The DREAM Program, Inc. 41 Dearborn St. Roxbury, MA 02119 (617) 699-8408 www.dreamprogram.org
October 15th 2012
The Putnam Gardens DREAM Update September 2012 The Putnam Gardens program is off to a great start this fall. The mentors have done an amazing job establishing a solid group of committed and consistent mentors and mentees. DREAM Programming: 9/14 (5 mentees, 7 other youth, 9 mentors): The group held programming at Putnam Gardens to meet new interested youth and to get the mentees back in the swing of Friday DREAM programming. They made ice cream, played name games, and caught up after the summer away. 9/21 (7 mentees, 4 other youth, 8 mentors): The group organized an egg drop at Putnam Gardens. The activity was very successful and the mentors were able to get to know more youth from Putnam Gardens. 9/28 (8 mentees, 8 mentors): The group headed back to Harvard for their first on campus programming. The weather caused them to have to postpone the scavenger hunt they had planned, so the group held programming in a common room of one of the dorms. They played board games, watched Toy Story and had a foosball tournament. Program Development: Mentor and youth consistency: The co-chairs and I checked in with all of the mentors and youth that had not been consistently attending weekly programming last spring to discuss their level of commitment and to make sure they could fully commit to DREAM this coming school year. Though a few mentors and mentees decided that they were unable to do so, it has enabled that program to create a new and improved culture of consistency on all fronts. New mentors: The mentors got the word out about DREAM through many different mediums and methods. So far this semester the group has welcomed three new amazing mentors. New mentees: The mentors also brought on 4 new youth this semester who are ecstatic to be in DREAM! DREAM Office: All Staff Retreat: All DREAM staff from our Vermont and Boston office got together for a staff retreat from Monday the 9th - Tuesday the 10th. It was a great way to start the school year with training sessions and group bonding. Youth and Parent Surveys: We are currently conducting youth and parent surveys for all participants of school-year DREAM. We hope to wrap up surveys by the end of the calendar year and be able to analyze the data in the spring. Mass Mentor Partnership:
o State Mentoring Matching Grant: DREAM is honored and excited to once again be receive funding from the State Mentoring Matching Grant. On Monday the 24th Rachel Lieberman, Regional Director, and I attended the State Mentoring Grant Kickoff Meeting in Worchester. o Cocktails for a Cause: On Thursday the 27th members of the DREAM office joined many others in supporting Mass Mentor Partnership and the Rodman Ride for Kids by attending a fundraiser at Scholars in downtown Boston. Keep DREAMing! Chad Butt Program Director