An effort to start a Summer School in the Pulaski-Lighthouse District on Erie's East Side. This would establish a beachhead for Sarah Reed to begin working with children on Erie's East Side after being on Erie West Side for four years. The success of the ARP Summer Program helped to lay the groundwork toward putting back the "soul" into the former St Ann's School built in 1925. To date over $500,000 of improvements have been made to the building under Phase#1 ,new heating and cooling, IT Infrastructure upgrades, classroom equipment, technology. Once two new roofs are completed. Phase #2 begins to address a plethora of needs internally.

1. By Christopher Millette / 07/06/2023
Story by: Michael Outlaw, Community Liaison, City of Erie | Photos by: Monica Z. Gustin, Digital Media
and Design Specialist, City of Erie
Pray for Our City
LGBTQ+ No Bully Zone
Shalom
Judge Not
No Guns
These words, phrases, and themes often dominate our news feeds. But you don’t have to turn on
the news to think about them. Just head over to the Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center (SARCC), St.
Ann’s campus, 921 East Ave., and you will notice them in a collage of art themes created by the stu-
dents. Their creativity captures your mind, and – for a split second – causes you to self-reflect on
the challenges we face as a nation and City, and what role we play in making a better society.
ARP dollars in Action: Sarah A. Reed
Children’s Center, St. Ann’s campus
Government Residents Business Visitors
Online Services
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2. Shown here, on June 20, 2023, is a student tile art project reflecting the sanctuary model, which
promotes safety and resiliency from lifes challenges by creating a trauma-informed community. The Sarah
A. Reed Children’s Center, St. Ann’s campus, 921 East Ave., which is a certified sanctuary organization,
values integrity, respect, individuality, opportunity, safety, diversity, excellence, and teamwork in the care
and education of all students. MONICA Z. GUSTIN/CITY OF ERIE
Fulfilling his role to create that society for the students is Gary Bukowski, 72, Associate Vice-
President of Development for SARCC. Bukowski’s role is to secure funding to enhance SARCC,
which lead him to apply for an ARP funding grant from the City.
“The (City of Erie’s) $75,000 (ARP grant) was a tremendous catalyst to restoring the soul back into
the (St. Ann’s campus) and enabled us to continue to help educate children, provide staff salary,
purchase gardening tools, (educational) robots, organize field trips, and a summer program talent
show, among other things,” said Bukowski.
Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center St. Ann’s Campus, 921 East Ave., is shown on June 20, 2023. MONICA Z.
GUSTIN/CITY OF ERIE
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3. Since 1871, SARCC has had a presence in Erie with services including mental and behavioral health
care for children, teens, families, and individuals. Currently, SARCC operates an educational pro-
gram at the former St. Ann’s school for Erie School District students who exhibit behavioral chal-
lenges and need a more therapeutic environment.
“SARCC mission is anchored in a trauma-informed care model that focuses on youth and family
mental health needs,” said Adrienne Dixon, PhD., President and CEO of SARCC. “I started my ca-
reer with Sarah Reed at the St. Ann’s location which houses several school-based classrooms and
was the location for the Pulaski-Lighthouse summer camp. I’m proud that for over 35 years SARCC
has provided services in the (East) Tenth (Street)and East Avenue community. Our goal – then and
now – is to improve quality of life experiences for families.”
The staff and employees of SARCC try to get the students as close as possible to a one-on-one
learning model.
“Most of the students who attend the school come from non-traditional backgrounds,” said Ron
Rodney, 47, who manages two programs at the St. Ann’s campus. “Having smaller classrooms and
better staff-to-student ratio provides an opportunity for the students to excel and grow.”
Gary Bukowski, at left, associate vice president of development for Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, and
Ron Rodney, program manager at SARCC, at right, sit at a picnic table in the SARCC’s garden, 921 East
Ave. on June 20, 2023. A $75,000 ARP grant helped purchase gardening tools, and other teaching
resources for the programs housed at the St. Ann’s campus. MONICA Z. GUSTIN/CITY OF ERIE
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4. Julia Briggs agrees.
Briggs, a St. Ann’s Intake/Case Manager, spoke with a parent recently while scheduling a discharge
from the program for her child. The parent told Briggs that she was happy that her son attended St.
Ann’s, and that she noticed a positive change in her son’s behavior at home and at school, according
to Briggs.
What’s next for the SARCC program at St. Ann’s?
“I hope to add another 1,500 books to our library that offers a variety of selections for the stu-
dents,” said Bukowski.
Students take part in a class about clean water initiatives at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, St. Ann’s
campus, 921 East Ave., on June 19, 2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
ARP Dollars In Action Arp Funding Arp Grant Education Erie School District
Sarah A. Reed Children's Center St. Ann's Campus
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