COLUMBUS, Ohio — While running an after-school program, an Ohio woman realized there was a greater need to serve kids in her community and took action.

What You Need To Know

  • An Ohio woman serves the kids in the community with an after-school program on Saturday mornings
  • DeAndra Harrison founded “Actions That Matter 4 Youth" to help children that were falling behind on school because of the pandemic
  • She started by helping 20 children, and later created “Saturdays with the Community” to help more
  • 11 other volunteers from different Ohio school districts where helping her give tutoring sessions

Thirty-three kids showed up Saturday at 8 a.m. at Woodward Park Middle School in Columbus.

“That’s at 8 o’clock on a Saturday morning, so that shows they’re committed,” said DeAndra Harrison. 

Harrison is the founder of “Actions That Matter 4 Youth,” and operates the after-school program at Woodward Park serving approximately 25 kids.

That’s when she learned the need for help was greater. 

“When I got the data, there were over 84 eighth graders,” said Harrison. “If I’m only able to help 20 students, how am going to be able to serve the other 60?”

That’s why she created “Saturdays with the Community,” a free tutoring session every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon during the month of March. 

“All they really need is for someone to say, ‘I believe in you, I believe you can get this work done. Here, sit next to me let’s get it done,’” said Harrison. 

There to help her organize it, was Justin Brown.

“This generation is the future,” said Brown, “We’re not going to be able to do what we do forever, so we have to pass on our jobs.”

He’s the program manager of “Actions That Matter 4 Youth” and has known Harrison since middle school.

“She definitely has the heart for youth and young adults for a while now,” said Brown.

In addition to her staff of three, there were 11 volunteers across different central Ohio school districts that helped on Saturday. Harrison said she would like to continue until the end of the year, she needs more help. 

“I want to be able to expand to serve, and it's just getting funding to be able to do so and getting people here,” said Harrison.

Harrison also works with school districts in Milford and Medina.