C.O.C.O.A. House Club (Children of Our Community Open to Achievement)

From the Union directory, Sep 7, 2026

COCOA House was established in 1996 by Union College Student Rachel Graham. Graham, who grew up in Schenectady, and understood the challenges many local children faced. She sought to create a program which would promote academic success and expanded opportunities for at-risk youth. The program started out small, operating out of the basement of a local church. Over 25 years COCOA House has become a full-fledged after-school tutoring and enrichment program, operating out of its own facility in the Hamilton Hills section of Schenectady. Today, members of Union’s student body and members of the Schenectady community work together to run the COCOA House program. In addition, COCOA House is directed by a community activist, Founder of Save Our Streets Inc. and Executive Director, Will Rivas. Along with him, a Union student Executive Board (E-Board) oversees programs, sites, events, and finances of COCOA House as well. On the college campus, students will be volunteers as part of the COCOA House Club that works closely with the COCOA House organization.In the past, the organization's focus was tutoring, and while tutoring underserved youth is still a big part of the COCOA House's mission, the emphasis has shifted. Our present leader has encouraged the COCOA House volunteers to see themselves as mentors — trusted, caring adults who support youth in all aspects of their lives, not just school.