dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
The Putnam Gardens DREAM Update September 2013 The Putnam Gardens program is off to a great start this fall. The mentors have done an amazing job recruiting for committed and consistent mentors. They are excited for the year ahead and look forward to planning some great activities for their mentees. DREAM Programming:
9/13 (7 mentees, 7 mentors, 2 prospective mentors): The group held programming at Harvard with the intentions of kicking the year off with field games. Interested prospective mentors were invited to join. Due to rain, the group held their activity in a common room of one of the dorms. They did crafts with edible dough, played group games, and had a foosball tournament. 9/20 (9 mentees, 9 mentors): The group chose to do one-on-one programming with their mentees. Activities included going to the Natural History Museum, doing arts and crafts, and playing card games. All the mentors also had a discussion with their youth about what activities they might want to do this year. 9/27 (6 mentees, 7 mentors, 2 other youth): The group had their first activity in the Putnam Gardens community to meet new interested youth. They played board games, played Frisbee and kickball, and did arts and crafts.
Program Development:
Mentor recruitment: The Harvard mentors have worked diligently to get the word out on campus about DREAM. They actively flyered, had a table at the student activities fair, and hosted an info session for interested students to find out more about the program. New mentors and mentees: The mentors are in the process of bringing two new mentors officially onboard and will hopefully have this completed by the end of October. Once the new mentors are officially onboard they will invite a few interested youth from the Putnam Gardens community to join the program.
DREAM Office:
All Staff Retreat: All DREAM staff from our Vermont and Boston offices got together for a staff retreat from Wednesday the 18th - Thursday the 19th. It was a great way to start the school year with training sessions and group bonding. New Program Director: DREAM is thrilled to announce our new Program Director for the Boston office: Jason Derosier. Jason attended Bridgewater State
dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
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University, served two years through the AmeriCorps*VISTA program and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Urban and Regional Policy from Northeastern University. His professional experience includes promoting positive outcomes for low-income youth through mentoring, advocacy and civic engagement. We are so excited to welcome him into the DREAM community. Longwood Symphony Orchestra Benefit Concert: DREAM is lucky enough to be a beneficiary of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra this year. The LSO will be hosting a concert on December 7,, 2013 to benefit the DREAM program. In addition to buying tickets to attend, there will be opportunities for supporters of DREAM to sponsor mentor-mentee matches to go to the concert. You can purchase tickets at: https://dream-concert.eventbrite.com.
Keep DREAMing! Katie Purcell Program Empowerment Director Massachusetts Promise Fellow