From 1:00-2:30 PM, we are are celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Birthday and the new and improved Blackstone library!

We are asking volunteers to read to EVERY classroom at the Blackstone!  Bring your favorite book to share with a class or check one out from the library!

To RSVP please contact either Kim Bohling at kbohling@cityyear.org  or Meg McDermott at mcdermottm@diomassintern.org

 For more information, check out our flyer: Read Across America

I wasn’t as much nervous (as I had some experience with middle school academics) as I was anxious about the countless possibilities that I might bring to Academic Night.  I was anxious to see where Academic Night was at and to get it to where I knew it could be.

Thus far, the experience has been amazing. After delineating the difference between the positive things Academic Night was offering and the things that seemed to be challenging, I was able to establish a creative plan for helping Academic Night reach its full potential for teens and volunteers.

Academic Night is an interesting balance between socializing, and teens working toward their academic goals. We have teens working with volunteers on their college applications. Some teens are receiving help with their math homework. Others are in the Tech Center, working on essays for both their English and their Spanish classes. One teen was practicing for a theatre project he had at the end of the week.

Academic Night is an amazing opportunity for teens to connect on a social and academic level, and I can only see it continuing to grow.

Posted by James Eddy, Teen Staff Supervisor

Andre talking to teens during the Alumni Dinner, Jan. 2012.

As a high school student, what were the main reasons you would have to look for a job?  You need money for your first car, a pair of limited edition Jordan kicks, a North Face jacket for the winter, or a trip to California with friends.  Some put their part-time income in time deposit and are serious about saving.

Not for Andre Sheffield, who through resourcefulness at the age of 15, found summer employment through Boston Youth Fund, so that he could contribute toward paying his family’s bills. He started as a CIT for the B-SAFE summer program site at St. Mary’s Church in Dorchester, then served as a CIT at the B-SAFE site at Epiphany School, and during the school year worked as a CIT and was part of the St. Stephen’s Place of Opportunity for Teens (the S2POT) program. This past summer, Andre was the YLC (middle school) Site Assistant (a position for young adults that assists the Site Director) at the B-SAFE site at St. Stephen’s Church in the South End.

During his time as a CIT, Andre worked alongside kids, which was both fun and hard. He shares, “You treat kids positively so they can respect and see you as a friend. Balancing both may sound easy, but it’s pretty difficult.” Andre encouraged our young people to take their academics seriously, and when it was time to go outside, he would be their friend on the basketball court. He especially loved learning new things and going on field trips because “I like to go to places I haven’t been and [I was able to] experience it together with the kids.” When he was off-CIT duty, he attended college fairs and life-skills workshops with other youth program participants. He also participated in community organizing projects, rallying about issues such as extending the hours for the MBTA student pass. He went on a mission trip to Cuba, where he and his peers painted benches for churches, immersed themselves in the local culture, and saw things from the culture’s perspective.

“Staying in school became a priority for me,” says Andre. “Through the different workshops offered at St. Stephen’s, I stopped slacking off. These resources opened my eyes to opportunities.” After high school, Andre stayed in school and enrolled in Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). He is in his third year studying Business Administration with a concentration in Management. He is part of the Black Student Union and a Captain of MCLA’s Step team (watch Andre talk about his Step involvement here).

And to our current teens, he wants to remind them “not to slack off. Balance your time with extra-curricular activities and personal life. Learn time management and take responsibility. College is a transition to living. Learn how to go and search for your future.”

Posted by Eunice Brady, Coordinator of Student Success

Generations Inc. volunteer with a youth programs participant!

Generations Incorporated brings together older adults and youth in partnership to strengthen community. We accomplish our mission at St. Stephen’s B-READY after-school program by having one-on-one literacy tutoring sessions twice a week between older adults and youth grades K-1 to 5. The students and volunteers create strong relationships that not only improve our students literacy but also develop confidence in the youth we serve. One such pairing that exemplifies these qualities is between one of our newest volunteers Nancy Esposito and first grader Tyler Wilkinson. Although Tyler is a very strong reader, she lacked the confidence to read books that would be challenging to her. With the compassionate encouragement of Nancy, Tyler is now beginning to read chapter books. We are all looking forward to seeing how much further Tyler will grow with Nancy’s support!

Posted by Meg Kalafsky, Generations Inc. Program Associate

PULSE volunteers and youth participants!

A few short weeks ago, we entered into the second trimester at St. Stephen’s B-READY. The atmosphere was electric as both kids and staff returned from winter vacation. However, one notable difference was the absence of our Boston College volunteers. A group of 14 students from the Boston College PULSE program volunteer 12 hours a week at St. Stephen’s as part of their service learning class. These 14 students spend time working directly with our students, and attend a reflection class where they link their work experience with what they are learning at BC. Boston College, a Jesuit school, focuses on the development of their students, not just to prepare them for meaningful employment after graduation, but to foster a sense of the Jesuit mission in each student. They aim to have each student see the world through a social-analytical lens, and to develop men and women for others.

The effort our PULSE volunteers put into their work , not only enables our program to run more effectively, but provides St. Stephen’s with 14 strong, independent, confident men and women for others. The care they put into their work and the time they take to reflect on their experiences, aid not only their learning and development, but aids us in carrying out the St. Stephen’s mission. Many PULSE volunteers, who are required to volunteer for one school year, have come back to St. Stephen’s as full time volunteers after their PULSE work is complete. Cate, a 2010-2011 PULSE volunteer, returned this fall as our art specialist, and  Linley, a 2010-2011 PULSE volunteer, comes to St. Stephen’s on Fridays to volunteer for the afternoon.

The work our PULSE volunteers are doing day in and day out are a crucial part of our program’s success, but in addition to working with our groups, they are also required to lead a rotation for their group. This is a time for our PULSE volunteers to showcase some of their talents and strengths, and to connect with our students. In December, Connor, a freshman at BC who works with our YLC program, dressed up as Santa, and made candy wreaths with the YLC program. The YLC students loved it, and the LEARN students were excited to see Santa on site! Our students form relationships with the PULSE volunteers, and they look forward to seeing them every day.

In the spirit of family and community that St. Stephen’s fosters so well with its staff and youth, the PULSE volunteers have been able to find their place. As freshmen Connor Bourff says, “St. Stephen’s immediately welcomed us with open arms. The staff are here to help us learn, and to give us the tools we need to make a lasting difference in these kids’ lives. I couldn’t imagine spending my time each week anywhere else.”  It is my hope that they always feel welcome and invited into our space. As evidence by the volunteers who return after their year of work is complete, the St. Stephen’s family is not complete without the PULSE students.

Posted by Maggie Yost, Academic Coordinator and LEAD at St. Stephen’s

Teens and CIT Alumni gather and discuss at our 1st Alumni Dinner!

On January 12, 2012, we hosted this year’s S2POT Alumni + Teen Dinner. The day was overcast and rainy, but fourteen of our S2POT alumni braved the bad weather to attend the event. Many of them were on winter break from college and were looking forward to visiting and reconnecting with the Youth Program and their peers. The first half of the dinner was an intimate reunion of former teens and staff. They brainstormed ideas on how to strengthen the alumni project we are piloting. From peer mentoring, continuing their involvement with community organizing, scholarships, to fun potlucks and outings, their excitement and eager participation validates and encourages this (very new) Alumni program to continue.

Our teens joined us that night on the second half of the dinner. They sat with our alumni and asked them questions about post-high school life. As I walked around the room, I overheard conversations about FAFSA, how college life is away from home, what college is like, and how it’s different from high school. Teens also engaged in discussions about S2POT alumni’s experiences in the program. Community organizing was a favorite topic at one of the tables. At another one, an alumnus talked about his CIT experiences, and how it has helped him as a Site Assistant in the summer program. In the end, three of our alumni shared their “words of wisdom” and gave recommendations to our current teens.   I thought it was pretty inspiring: current teens attentively listened to former S2POT participants share their positive experiences after high school.

I am glad that this event came to be. It was an opportunity to bridge a relationship between our alumni and S2POT participants. Our wonderful alumni were very happy about the event, and enjoyed sharing awesome S2POT facts and college information. The day after the dinner, some of our current teens approached me and shared that they thought the dinner was fun and motivating. One of them said, “You would have never thought she was part of St. Stephen’s, it was really cool and she had great stories to tell.”

Posted by Eunice Brady, Coordinator of Student Success

Addie (far left) with Julia and Victor, B-SAFE 2011 staff.

“It was my first legit job,” Addie Gomez shares. She was hired as a CIT in the summer of 2006, and subsequently joined the St. Stephen’s Place of Opportutnities for Teens ( the S²POT program) until she graduated  from high school in 2008. A ddie  attended Boston Latin Academy, and enrolled at Brandeis University to study psychology. She would occasionally come in during the year to volunteer with the youth, and would return around May or June to resume her seasonal role as B-SAFE’s registrar and one of the summer’s site assistant.   (I personally worked with Addie as a registrar assistant during last year’s summer program. Yes, she taught me many Microsoft Excel tricks and ways to organize forms digitally and physically!)  Upon learning that she was a former teen staff member and part of the SPOT, I was delighted because to date she had been nothing but a professional colleague and a thoughtful friend.

Professionalism is essential in everything, from to school, social, and career life. Addie believes so, in fact, it’s the top important skill she has taken away from St. Stephen’s Youth Programs. With the experiences she’s had as a CIT, she practiced timeliness (despite the fact that she was commuting directly from school to work). She also learned to balance the serious and social aspects of being a CIT, because it’s easy to become friends with your peers. “I legitimately grew up. There were times Liz would take me alolng to meetings where I had to be mature. I was also given an opportunity to work in the program as a registrar for the summer program. As registrar, you have to be sweet but firm because you deal with the children and community members regularly.”

During her involvement in teen programs, Addie was the facilitator for one of their community organizing projects. She remembered giving her first speech in front of 500 people (see Addie at 4:03 timeframe). “I was nervous. I talked about changing the requirement amended in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) wherein it states that military recruiters can access student names and their contact information from their schools.” Addie was referring to the § 9528 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) amended by the NCLB. This requires that all education agencies funded by the ESEA “must comply with a request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher education for secondary students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers, unless a parent has ‘opted out’ of providing such information (see the document here). Addie and her fellow S²POT participants reached out to their individual schools to collect signatures and utilized the internet. They received a total of 1,300 signatures from friends, classmates, and online cards!

The more Addie reminisced her times at St. Stephen’s, the more I was struck by how she took her experience and applied to what she is doing currently. “I take work seriously. The experiences I got from St. Stephen’s I still use today. It’s useful to take advantage of the resources offered here whether it’s a workshop or academic night.” Professionalism and leadership are two important skills for teens and young adults to learn and develop. This past summer, Addie was a Building Latino-Jewish Bridges on Campus Fellow for the National Hispana Leadership Institute and traveled to Washington, DC and Israel for leadership trainings. This school year, she interns at a law firm while completing her third undergraduate year. After college, Addie is considering graduate study in psychology, but a part of her wants to explore the human resources field. “I am interested in interacting with people, figuring out their strengths and weaknesses, so I also might look into human resources.”

Addie continues volunteer work at St. Stephen’s.  Why? “St. Stephen’s has the potential. Liz is an excellent boss. It’s a good program; it is never a strange place. I come in and I always feel welcomed, and, for some reason, the environment fosters a strong work ethic in me.”

Posted by Eunice Brady, Coordinator of Student Success

Meghan and a youth participant at St. A & M!

When I first started volunteering with my church (All Saints’ Parish in Brookline) in the B-READY after-school program at the  Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin, I knew I was having fun with the kids and developing relationships I would remember for a lifetime. But when it came time to choose my advanced internship for my Master of Social Work, something told me to pursue working at B-READY. Luckily, the Rev. Liz Steinhauser and I were able to come up with a great plan for an internship. Part of my internship is to take kids on what we call “Five Minutes of Fame”. This is a time where I take a child on a short walk to talk one-to-one about things that are happening in his/her life. During this time we may celebrate successes and work on tough issues.

One thing I notice about the kids we serve is that many of the institutions these kids are a part of do not give time and space for kids’ voices to be heard. This means that kids often don’t get a chance to express their concerns about what is going on in their world. Other times, kids are not allowed the space to express their creative thinking skills. What is so beautiful about Five Minutes of Fame is that it allows one child a chance to be the “star of the show” for a sustained period of time. Sometimes kids are shocked when I say, “It’s all about you. Whatever you want to talk about is great with me.” What ends up happening is that kids start sharing their interpretations of big social issues such as unjust treatment of others in school, reasons why they might not be safe in a particular place and how they take steps to ameliorate this situation. Other times, kids really want to process through a fun experience like a field trip or a football game.

Five Minutes of Fame reminds me why social work is important. We are empowering others to be positive forces in the world. We honor the personal relationships we are trying to create by giving kids one-on-one time with an adult. Our kids’ voices are worthy of being heard. What solidifies for me that Five Minutes of Fame works is that after a kid has been on a Five Minutes of Fame, several weeks later, they usually come up to me and ask when they get to go again, because: “I have some stuff that I want to tell you.”   

Posted by Meghan Kirtland, Masters of Social Work Intern at St. A & M

The teens during a community organizing meeting

Recently, I transitioned from being a Youth Leadership Corps (YLC) counselor and academic coordinator to being the new Teen Staff Supervisor for the St. Stephen’s Place of Opportunity for Teens (the SPOT).  The warm reception from the younger teens in the YLC was a tough act to follow.  However, our older teens are doing a tremendous job of allowing me to make a seamless transition.

Working with the YLC during the first trimester was a tremendous benefit, and a perfect prerequisite for handling potential situations that can occur with teens. Working with the YLC allowed me to learn to take the time to step back and understand each situation, which I am now able to do with the teens when different things occur.

The teens have made the transition from YLC Lead Counselor to Teen Staff Supervisor as easy as a transition could be. The teens have shown great poise, patience, and trust, by allowing the change to naturally take its course. The teens continue to work hard, while we work out the expectations we all have for each other.

This transition would have been tougher, if I had not worked with the YLC. I am staying in close touch with the middle school program, which will make for an easier transition when they become teens in the program. Every day that I work with both of these groups, I feel lucky and honored by the fact that I am surround by such mature young adults who are willing to work with me. I look forward to continuing my work with the YLC and the SPOT, and hope to develop and build a stronger program for both of them.

Posted by James Eddy, Teen Staff Supervisor