The DREAM Program, Madison Park, April 2013

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The Village Mentoring Organization

The Madison Park Village DREAM Update April 2013 DREAM Programming:  04/05: (21 mentees, 24 mentors): DREAM went to the Big Apple Circus. For the matches that did not attend the circus, they participated in one- on-one activities.  04/13: (24 mentees, 22 mentors): DREAM ended the year with its second annual trip to Kimballs Farm as the Spring Culminating Experience on Saturday April 13th instead of having a DREAM activity on Friday. The youth enjoyed the various games and eating ice cream. The following week will be an optional DREAM.  04/19: DREAM was cancelled for this week due to the events of the week.  04/26: DREAM ended the week of the 19th.

Program Development:  Elections: Brian Doyle will serve as next year’s co-chair who will continue to work with Lina Cowen. Freda Spencer and Matt Wilen will remain as the secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Community Collaboration:  Movie Afternoon Collaboration with Madison Park Village: During school vacation week, DREAM and Madison Park Village hosted a movie afternoon featuring Madagascar 3. Popcorn and refreshments were also served. .

DREAM Office:  MPF Day at the State House: On April 3rd, I attended the 2nd Annual MPF Day at the State House. On this day, I met with state representatives and legislators and discussed all of the positive opportunities that MPF provides youth, communities, and the host site organizations. Two youth from Brockton also presented on the personal gains that they have made as a result of the support that they have had from their Fellow.  Summer Interns Hired: We have hired 4 Summer Community Interns who will begin in June.  Community Outreach Aquarium ticket recipients: As part of the New England Aquarium’s Community Outreach program, DREAM has been selected to receive

41 Dearborn St., Roxbury, MA 02119 | (617) 699-8408 | boston@dreamprogram.org

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up to 70 Aquarium passes. These passes will be used as part of the summer weekly trips.

Duxbury Trip: A handful of youth returned to Duxbury to visit with the Husteds.

The Husted are Friends of DREAM who graciously offer their home and proximity to nature as a great learning resource and an opportunity for youth to leave the city and see another side of Massachusetts.

BEST Youth Worker Certificate Training: I began my BEST training at Health Resources in Action. We meet every Tuesday to discuss best practices in youth work, learn about SSO, dialogue with other youth workers with regard to dealing with youth, and learn more about the youth development approach to developmental outcomes.

Chad’s Departure from DREAM: On April 26th, Chad will be leaving DREAM to take on the Executive Director position of Mobius, a mentoring organization in Vermont. Chad has been with DREAM since 2000 and will be greatly missed.

Various programs hosted goodbye gatherings and offered their expressions of appreciation in recognition of his work.

School Engagement Surveys: All of the students who had completed Fall School Engagement Surveys were asked to complete a Spring School Engagement Survey. These surveys will be collected through May and then in June, MPF will release the trends noted at DREAM and of all the host sites generally.

Parental Engagement: I continued my checkins with families and began to hand out the BCYF Summer Guides. The handing out of Summer Guides will continue throughout May.

Keep DREAMing!

Zahra Ohldin Program Empowerment Director/Mass Promise Fellow/Americorps The DREAM Program 41 Dearborn Street Roxbury, MA 02119 zahra@dreamprogram.org