Excel Roseville
Apr 25, 2017 04:31PM ● By Morgan Cásarez
Shelby Evans, Tamika L. Bennett, Abby Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell and Christian Caudillo
When Anthony DeShaun Davis reflects on his upbringing, he sees a long line of mentors, teachers and coaches who helped shape the person he is today. “I grew up with a single mother who worked very hard so we could have the basics, and on occasion do something fun recreationally or go out to eat,” he shares. “But she always knew she had to keep me active in programs and sports, or the streets would consume me.”
Davis serves as the youth development coordinator at Excel Roseville, a community center serving children ages 5-18 from low-income households. All of its programs—including resources for families facing unemployment, hunger and homelessness—are offered free of charge.
Excel was founded in 1994 by a Roseville police officer and local community leaders looking to support students, both personally and academically, by providing a safe after-school environment. Through a combination of tutoring, leadership development, meal services and family engagement, along with exploratory and experiential learning activities, Excel has been helping children achieve their full potential for more than two decades.
Executive Director Tamika L. Bennett describes herself as “the client I serve.” Like Davis, she was exposed to supportive programs and mentors growing up whom she credits with shaping her success.
“We go the extra mile to empower each employee to become a master of their various roles, while recruiting many community volunteers, [including] retired teachers, professionals, parents, and college and high school students,” she explains. “Through challenges [and] economic downturn, it has forced me to be very creative and develop new program models to support students and their families.”
The annual cost to support an Excel student is $3,000, which includes a daily meal and snack; vocational development; sports; field trips; and activities emphasizing educational advancement, leadership, arts, health and wellness. An increased operating budget would not only expand the program’s reach, but allow for the addition of a GED program for parents, workforce development training for students and parents, and a college scholarship endowment fund.
Volunteers and donations are vital to Excel’s success and keep much-needed resources within reach for area families in need. Board President Pauline Roccucci encourages members of the community to consider sharing their time with a child in need. “[They] can volunteer to work with children [by listening] to them read and [helping] with homework, [or assisting] in our vegetable garden,” she says. “If you have a talent like playing an instrument and would like to share [it] for one of our activities, it would be appreciated.”
For Davis, the impact of his work is clear and he hopes to see Excel grow throughout the region. “It’s shown me that the smallest things can make a child’s day,” he shares. “Adults can lead by example and do good things, and the youth will follow. All members of the community need to look out for local kids.”