The DREAM Program, Franklin Square, Quarter 1, 2013-2014

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The Village Mentoring Organization

Franklin Square DREAM Quarterly Report October – December 2013 Greetings from DREAM! The Franklin Square DREAM program has finished up another wonderful semester of activities. Though youth are sad to see their mentors leaving for winter break, they look forward to their return in January. Here is a summary of all the Franklin Square DREAM happenings from the last quarter.

Highlights from the Quarter: • • • •

Co-chairs created a new online driver system, to improve the efficiency of programming.

Franklin Square organized a committee system so mentors can do more for their program! As of now, there is a reruitment committee, a driving committee, and a mentor bonding committee.

Mentors and mentees attended a cooking class at City Market, free to mentor pairs.

Saint Michael’s students welcomed two new co-chairs in December: Kelsey Ryan and Shelby Knudson.

Fridays: • • • • • •

Mentees joined mentors in the student-dining hall, where they ate a free meal and played games.

Franklin Square mentees went on a scavenger hunt across Saint Michael’s campus. They had a lot of fun, and also had a group chat about mentor and mentee behavior expectations.

Franklin Square DREAM hosted its annual Olympics! Mentors and mentees competed in a ballin-spoon race, a javelin throw, and an Oreo challenge (sliding an Oreo from their foreheads into their mouths).

Mentors and mentees participated in one-on-ones, then went to the Harvest Festival at Saint Michael’s College.

Mentors and mentees made miniature pizzas.

Mentees went swimming at The Edge, where they played water games and enjoyed the heated indoor pool.

Special Events for Children and Mentors: • •

A group of Elm Street mentors and teens hiked a portion of the Long Trail as part of UVM’s Catamountain Classic. This event raises funds for a scholarship for a DREAM teen to attend an Outward Bound Program each year.

Thirteen older teens from across Vermont gathered for the second annual Teen Futures Retreat, where they wrote intros for their college essays, had a frank discussion about the pressure of drug use, and discussed their goals for life after high school. Thanks to all of the residents of The Swamp for hosting DREAM, and to Tristram Coffin, U.S. District Attorney, for facilitating conversation around The Opiate Effect. Lastly, DREAM thanks Paul Espina and Katie Purcell for all of their help!

Capacity Building and Fundraising: •

DREAM was honored to receive a $20,000 capacity-building grant from Ben & Jerry’s. We look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership!

Office: 30 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT | Mail: P.O. Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404 │ (802) 338-8979 | info@dreamprogram.org

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On November 18, DREAM launched our Annual Appeal. Keep a look out for your letter and please consider donating. So far the Annual Appeal has raised $1,540 from 16 donors.

Mentor Training and Workshops: •

Mentors across Vermont attended DREAMstock, a fun 24-hour event graciously co-hosted by Bolton Valley Resort and Comcast. Vermont mentors participated in sessions about age-specific programming, building relationships with families, and meeting facilitation. DREAM thanks Paul Espina for his help, as well as National Bank of Middlebury, Five Guys, City Market, and Shelburne Orchard for their financial and in-kind support.

Camp: •

Camp Work Days and Days of Caring occurred in early October. More than 50 volunteers assisted staff in painting the new Camp Store, building wooden bridges, and building cubbies for the lean-tos.

Alumni Involvement: •

DREAM launched its Alumni Appeal on October 29. Mentors participated in phone-a-thons, during which they called alumni, asking them to contribute to the appeal. So far, the Alumni Appeal has raised over $12,000 from 100 donors.

Office: • •

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DREAM Executive Director, Michael Loner, and Boston Regional Director, were honored to present at the New England Regional Mentoring Conference in Hartford, CT. Their presentation was titled "Working with Youth in Affordable Housing: Challenges and Opportunities."

The DREAM Program is very proud to have been the 2013 recipient of the Miles Jensen Award, which is sponsored by Housing Vermont and recognizes the outstanding contributions of volunteers who work with residents of affordable housing communities in Vermont. Housing Vermont chose to recognize DREAM due to the thousands of hours DREAM mentors spend with youth from affordable housing sites all over Vermont and beyond, stretching the children's ambitions and uncovering opportunities.

The DREAM Program recently completed the requirements for graduation from the BBVT Performance Institute. DREAM was selected to participate in the Performance Institute through a rigorous and competitive selection process, and we used our work with the Performance Institute to better define the outcomes we want for youth who participate in DREAM’s Teen Programming.

DREAM is sad to say goodbye to Mike Ewan, former Program Director, Advanced Support and AmeriCorps member supervisor. Mike recently transitioned into a new position as a special educator, where he will continue his work supporting youth.

DREAM is so excited to announce that Brian Fuller has joined the staff as the first Programs Director in Philadelphia! Currently he is recruiting mentors, raising funds, and working with Mike Foote, Director of Strategy and Growth, to build capacity for Philadelphia’s very first DREAM pairing: Temple University and the Cecil B. Moore Village Apartments.

Thank you for your ongoing support of DREAM. If you would like additional or more detailed information, please contact me by email or by phone. You can always look back at past reports or other programs’ reports by going to: http://dreamprogram.org/mentor-program/vermont/local-program-reports.

DREAM big, Mark Hengstler Program Empowerment Director VYT AmeriCorps VISTA mark@dreamprogram.org 802.338.8979