During this fiscal year, the students at the KSU/CIS UConnect Program Students participated in a number of activities and discussions inclusive of: Participants also engaged in lessons on:

• Hosted Golf Outing featuring NBA Player, Julius Randle of the New Orleans Pelicans. Mr. Randle mingled with players and program participants.               
• Jhamicah Harbut, EFNEP Assistant, Kentucky State University led discussions on food and nutrition. Participants learned to name the My Plate food groups, matched foods to the My Plate food groups, describe a serving size of foods from each food group, learned to prepare and try new foods.
• Financial Literacy Class- Students learned to differentiate between wants and needs, recorded all expenses for a week, write financial goals and began saving for their goals.
• University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry Tree Talk and Nature Walk. UK led the children on a community walk in which participants learned to identify various trees, seed, nuts etc.
• Learned to extract strawberry DNA, and made lava lamps. 
• Participated in a History Walk and Ghost Tour of downtown Lexington for Halloween led by a minister from the UK Newman Center.
• Patrick Mitchell (Published award winning photographer and actor) introduced them to photography.
• November 17, 2018 visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum and did a tour of Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
• Hosted a pampering party for teen girls to learn about self-care and personal hygiene.
• Learned about Native Americans: Participants picked a Native American Tribe and provided five details about the tribe.
• Made and learned the meaning of Dream Catchers and on Native American Day which was (Sept28) 
• Nancy Barnett- Journaling Class 
• Russell Allen- Take Back Cheapside, where they learned the cultural significance of removing the civil war statures from downtown Lexington. 
• Made cards for VAMC veterans for Veterans Day to show their appreciation for their sacrifice. 
• Thanksgiving Dinner: Participants learned to read and follow directions, use a variety of measuring tools correctly,  demonstrated food safety skills, used knives correctly and safely, tried new food, set the table correctly and used proper etiquette.
• Made Christmas Bulbs snowmen 
• Mildred Bailey of University of Kentucky, led a discussion about Kwanza and had the students participate in a Kwanzaa celebration
• Year-End Sip and See- Displayed all activities for the year. CIS Promotional Video was debuted.
• Students learned about time management, structuring activities and making wise choices.
• Read 47 by Walter Mosley. Students read two chapters each week and discussed what they read each Tuesday.
• Participated in cultural diversity sessions where they learned about Chinese New Year, St. Patrick’s Day and other diverse cultures to broaden their horizons. 
• Held there year-end celebration in May at the Harold Benson Farm in Frankfort, KY. 

Students were so intrigued with the activities listed above that they wanted to document them. As a result, students were taught to document their experiences through journaling and photography. Hence, the KSU/CIS Photography Club began. 

Award winning actor and internationally known photographer, playwright and actor, Patrick Mitchell in partnership with KSU and CIS developed a Photography Club. Ten students met twice weekly for an hour and a half each for 6 weeks to learn basic photography skills using Canon E07 DSLR Cameras. Students were taught techniques like caring for your camera, composites, lighting, framing, symmetry and patterns and viewpoint. Students were encouraged to be creative, find their voice and capture what speaks to them. At the conclusion of the class, students were invited to attend a cultural awareness experience to Charleston, South Carolina. There they learned about Slavery, and the Gullah Geeechee Community. Students visited Boone Hall Plantation, Brookgreen Sculpture Gardens and the Penn Center, where they captured numerous photos. On June 1, 2019, students held a photography exhibit entitled, “"Through Their Eyes." This gallery event displayed their work to the public. Five professional photographers, artists and media personnel, Mark Lenn Johnson, Debra Logsdon, Marjorie Guyon, Jeff Botts and Trey Crumbie critiqued their work and selected the top three winners. All students that participated received a trophy. The top three winners were awarded a new Canon DSL EO7 Cameras courtesy of Kentucky State University. Awardees also received cash prizes and extended lessons with famed photographer, Patrick Mitchell. The student’s photos will also be featured in the Lextropolis News Magazine. 

1^st Place Winner, Aliyah pictured with Rebecca Webb of Community Inspired Solutions and Patrick Mitchell.

Additional photographs taken by KSU/CIS Photography Club Students listed below

Sweetgrass Basket photographed by KSU/CIS Photography Club Student, Aliyah.

A bateau, a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed boat photographed by KSU/CIS Photography Student

Photo taken at Penn Center by KSU/CIS Photography Student, Ammonie.

The Cat, Photographed by KSU/CIS Photography Student, Aliyah.

Photo Courtesy of KSU/CIS Photography Student, Ammonie.

Photo taken at Penn Center Taken by KSU/CIS Photography Student, Lola.

Photo of an old slave cabin taken by KSU/CIS Photography Student, Lola.

The students involved in the KSU/CIS Photography club were exposed to a variety of a cultures and activities. They learned valuable lessons and acquires some invaluable skills along the way. These students have increased their capacity and are now able to earn a wage and become entrepreneurs with their newly acquired skills.