The Blue Wagon Alumni Newsletter – November 2012
Inside This Issue Amuse Bouche & Announcements Inspiring Teens to DREAM Big Recap: Teen Futures Retreat Teen Spotlight – Mikey Tobin DREAM Awarded Grant from Bike & Build DREAM Alumni Around the World
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AMUSE BOUCHE By Adam Goldfarb, Alumni Council President Hey There DREAMers, We at the DREAM Alumni Council hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I'm thankful to be a part of this amazing organization filled with people who are passionate about improving the lives of those in their communities, even as alumni of the program. I've talked with countless DREAMers whose spirit of giving has not waned after they've graduated-- that lifelong commitment to service is one of the foremost qualities of DREAMers everywhere. As you undoubtedly know, the DREAM Alumni Appeal is still on, so you have a chance to show your giving spirit through your support of DREAM by visiting the Donate page below: http://www.dreamprogram.org/support/donate Consider giving if you haven't already. Your support helps DREAM continue to grow and thrive! In other news, we'd like to give a shout-out to longtime supporter Sarah Taylor, who has just published "The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon," which would make a fantastic gift for the young folks in your lives! Check it out: http://sstaylorbooks.com/AboutTheBook Stay DREAMin' this holiday season, Adam Goldfarb Alumni Council Prez adam.k.goldfarb@gmail.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Mobius, a Vermont based non-profit whose mission is to develop a culture of mentoring in Chittenden County, will be transitioning from a local/regional organization to a state-wide support organization. In preparation for this transition, Mobius, its Board of Directors and a team of individuals from the mentoring community in Vermont will be accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. For the past ten years, Mobius’s work has focused on Chittenden County and on providing resources and mentors to its member mentoring programs while also advocating for mentoring in the community. The transition will broaden Mobius’s footprint to encompass the entire state while also streamlining the organization and the services it provides. The “new Mobius” hopes to support and gain membership from every mentoring program in the state and advocate for mentoring all over Vermont. If you would like to more information or would like to apply for the position of Executive Director with Mobius, please visit their website, mobiusmentors.org. A position description, instructions and a deadline are provided. 2. Going to be in Boston on December 7th? The Tufts / Somerville local program will be holding their fall culminating experience at Tisch Library with a showing of “How to Train Your Dragon.” On the same day, Northeastern / Madison Park will be hosting a holiday party at the Madison Park Village Community Center for its culminating experience. Alumni are encouraged to stop by!
Inspiring Teens to DREAM Big By Kate Piniewski, Program Empowerment Director “I couldn’t see myself going to college. I just didn’t want to, but after that trip I am doing my best in school to get into a good college,” Halima Mohamed, 17, told me. She is one of the inspiring DREAM teens who joined us on the College Road Trip in August. Halima’s adventure started with 4 girls, Alicia, and me knocking loudly on her door at noon on the day we were set to leave for Colby Sawyer and UNH. Her mom was skeptical to let her leave with us for eight days since they were observing Ramadan, where all Muslims must fast for one month. After much negotiation and reassurance her mother agreed that she was allowed to travel with the group. We spent the next week traveling through New Hampshire, Boston, and southern Maine touring colleges, telling stories, laughing hysterically, and for Halima, changing perspectives on life after high school in America.
Halima celebrates her birthday in good company during the weeklong college tour this summer.
Last week I knocked on Halima’s door to give her a framed picture of the group at UMASS Boston. We sat down on the couch and began reminiscing about our end of summer adventure. Her favorite visit was to Lasell College in Newton, Mass, where she learned about their great criminal justice program, accessible study abroad program, and many scholarship opportunities. While her little brothers ran around us laughing about how my last name rhymes with Winooski, Halima told me what surprised her most about college. “There are tutoring centers and it is like high school. If you need help and you ask for it then you can succeed,” she said. After struggling academically last year Halima received High Honor Roll this past quarter and is working closely with her guidance counselor to finish her final two years of high school on a positive note. When I asked her what she is most excited about in college she said, “After I graduate. I want to get a good job as a cop so I can help people.” Halima is close with her family and does not want to move more than a few hours away, but she realized how many options are available in New England. Since I returned home from the college trip this summer I have been claiming that it is one of the greatest opportunities available for DREAM teens. My latest conversation with Halima reaffirms this idea and as she validated, DREAM can inspire teens to find their own potential and strive to exceed expectations. Kate Piniewski Program Empowerment Director AmeriCorps*VISTA
Teen Futures Retreat: Skyrocketing to the Future! By Ashleigh Ellsworth-Keller, Camp DREAM Director On a chilly, early November weekend, over 65 DREAM teens, mentors, staff, and volunteers gathered at the King Street Center for our very first “Teen Futures Retreat.” While DREAM has been hosting teen retreats for the past five years, this retreat broke new ground because a) it was the first Vermont all-DREAM teen offering during the fall, and b) the focus of this retreat was entirely on future planning for teens, post-high school. This event was chocked-full of fun and educational workshops, including (but not limited to): Intro to Life After High School (led by VSAC Staff Member and St. Mike’s DREAM alum, Liam Danaher), Former DREAMers Share Their Wisdom [led by Winooski High School grads Kaitlyn Lapan (UVM), Devon Lapan (Johnson State ’12), and Claudine Nkurinziza (Community College of Vermont)], and Advocacy and Activism (with State Attorney T. J. Donovan). We also hosted an “Opportunities Fair”, which gave teens the chance to learn about some fabulous other Vermont programs available to them (both during the year and next summer), including YWCA Strive, Governor’s Institute, and Upward Bound, to name a few. DREAM’s own CIT Program, Time of Wonder Sailing, and College Road Trip garnered a lot of interest from both older and younger teens. This was the first time we allowed a select group of pre-teens to attend the event, and their excitement in being a part of this exclusive group was contagious. With such a diverse group, we are constantly striving to provide the best experience possible for everyone involved, and mix fun with learning at all times! Despite the chaos that oftentimes characterizes many DREAM events (wink, wink), here are some comments about what teens learned at the retreat: • • • • •
“Right now is a good time for me to plan for college.” (12 year old) “Care for people but be yourself.” (13 year old) “I can get a grant and go to any college.” (14 year old) “I learned about all these different types of camps I can go to.” (15 year old) “In Vermont, a 10-year-old can be tried as an adult in some cases.” (12 year old)
Teen Retreats take place two times a year, in the fall and spring. Our spring “Teen Identity Retreat” will be April 67, 2013. We LOVE alumni who volunteer! If interested, email Ashleigh@dreamprogram.org.
Ever wonder what camp DREAM & Metcalf pond look like from a bird’s eye point of view? Now you know.
Teen Spotlight: Mikey Tobin By Sandy Mervak, Development Director Mikey has been a DREAM mentee since before some of his fellow mentees were born. He was one of the original group of DREAM mentees living in Templeton Court, the affordablehousing neighborhood in White River Junction, Vt. that was soon after demolished and rebuilt into Northwoods. During his more than ten years in DREAM, Mikey has been on multiple High Adventure trips, served as a Counselor-InTraining at Camp, watched several of his fellow mentees go on to college or start careers, and taught at numerous Dartmouth students who mentored Mikey over the years what it means to be a great role model. Now in his senior year at Hartford High, Mikey recently Mikey, pictured second from left, hanging out reached out to DREAM to ask for recommendations letters to with some fellow teen DREAMers. college. He is very interested in music production and the visual arts. Needless to say, after all these years we have a lot of good stories to tell admissions counselors!
DREAM Awarded Bike & Build Grant By Mike Ewan, Program Director The DREAM Program received a grant from Bike & Build, a nonprofit that organizes service-oriented cycling trips that benefit affordable housing and empower young adults to participate in a lifetime of service and civic engagement. During the summer of 2012, DREAM had two members of our Alumni Organization participate in rides with Bike & Build. Both Caitlin Patey (Champlain ‘10) and Andrew Lassiter (Office ‘11) completed their respective routes across the country while participating in home builds and advocating for affordable housing. While they were pedaling across the country, Sarah Caliendo, our Program Director in Vermont was submitting a grant to Bike & Build. By the end of the summer, all three DREAMers and The DREAM Program had reason to celebrate. DREAM received a competitive grant of $7475 from Sarah’s submission and received an additional $1500 from riders who are empowered to make an individual $500 donation to an affordable housing organization of their choice. The $1500 came from Andrew, Caitlin and one of their fellow riders who was infected with DREAM’s contagious energy while cycling. The money awarded will go directly to our Local Programs and help fund their activities during the 2012-13 school year. Congratulations to Andrew, Caitlin and Sarah and THANK YOU!
DREAM Alumni Around The World Wherever you may be, it’s never a bad time to throw on the DREAM tee and take a photo. When you do, you can send those pictures to mewan@dreamprogram.org.
Laura Williams (Pine Meadow / Middlebury College DREAM 11.5) in the Atacama Desert, Chile.
Karen Smith and Brad Agostinelli (Boston University / Orchard Gardens DREAM 2011) in Costa Rica!
Brad & Karen again, this time in front of Niagara Falls.
Josh Nagle, DREAMing proudly in Ireland!
Sandy Mervak (FrElm '09) in Sinaia, Romania.