dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
The Putnam Gardens DREAM Update November 2013 The Putnam Gardens program had a fun filled November with four Fridays worth of programming. The program held several group activities in order to introduce the new mentors to mentees on the waitlist. DREAM Programming:
11/1 (8 mentees, 10 mentors): The group did one-on-one programming. The two new mentors who have not been paired yet joined other mentor-mentee pairs. Activities included making cupcakes, kite flying, playing football, Halloween costume making, and visiting the Institute of Contemporary Art. 11/8 (8 mentees, 9 mentors, 1 new youth): This week the group went back to Harvard and constructed kites out of plastic bags, sticks, tape, and string. Although by the time they finished building the kites the wind had died down, the mentees had a great time constructing them. Several mentees decorated their kites and one even constructed two different models to see which would fly better. Two matches did one-on-one activities. These activities included working on math homework and eating dinner together. 11/15 (7 mentees, 8 mentors): This week the group brought the mentees back to Harvard’s campus due to the weather. They had hoped to have youth from the waitlist present, but due to scheduling conflicts the new youth were unable to attend. The group worked together to learn origami and make elaborate paper planes. Three matches did one-on-one activities. These activities included eating dinner together, playing basketball, and doing arts and crafts. 11/22 (5 mentees, 8 mentors, 4 new youth): The group did one-on-one programming. Two current mentors and one new mentor held a small group activity with four new mentees and one current mentee. This allowed the new mentor an opportunity to meet some of the youth the program will be bringing on. One-on-one programming activities included seeing the new Hunger Games movie, attending a poetry slam, shopping in Downtown Crossing, and celebrating a mentee’s birthday. The few matches that were unable to program during this time will be doing make up programming during the second week in December. 11/29: There was no programming on this date because of Thanksgiving break.
Program Development:
New mentors and mentees: The new mentors are almost completely background checked. The new mentors have now met the new mentees and are beginning to
dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
get to know them. Official matching will occur once the mentors return from winter break. Culminating Experience: The mentors are planning an end of semester scavenger hunt in downtown Boston for their mentees on Saturday, December 7th. Each mentor picked a place downtown, generated a clue, and selected a task for the mentees to accomplish at each station.
DREAM Office:
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. DREAMstock: DREAMstock, DREAM’s annual mentor training, has been officially scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd. All mentors from the five Boston programs will be expected to attend for a day of workshops and networking. Hike 4 Life: DREAM’s Program Director, Jason Desrosier, met with the CEO and Founder of Hike 4 Life to discuss potential urban hike trips for the upcoming spring. South Boston Local Program: University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston has been selected as the partner school for our new community in South Boston: Old Colony. Mentor recruitment began in November and info sessions for those interested will be held the second week of December.
Keep DREAMing! Katie Purcell Program Empowerment Director Massachusetts Promise Fellow