating a resume. The Beacon staff hosted teens age 13 and up who were participanting in any East Harlem after-school program at the event.

From everyone at SCAN, thamk you to all our contributors who made this Holiday season a special time for our program participants! The 2010 holiday season saw over 2400 presents, including more than 250 bicycles, donated by SCAN supporters in response to "Dear Santa" letters written by our children. SCAN holiday celebration took place at 6 SCAN locations, with more than a thousand SCAN friends and family members participating. Thanks to everyone who made these wonderful, memorable times possible.

La Isla Clelebrated the close of 2010 with its annual year-end dinner. The event brought together participants, parents, and Beacon program staff to celebrate the traditions and cultures of the East Harlem community at the Holidays. Prior the dinner, there was a wonderful performance featuring the talents of the La Isla Beacon's performing arts program's participants. The year end dinner was a wonderful way to close the year and anticipate the future!

This year’s La Isla Beacon Thanksgiving Dinner provides an opportunity to show our gratitude to all the participants, parents, and East Harlem residents that make our community succeed. Before the dinner there will be a one hour show presented by La Isla Beacon's performing arts participants.
5:30 pm – 7:30pm.
Admission is free.

The Leir Charitable Foundations are enabling SCAN to present this one-day conference on violence prevention techniques for reducing teenage violence in schools and communities. Presenters will include: Lowell Finkelstein, MD; Michael McGarry, LCSW; Allegra Perhaes, MSW; and Derek Schuster, Ed.D.
9:30am-4:30pm.
By invitation only, admission is free.

Join the SCAN Board of Directors and the Event Committee for a presentation where teens with prior court involvement share stories of how they have turned–around their lives with the support of the SCAN Violence Prevention Program. Joining the teens as an event honoree will be Barbara Slifka, a generous supporter of SCAN, who has helped make the work of the Violence Prevention Program possible through her contributions.
6pm-8pm.
By invitation only.

Parents and members of the SCAN El Faro Beacon community are invited to attend the program’s annual Halloween Party. Activities will include ghoulish games, a dance contest, awards for the best costumes and an opportunity to visit our very scary haunted house. This party is exclusively for El Faro Beacon members and their parents.
3pm-6pm.
Admission is free.

La Isla Beacon's teen participants will host a spooky celebration designed to entertain and engage the program’s younger members. Activities will include a mini haunted house, pumpkin decorating, dancing, and face-painting. 4pm-6pm.
Admission is free.

A fun-filled day at the Mullaly Park Community Center open to the entire community offering mini-"Olympics," live music, face painting, recreation and sports, and a picnic. 9am - 4pm. Admission is free.

Several hundred supporters attended the annual SCAN benefit dinner followed by the entertaining Broadway musical, "The Addams Family", starring the characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. The evening celebrated Jane Overman who has been an enthusiastic SCAN supporter since its founding more than 30 years ago.

In December 2009 Kobe Bryant visited SCAN’s El Faro Beacon program where he directed a basketball clinic for SCAN youth, spending time afterwards giving his autograph to many in the young audience. Pitching hard work and hours of practice as the key to success, he reinforced SCAN’s “Yes, I Can” theme.