dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
The Orchard Gardens DREAM Update October 2013 With a busy Fall Semester full of recruiting, the mentors and mentees have been working hard, and energetically, to make the Orchard Gardens program stronger than ever! DREAM Programming: 10/5 (13 mentees, 10 mentors): The youth had a field day at BU where they played interactive games like ninja and spud, followed by an intense game of capture the flag 10/12(12 mentees, 9 mentors): Liquid Fun, a comedy improve group, led an activity for the mentors and mentees. The youth enjoyed themselves and had a great time-Liquid Fun had a great time as well. The activity got everyone out of their comfort zones and was a wonderful experience for all those who participated. 10/19 (15 mentees, 10 mentors): Female mentors and mentees took part in a workshop facilitated by Beautiful Me designed to help girls of all ages develop positive body image and self esteem. The boys went to a college fair hosted by Northeastern University. 10/26 (13 mentees, 10 mentors): The younger youth and their mentors had a field day at the Esplanade, while the teen’s played football and Frisbee. Following field day, all the mentees went back to BU Central where they played pool, danced, braided hair and played board games. Additional Programming:. Duxbury Trip: On October 14th Asha and I took 13 youth from Orchard Gardens and Madison Park Village to a long time DREAM supporters’ house in Duxbury. Over the past two years these friends of DREAM have had youth down to their home on multiple occasions and the youth have gotten to know them well. The group enjoyed roasting marshmallows, playing in the yard, a tour of a cranberry bog and a sit down group lunch followed by ice cream and a trip to the arcade. Program Development: Through an extensive recruiting season, the Orchard Gardens program will be bringing in 10-15 new mentors, which will provide youth from the waiting list an opportunity to DREAM!
41 Dearborn St., Roxbury, MA 02119 | (617) 699-8408 | boston@dreamprogram.org
Community Collaboration: We have begun to meet with a group of Orchard Gardens youth providers to discuss ways to collaborate and engage teens in more programming.
DREAM Office: To kick off the 2012-2013 school year, DREAM staff from Vermont and Boston got together for a staff retreat in Guilford, Vermont from Wednesday, September 18th to Thursday, September 19th. The team participated in training sessions and team building activities to prepare for the upcoming year. Trainings had the group delving into goal setting, leadership styles, and support systems among other topics. When not in sessions, staff participated in yard games, campfire stories, and community meals to allow for group bonding. The group left excited and ready for the year ahead Rachel presented at the Regional Mentoring Conference in Connecticut. Asha Carter, the Ambassador of Mentoring/Program Empowerment Director, is working on a strategic plan to recruit a broader base of mentors. DREAM is entering a new community! DREAM has expanded into the Old Colony neighborhood in South Boston, and has begun to look for a college partner-more details coming soon! 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. Here is the website for the event: https://dream-concert.eventbrite.com. Keep DREAMing! Jason Desrosier Program Director