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The vision of Blach’s Project Cornerstone Program is to continue to build developmental assets in youth by fostering a positive, compassionate and inclusive community where all kids are intentionally supported by caring adults and feel valued, respected and known.


What is Project Cornerstone?

Project Cornerstone is an initiative of the Silicon Valley YMCA based on survey research involving over two million children across the United States. This research, conducted by Search Institute in 1999, identified 41 developmental assets that help children thrive. The study found a direct correlation between high numbers of perceived assets and less 'at risk' behavior among children in grades 5-12. The more assets children have, the less likely they are to be truant, do drugs, and attempt suicide. None of these assets cost anything to provide and there are no socio-economic, racial, or geographic groups that are less able to provide these assets to their youth.

All of the LASD elementary schools currently offer Project Cornerstone’s ABC (Asset Building Champions) program, where caring adults read stories about kindness and respect in the classrooms, engage students in discussions and teach empowerment skills and anti-bullying techniques. One of the many positive benefits of the ABC program is that students can incorporate many of the concepts and skills they’ve learned in elementary school into middle school. By having everyone understand Project Cornerstone’s common language, students can advocate for themselves when struggling and learn to communicate more effectively with their peers.


What Does Project Cornerstone Look Like at Blach?

Project Cornerstone looks different in middle school than in elementary school and varies at each middle school - depending mainly on the school’s size and climate on campus. The main goal (and Project Cornerstone’s mission) is to help kids feel valued, respected and known. Blach offers a variety of ways for students to feel important and included. Below is a list of some of the opportunities, programs and activities that are offered on our campus.

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Project Cornerstone Programs & Activities at Blach



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