{"id":6264,"date":"2024-02-14T08:27:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T16:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=6264"},"modified":"2026-08-30T20:49:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T03:49:05","slug":"core-powered-by-the-rogers-foundation-offers-its-formula-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/core-powered-by-the-rogers-foundation-offers-its-formula-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"CORE Powered by The Rogers Foundation, Offers Its Formula for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div>
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This article was printed in<\/em>
\nChic Compass Magazine - Issue 17<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Executive<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Executive Director of CORE, Jeff Jones.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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CORE Powered by The Rogers Foundation, Offers Its Formula for Success<\/h1>\n

Empower Students, Develop Leadership, Mentor, and Support<\/p>\n

BY DEBBIE HALL \/ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CORE POWERED BY THE ROGERS FOUNDATION<\/p>\n<\/div>

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CORE, a non-profit powered by The Rogers Foundation, empowers, enriches, and educates underserved children and their families through two-generational programming. These children are helped to reach their full potential and pursue individual success with a long-term, afterschool, and weekend program focusing on each student-scholar and their family\u2019s needs. Their philosophy is that a child can achieve a high level of success when provided with sufficient tools and opportunities.<\/p>\n

In 2023, CORE announced that their program, originally established at West Preparatory Academy, launched new sites at Brinley Middle School and continued to grow for the 2023-2024 school year with the launch of new locations in North Las Vegas at Swainston and Findlay middle schools.<\/p>\n

The impact of CORE is profound, particularly in the zip codes served, reflecting a 100 percent high school graduation rate. Scholars in the program also achieve a wide range of positive outcomes, including increased GPA, higher rates of promotion to the next grade, and higher acceptance rates into a college or vocational school.<\/p>\n

The organization\u2019s team brings expertise and passion to its mission, which includes the Executive Director of CORE, Jeff Jones.<\/p>\n

A \u201cnear\u201d Las Vegas native (raised here since the age of three) and a graduate of Rancho High School, Jones recalls the non-profit program he was involved with in his youth that he credits with saving his life. Jones served over three decades as a youth probation officer and juvenile services manager with the Las Vegas Juvenile Justice Services Division. Jones served CORE on the Board of Trustees for nearly two years while working for the Clark County Juvenile Justice Services Department.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A family celebrates a student scholar success in graduating through the CORE program.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Jones met Founder and then-executive director Lindsay Harper, who knew more could be done for young Scholars (as CORE refers to students) and their families by being more inclusive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to keep everyone more engaged in scholar pursuits and education,\u201d explains Jones. \u201cI knew their families would also benefit from their children going through this program during their schooling up to six years since we engage scholars from 6th grade to the 12th grade and two years after graduation. A long-term relationship developed throughout the years creates great leaders and good citizens. Working with both on education and economic mobility, the whole family grows together.\u201d<\/p>\n

About one year after he retired from the city, Jones was asked if he would be interested in being considered for the executive director position. Harper had been promoted to the position of CEO and had done a national search to fill the position. In 2022, Jones became the new executive director, and his transition to this new role enabled him to impact the day-to-day program and operations directly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in subsidized housing in North Las Vegas before moving to the Historic Westside of Las Vegas and can identify with the struggles and obstacles families and kids face,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI had a lot of potential, but I remember feeling like there wasn\u2019t a pathway to success for me and that I was invisible. I couldn\u2019t find anyone willing to guide me into a space that would show success differently, especially someone who looked like me. That\u2019s what motivates me. CORE\u2019s two-gen approach is compelling and impactful. We give access to some of the portals that allow kids to gain success today.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The holidays bring joy to families that are part of the CORE Program.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Jones proudly served in the U.S. Army and then attended Grambling State University, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in criminal justice. Jones started his career with an internship at the Methodist Children\u2019s Home\/Foster Care System in Louisiana.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat created my niche, and I enjoyed influencing and supporting kids.\u201d Jones would return to Southern Nevada and transition to a Juvenile Probation Officer and youth advocate.<\/p>\n

During his tenure, Jones had several roles in the juvenile justice system, including management. He would manage Spring Mountain Youth Camp, a 100-bed facility for boys located at Mt. Charleston. The juvenile justice system would partner with the Clark County School District to work with selected boys so they could obtain a high school diploma. The program continues today, with the first set of 25 boys graduating under Jones\u2019 tutelage.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like hitting the reset button. The boys\u2019 confidence was renewed since they felt they could now do something with their lives,\u201d says Jones. Before retirement, the boys would transition from Spring Mountain Youth Camp to The Harbor, another youth center managed by Jones.<\/p>\n

He is also a multi-honoree in the Juvenile Probation discipline. The Clark County Board of County Commissioners has recognized him for excellence in Juvenile Probation and acknowledged his efforts with a Proclamation for commitment to at-risk youth. The Nevada Association of Deputy Chief Probation Officers awarded the same honor at the statewide level.<\/p>\n

CORE was inspired by the \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d Foundation that was founded 43 years ago in a city 4,500 miles northeast of Las Vegas by Eugene Lang<\/p>\n

In 2019, the local \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d chapter was rebranded as CORE, an individual, community-based organization powered by The Rogers Foundation. The organization continues to achieve 100 percent high school graduation and 100 percent acceptance into a college or professional preparation program upon graduating. Beverly Rogers and Rory Reid established The Rogers Foundation in remembrance of Jim Rogers, a community leader and deeply committed advocate for education.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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(L-R) CORE staff member Renisha O'Donnell, Nevada Senator Pat Spearman, and CORE Executive Director Jeff Jones.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

The two-year post-graduation program, Alumni Network, continues to engage with scholars to ensure that they stay on track and reach their full potential whether the scholars attend college or a vocational school.<\/p>\n

In 2021, CORE received recognition from Ascend at the Aspen Institute for its two-gen program. The institute aims to drive \u201cchange through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with the Alumni Network, there is also the Parent Academy for the parents and other family members. Their families work with CORE staff to develop support networks, continue their education, and enhance the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ask the parents about their dreams and what they want to do with their lives. At first, a parent might answer that they only want their child to graduate. We assure them that their child will be guided and will graduate and then bring the question back to them of what they want to do,\u201d says Jones. \u201cWe had one parent making a little money baking and selling pies and other baked goods. We assisted them in finding a commercially licensed kitchen and creating a business. We helped parents learn English so they could continue their job training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with education, especially STEM programs, CORE helps with social, emotional, and self-awareness, creating opportunities to develop good citizenship and volunteering. Scholars participate in the afterschool, weekend, and summer programming to enhance their academic, social-emotional, and leadership skills.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A student scholar demonstrates her love of reading and learning through the CORE Program. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\u201cCommunity service is essential,\u201d says Jones. \u201cWe want our Scholars to give back to our community and engage with the older adults that live in the community. Our youth can learn about the past from these senior citizens and bond with them. We want to enable our Scholars to develop and mature with the equitable tools, resources, and experiences necessary to be healthy, contributing, and empowered adults and well-rounded individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The entire CORE Scholar experience is provided free of charge to participating families.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy team is amazing, especially being on the front line,\u201d adds Jones. \u201cWe must be many things to these families, including doctor, counselor, teacher, brother, or sister, and most importantly, a good listener. I applaud my team because we have the very best team for doing their \u2018heart\u2019 work because you have to put your heart into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is recommended that for those who want to get involved, volunteering time and expertise is a significant way to assist CORE, its scholars, and their families.<\/p>\n

For more information or to get involved and donate, visit www.corewecan.org<\/a> and follow them on Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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CORE, a non-profit powered by The Rogers Foundation, empowers, enriches, and educates underserved children and their families through two-generational programming. These children are helped to reach their full potential and pursue individual success with a long-term, afterschool, and weekend program focusing on each student-scholar and their family\u2019s needs. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4522,4075],"tags":[4098,3955,4100,267,4099],"class_list":["post-6264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-and-culture","category-issue-17","tag-core","tag-debbie-hall","tag-jeff-jones","tag-las-vegas","tag-rogers-foundation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6264"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10710,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6264\/revisions\/10710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}