dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
The Orchard Gardens DREAM Update January 2014 The Orchard Gardens program is off to a great start to the semester! They are excited to recruit some new mentors and match the mentors recruited from last semester. DREAM Programming: 1/18: (8 mentees, 8 mentors): This was the first activity with the mentors after winter break. Those who were matched went to the Museum of Science. 1/25: (15 mentees, 23 mentors): The group went to see the BU men’s basketball team. The youth were super excited and super into the game. All the youth received free t-shirts and pizza during the game. All the youth were excited to be with the BU mentors again! Program Development: Recruitment: The program has been interviewing 10 prospective mentors and will be making final decisions in February. Background Checks: Mentors recruited from last semester are almost completely background checked. Once their final checks come back, they will be cleared for one-onone programming with youth. DREAM Office: Teen Program: This month Katie began meeting with the teens involved in our programs and this will continue throughout February. She will also be meeting with all of our mentors of teens in February to gather input about what they would like to see this program look like. DREAMstock: DREAM staff has been diligently planning DREAMstock, DREAM’s annual mentor training, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd. All mentors from the five Boston programs will be expected to attend for a day of workshops and networking. Workshop topics will include: cultural competency, age-specific mentoring, building and sustaining relationships with families, and purposeful programming. 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 has begun and will continue into February. Teen Employment Guide: The teen employment guide is being revised and will be given out in February. The DREAM Office will be hosting optional office hours for those interested in receiving more assistance with resumes or applying to jobs within the city. Youth Mentoring Day at the State House: DREAM office staff attended the Youth Mentoring Day at the State House. This day was a great day to network with fellow supporters of mentoring programs and initiatives in Massachusetts.
41 Dearborn St., Roxbury, MA 02119 | (617) 699-8408 | boston@dreamprogram.org
Northeastern Martin Luther King Day of Service: Rachel, Katie, and I attended Northeastern University’s Martin Luther King Day of Service. Co-run by Massachusetts Promise Fellowship and Northeastern’s Center of Community Service, it was a fun day filled with workshops and volunteering.
Keep DREAMing! Jason Desrosier Program Director Jason@dreamprogram.org