BGCB's Mentoring program and South Boston Club mentor Patrick McKiernan were featured in Boys & Girls Club's of America's "Connections" magazine. Read the full article here.
Claire Richmond began volunteering at the South Boston Club in January 2010. Claire works full-time as a graphic designer in the marketing department at Heinle, a part of Cengage Learning here in Boston. She volunteers once a week in the Computer Clubhouse teaching members about 21st century design tools, such as Adobe Photoshop. She is a great inspiration to members who come in the realm of the Computer Clubhouse to learn how to utilize various forms of technology in conjunction with their passions. When Claire is not helping out in the Computer Clubhouse, she enjoys interacting with the members by giving them insight on life, their future, and their education. She serves as a role model to members, encouraging them to make the most out of the opportunities that are presented to them and the advantage of seeing the end result of goals that they wish to pursue. She says that working with our members gives her great joy and pleasure. Claire has left an indelible mark of positivity and creativity during her time at the South Boston Club. William Cullity, a 10-year-old member with whom she works directly, says that Claire is a fun, smart, and creative person that cares about people. She is respected and deeply cared for by our members at the Club. Claire has made a huge impact on our members. Thank you, Claire!!!
Stephen Rogulski began volunteering at the Blue Hill Club in December of 2008. A Portfolio Administrator at State Street, he volunteers in the Learning Center two days a week helping out with our tutoring program. He is a great motivator to members who come into the Learning Center to receive homework help. When Stephen is not in the Learning Center, he enjoys helping out in any area in need of support. He likes playing foosball in the games room with members, shooting hoops in the gym with the basketball team, and even drawing in the Late Room with members who are waiting to get picked up. Yet more than that, he serves as a role model for members. He gets to know the members and gives them someone to confide in. Stephen says that coming to the Club is the highlight of his week. He has stuck with volunteering at the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club because he finds purpose and meaning in the time he spends with members.
Stephen has been an unbelievable asset to the Club for the last two years. He is known by all the staff and revered by the Club members. He is reliable and enthusiastic. Shawn, a 9-year-old member who receives homework help from Stephen says, "I like how Stephen encourages me to do my homework and then shoots hoops with me when I'm done. He is awesome!" Stephen has made a huge impact on the kids, staff and Club community. Thank you, Stephen!
The week of April 18 is National Volunteer Week. Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers for your service to the youth of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston!
BGCB partners with Northeastern University to bring mentors, new perspectives to members
In the fall of 2009, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston launched a new and exciting partnership between the Yawkey Club of Roxbury and Northeastern University. With both establishments having a rich history in the Stonybrook community, the partnership made perfect sense. Based on campus and managed by a full time Americorps volunteer, this perfect pairing has increased volunteers, programs and training opportunities for staff at the Yawkey Club. To date, some 70 volunteers have dedicated more than 2,500 hours of service to the Yawkey Club of Roxbury through serving meals, tutoring, providing administrative support, participating in the mentoring program and volunteering at some of the Club’s annual events.
While all of the Northeastern volunteers benefit the Yawkey Club and its members, the mentoring program stands out. Although the program only allows for a limited number of mentors (six in total – four at Yawkey and two at Dearborn*), it has made an outstanding impact on the lives of the children participating. Mentors and their mentees currently meet for a total of five hours a week. During their meetings they do homework, play board games, eat dinner and talk – the mentors spend time getting to know their mentees, learning where they’ve come from, what they’re interested in and what they aspire to be in the future. Our hope is that memories of these meetings will stay with our members, influence them to do the right thing and hopefully make a lasting impact on their lives.
Most recently, the Northeastern mentors were able to welcome their mentees into their world. Rather than spending an afternoon at the Club, a place that most of our members consider a second home, the matches ventured out of the club and over to the Northeastern campus. Matches toured the campus, checked out the dorms and ate in the dining hall. For most, this was a first look at college life, and an inspiring experience at the least. One member was taken aback by the view of his neighborhood, “I loved the view from the 22nd floor. Up there you have a view of all of Roxbury. I've never seen Roxbury like that.” Being able to see his neighborhood in a different light topped his list of favorite things about the visit. Other members began to consider the possibility of attending Northeastern. One mentee remarked, “Yes. I would go there to live in a nice dorm (the International Center)… It's close to my mom and you get to have roommates. You meet all kinds of different people and you get a degree so you can get a good job and make money.”
According to Yawkey Club social worker, Adam Chaprnka, the program has been such a success that he hopes to triple the number of matches in the coming years. Adam targeted 11- to 13-year-olds, an age group that tends to stray from the Club as they enter their teen years, when recruiting members for the mentoring program. He believes that participating in this program will help to retain these members as they enter these transitional years. With the expansion of the program, Adam is hopeful that he will be able to reach many more teens and keep them engaged well into their teen years.
*The Dearborn Boys & Girls Club is one of BGCB’s five Shared Space Clubs, and is located nearby at the Dearborn Middle School. Members from this Club were invited to participate in the mentoring program at the Yawkey Club at the beginning of the school year.
If you ask any of the staff members at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club, they would tell you that Joe Barbosa is an outgoing, motivated member who has made great strides over the past year and participates in all sorts of programming. However, this was not always the case. In his early years at the Club, Joe strayed from the norm in South Boston. He was less interested in participating in the programs offered and more interested in doing his own thing - even if that meant breaking some rules. Despite their hard work and dedication, staff at the South Boston Club were finding it hard to reach Joe. Much of their efforts were falling on deaf ears and it looked as if Joe would be one of the few kids that BGCB staff aren’t able to reach.
Enter Pat McKiernan, who signed up to participate in the BGCB Mentor Program in 2008. Shortly after signing up, he was paired with Joe and, for the past 15 months, the two have been spending valuable time together on a weekly basis. Every Thursday evening, barring school vacations, Joe and Pat spend time doing homework, playing ping pong, and simply talking. Their relationship has helped Joe grow quite a bit. Chris Devlin, Mentor Advisor and Pre-Teen Specialist at the South Boston Club, has seen first hand the impact that the mentoring program has had on Joe:
“Joe has shown great strides while being mentored by Pat McKiernan; before they were paired together, Joe was in constant trouble at school, at the Club, and even at home. Since being paired, Joe has improved his ELA and mathematics grades, while also getting more involved in club activities, such as the Torch Club and intramural sports. Before they were paired, Joe struggled with his temper and used his size and attitude to intimidate the people around him when he was mad. Over the last 15 months, Pat has taught Joe that patience is a virtue and that he can resolve issues without being violent.”
BGCB's Mentor Program, initiated in fall 2008, has been making a difference in the lives of kids like Joe across the organization with the hopes of reaching many more in the coming years. With more than 25 mentor/mentee matches this year, our members are learning skills and building relationships that they would not have had access to otherwise. Our mentors are a diverse group of people made up of community members, college students and young professionals, all looking to give back and inspire children to do great things.
Recruitment for the BGCB Mentoring Program begins in the summer; if you are interested in becoming a mentor please check the web site for more information in the coming months.
January is the National Mentor Month, and Thursday, January 21 is Thank A Mentor Day.
BGCB would like to thank the outstanding mentors who have donated their time during the 2009-10 program year. Below are the names of mentors who are working directly with youth in our five Free-Standing Clubs and one Shared-Space Club.
Candace Alexander Tom Ames Heather Carbone Andria Diaz Jessica Fidgeon Rodrigo Garcia Jeanne Genao Violeta Hernandez Ashley Kippins Alexa Kuzmich Chris Lacolla Kate McCabe
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Tim McDonald Jessica McGovern Pat McKiernan Robert Newton Lisa Rodriguez Valerie Shields David Silverman Karson Tager Sarah Triewweiler Vedran Vukovic Michael Webster-Clark |
November 2009
BGCB’s Converse “All Stars”
On November 11, 100 sales representatives from Converse Inc. participated in a day of service at BGCB’s five free-standing clubs. Over the course of three hours, sales associates personally fitted members with a brand new pair of sneakers, provided athletic programming and even included a creative component - letting members design their own sneaker on a piece of paper and bringing their design to life on a sneaker.
To staff and members alike, the day meant more than just a free pair of sneakers.
“The volunteers were very nice, interacted with the kids and made a lot of connections. The highlight of the event was the sneaker design activity where the members had a chance to design their own Converse sneakers with arts and craft supplies. It was so much more than just giving our members a free pair of sneakers and that’s what stuck out to me the most about this event. I am grateful to have been a part of it” – Blue Hill staff member
Over 1,100 members were provided with brand new sneakers and a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We are happy to welcome Converse to BGCB’s network of 600+ volunteers who work effortlessly to inspire and encourage our members in new and creative ways every day!
If you are interested in joining our network of volunteers, please contact Alexa Kuzmich at akuzmich@bgcb.org for more information.