dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program
The Village Mentoring Organization
@DREAMprogram
Orchard Gardens DREAM Monthly Snapshot August 2015 Program Happenings and Highlights • • Summer DREAM ended August 14th with 6 summer interns- Simone, Paul, Meagan, Lindsey, Kaitlyn, and Patrick and 5 teens- Farah, Jalen, Andry, Monasja, and Tony • Madison Park Village and Ruggles Shawmut has programming on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Mondays and Wednesdays the interns join the Madison Park Village, Ruggles-Shawmut, and Orchard Gardens mentees together for programming. • On 8/5-8/7 DREAM staff and teens experienced a service trip to Martha’s Vineyard. It was a first time to the island for many of our teens. One the island teens participated in leadership training explored a farm and ate meat and produce that came from the farm. Other than the activities, the teens experienced a different lifestyle and culture (city life vs. island life). At the end of the trip, the teens created a poster board visual that depicted their experiences. • The 5 teens have planned 5 My Summer in the City events for the month of August for a total of 11 My Summer in the City events. On Wednesdays the event was held in the Orchard Gardens green space. The events got off to a slow start because of the DREAM summer program but week each the teens learned a little more about planning. Some basic tools they learned when it comes to planning events are delegating tasks, marketing, budgeting, and implementing the event. The last event in Madison Park ended with about 20 participants. The teens have expressed that throughout the summer they have grew to love planning the events! • Our summer interns have been implementing the One Hen curriculum this summer. One Hen teaches children about entrepreneurship, the costs of items, and how to sell items. Because the children are of a young age, our interns were able to modify the curriculum to meet their knowledge point. The children have National Night Out and made $7. • Boston DREAM is now gearing up for the academic year!
41 Dearborn St., Roxbury, MA 02119 | (617) 699-8408 | boston@dreamprogram.org
Participants Mentees
Mentors
Total: 18*
Total:11**
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• •
Females: 10 Males: 8
Females: 6 Males: 5
*the maximum total number of mentees that attended programming throughout the month **Number of mentors- interns plus teens Weekly Programming with Children • •
• •
•
Week of the 3rd – Mentees continued making products for the sell at National Night Out! The interns quickly discovered that the mentees LOVED going to the pool so that is where the interns took them. A strike system was also implemented to encourage good behavior and kindness between all. On Friday, all 5 communities came together to participate in National Night out in Roxbury. Week of the 10th - Mentees enjoyed their last week of the program with more pool time and physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle. On Friday, all 5 communities came together for a pizza and ice-cream party. Week of the 17th – The DREAM program ended on the 14th so on Monday the teens worked on their Martha’s Vineyard Poster bored. On Tuesday the teens participated in the Somerville Picnic, helping to set up and handing out ice cream. On Wednesday the teens did a little gardening, pulling out the weeds and harvesting the veggies. A nice salad was prepared for the My Summer in the City event that evening. On Thursday they went to Charlesview in Watertown to help the Program Director. They played games with the children there. Week of the 24th –No Programming. DREAM staff attended Orchard Gardens Back to School event on 8/28th to recruit/introduce more families and mentees to DREAM.
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. DREAM big,
Rei Champion Program Director rei@dreamprogram.org Shavel'le Olivier Program Empowerment Coordinator, Boston shavelle@dreamprogram.org