dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
The Putnam Gardens DREAM Update March 2014 The Putnam Gardens Program had a great March. They officially matched seven mentees and added three new youth to the program. The program also moved forward planning for their trip to New York. DREAM Programming: 3/7 (10 mentees, 12 mentors): On Friday, all younger mentee matches and the new mentors went to the Charles River to build different objects out of sticks together and bond as a group. On Saturday March 8th, three teens and four mentors went to Heifer Farm in Western Massachusetts for a pancake breakfast. The group got a guided tour of the farm, met the animals, and explored the farm’s global village. The mentors hope to do a day long or overnight trip with Heifer next year. 3/14 (9 mentees, 8 mentors): The group did one-on-one programming. Activities included working out, playing games, doing arts and crafts, baking pies, and making boomerangs. Some matches were unable to meet due to spring break travel plans and scheduling conflicts. 3/21 (2 mentees, 2 mentors): There was no official programming due to Harvard’s spring break. However, two mentors who were on campus during break met with their mentees for extra one-on-one programming. One got dinner and played games with his mentee. The other mentor took her mentee to the Harvard Science Center to look at the telescopes. 3/28 (10 mentees, 12 mentors): All matches did one-on-one activities. These activities included making origami and friendship bracelets, getting dinner together, playing pool, taking pictures for the DREAM photo contest, and attending the Holi Celebration in Cambridge. Several matches helped at the program’s Boloco fundraiser. Program Development: Matching: The program matched all seven unmatched mentors. Two mentors were matched with youth currently in the program whose mentors are graduating in May. One mentor will serve as the interim mentor for a youth whose mentor is currently on medical leave. The other four mentors were matched with youth new to the program. Fundraising for Culminating Experience: The program was awarded a DREAM Alumni Grant of $500 towards their trip to New York planned for May 3 – May 4. They have begun fundraising to match this amount. On March 28th, the group held a fundraiser at Boloco and made $172 for their program. They hope to hold at least two more fundraisers in April. Mentor-Mentor Pairs: To welcome the new mentors to the group and foster inclusivity the co-chairs paired all mentors recruited during the 2013-2014 school year with a returning mentor. recently matched mentors with a matched mentor. Older mentors have been asked to check in with their paired mentor and build a relationship with them.
dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
DREAM Office: Teen Program: Due to a variety of circumstances, we were unable to hold a teen wide activity on March 28th. Instead, I sent mentors out a list of possible activities they could do with their teen and encouraged them to contact me if they wanted help generating additional ideas. I also created a task force of seven mentors, myself, and Jason to meet to plan our April event. The group decided on hosting a field day at the Esplanade with all teens on Friday, April 18th from 5-6:30pm. South Boston Local Program: Recruitment for mentors at University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston continued this month. The mentoring program will officially pilot in Fall 2014. Jason also met with the director of the Tierney Learning Center to discuss how DREAM can provide for Old Colony youth during the summer. Summer Intern Hiring: We began the process of interviewing for our two Summer Community Intern positions. Many qualified candidates have applied, and we are excited to put together a great team for the summer. 100 Mentors: After almost five years in Boston, thanks to our mentors, staff, and partners, we have reached the milestone of 100 DREAM mentors in Boston! All of the DREAM Boston chapters continue to increase their numbers and strengthen their programs. We look forward to continued growth in the Boston area, reaching even more youth with DREAM's transformative programs.
Keep DREAMing! Katie Purcell Program Empowerment Director Mass Promise Fellow/Americorps Katie@dreamprogram.org