Mission Statement
An Array of Charm’s mission is to empower disadvantaged youth by equipping them with the academic competencies, social skills, and leadership training required to create permanent, positive change in their lives. We accomplish this through a foundation of training in etiquette, civility, and protocol- the three core assets that transform societal and socioeconomic differences into the common language of success. Each summer, AAOC provides affordable, accessible day camps for families of youth, ages 4-15. AAOC camps are gender-specific, culturally relevant and provide training centered on the themes of social and business etiquette, civility, and protocol. Youth also receive academic enrichment, character education, and participate in community services activities.
Description
An Array of Charm, "AAOC", was founded in January of 2004. The AAOC program was designed to teach today’s "little girls", through classes in etiquette, manners, and character, to become tomorrow’s "young ladies". Since that time, our mission and programs have grown both in depth and in scope. Our desire to dig deeper is grounded in our belief that every child can achieve his or her goals, despite his or her circumstance. Our unique approach involves "healing" the ills of cultural, economic, and educational poverty through gender-specific foundations training in etiquette, civility, and protocol. We understand that these are three universal languages that, once learned, empower our youth to transcend the social barriers they encounter because of their socioeconomic status. These languages simultaneously broaden the world they live in and narrow it, so that their life goals are no longer out of reach. These are languages that have been lost to many that live in the inner-city. Because of the legacy of drugs, poverty, and single parent homes, they have not been passed down by tradition. This serves as the foundation for all of our programming, which also includes academic support, character education, and leadership training. AAOC is poised to play our part in reversing the trend of inner-city youth who reach adulthood and are not equipped with the skills required to be successful in life.
