Vision: Youths who are safe, productive, joyful and resilient — students whose academic performance is competitive — graduates who are prepared for college, careers and life-long learning.

Mustangs on the Move (MOTM) is a collaboration of Pasadena nonprofit organizations, high school students and community members who are working together to provide after-school programming at John Muir High School in Northwest Pasadena.

The school is located in a commercially blighted area of the community with few resources for teens. Flintridge played a pivotal role in mobilizing the community effort to provide extracurricular activities on the campus and has provided financial and in-kind support to build the infrastructure and sustain the collaboration.

Since the first after-school programs launched in November 2003, Mustangs on the Move has offered a wide range of activities for students in grades 9-12 that are held before, during and after-school hours. These activities serve as a critical enrichment and support system for the school's 1,100 vulnerable teens, offering everything from academic assistance and mentoring to college/career preparation, life skills, art, music, cooking, sports and dance.

Each program is assigned a student advisor who provides assistance and earns a small stipend, while gaining valuable leadership skills.

Achievements

• More than 80% of Muir students attended one or more MOTM programs during the 2009/10 school year; of those, approximately 200 attended programs on a weekly basis;
  
• More than 30% of seniors for the past three years have graduated on schedule after completing MOTM's math, social science and English credit reclamation classes;
• Of the 54 seniors admitted to four-year universities in 2010, 50 attended MOTM programs, 12 completed at least one credit recovery class to become eligible to graduate and nine served as student advisors;
• Students who regularly participate in MOTM programs have a higher school attendance rate than those who don’t. They are also more likely to score proficient or advanced on state tests for all grades;
• 90% of students who completed the MOTM preparation class for the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) passed one section and 78% passed both sections.

Fact Sheet (PDF) After-school Programs Guide (PDF) Pasadena Unified School District Public Calendar

Mustangs on the Move programs do not take place on PUSD holidays or minimum days.

Funding Partners

Mustangs on the Move received a five-year $1.25 million 21st Century High School ASSETs Grant through the California Department of Education in 2004. Due to MOTM’s accomplishments, this grant has been renewed for another five years at $1.3 million. While these funds provide the bedrock of our program’s sustainability, they do not cover all costs.

In addition to the 21st Century Grants and Flintridge's support, Mustangs on the Move has sought and received support in the past from The Annenberg Foundation; The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation; Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation and The Rose Hills Foundation.

A major corporate contribution from the J. L. Moseley Company currently exposes Muir students to educationally meaningful experiences such as summer programs on college campuses. The J. L. Moseley Company's corporate goal is to invest in the area's youth so that they grow to successful adulthood.

 

Join the Mustangs Partnership

All interested nonprofit organizations are invited to participate in this community-wide vision to encourage productive futures for our young people. Please contact Program Director LaWayne Williams to be added to the Mustangs on the Move email list or call (626) 396-5610.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Courtesy of Mustangs on the Move