We Begin Year 11

Date: September 8, 2009

The Center for Youth Leadership is proud to announce the start of its 11^th year at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut.  “CYL remains committed to activism, social change and justice,” said Lorena Martinez, a graduate of one of our leadership teams, “and we will share our model of socially engaged philanthropy with any organization that is interested in promoting people our age as leaders and activists.”

The year actually began back in July and August, which is when members of our Peace Project led high school orientation for incoming freshmen and their parents.  That was followed by training for the Center for Youth Leadership’s leadership teams, as well as leadership teams at Greenwich High and Stamford High, both of which adopted our activism model five years ago.

Here is a summary of the issues that the programs of the Center for Youth Leadership will address during the 2009-2010 school year. 

Senators Community Foundation

            Child abuse and neglect remain the core issues of this 120-member group.  “But there are elements of abuse that are particularly important to teens,” said Tyler Calder, a graduate of the Senators Community Foundation, “so we adopted them as areas of interest.”  They are Shaken Baby Syndrome, animal cruelty and its connection to child abuse, human trafficking, and Connecticut’s safe haven law. 

            The Senators Community Foundation will use its unique and off-the-wall public awareness activities to raise awareness of these issues.  We kick things off with our annual Drop Dead Day in September, which will be followed by two-three activities a month through June 2010.

            We return to Kids in Crisis in Greenwich for our seventh year of volunteering with children who have experienced or witnessed abuse.  Members of the Senators Community Foundation visit the nursery every week of the school year.  Our members also host a fun group activity once a month for children who receive services at Domestic Abuse Services, which is a program of the Greenwich YWCA, and staff a mentor program for several of the children.

            The Senators Community Foundation’s social change campaign for 2009-2010 includes several elements: interesting projects with pediatricians and veterinarians, and legislation about background checks for public school teachers, as well as employees and volunteers of camps that are licensed by the Department of Public Health. 

Peace Project

            Safe schools and communities remain the focus of this 100-member group.  Its areas of interest include teen dating violence, stalking, the rights of day laborers and human trafficking.  “The issues are actually related,” said Paulina Hernandez, a graduate of the Peace Project.  “Each one looks at a basic human right that has been violated – the right to a healthy relationship, the right to live a life free from bondage, and the right to be free from wage abuse.”

            Like the Senators Community Foundation, the Peace Project leads two-three public awareness activities a month.  They run the gamut from body art posters and the Bathroom Stalls Project to the Balloon Garden and sidewalk chalking. 

            Our volunteer work includes weekly visits to an after school program at Rowayton Elementary School and visits at 6:30 in the morning to the bridge in South Norwalk that day laborers use as a work station. 

            Our social change initiatives are pretty ambitious.  We will try to integrate the Safe Dates curriculum in three high schools in Fairfield County.  We will work with pediatricians on an interesting project about dating violence. And we will continue to work with legislators on a state-wide initiative about teens and dating and safety. 

Closing

            All of this work is made possible by the generous support of our donors, including: the Perrin Family Foundation, the Fairfield County Community Foundation, the Edward S. Moore Foundation, and the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.

            As Lorena said above, we would be more than happy to share our model of activism with your staff and teens.  Call the number below to schedule a visit.  And when you call make sure to ask for copies of our reports about child abuse and teen dating violence. 

Peace Project Celebrates Freshmen

Date: July 16, 2009

Now in its fifth year, Celebrate Freshmen helps ease the transition to high school for over 400 incoming ninth graders and their parents.  “It has become one of the things to do for those joining the Brien McMahon High family,” said Sarah Porter, a member of the Center for Youth Leadership’s Peace Project.   

“We have a pretty comprehensive approach to welcoming the freshmen,” said Taylor Celentano, a member of the Peace Project.  “We mix fun activities with discussions about serious issues like academics, dating, social exclusion and helping others.  It’s a lot of work, but it’s a ton of fun.” 

This is what Celebrate Freshmen includes:

1. It all starts in May when members of the Peace Project visit the middle schools for small group discussions with eighth graders. 

2. “July and August are busy,” said Jakelina Hernandez, a member of the Peace Project. “We lead High School 101, which is a two-hour orientation for students that addresses the academic and social expectations at McMahon.  We also lead two sessions of Parents As Advocates, which is a 90-minute discussion with the parents of incoming freshmen.  We are joined at those by the principal and a guidance counselor.” 

3. Two days before school starts members of the Peace Project call every single incoming freshman to answer any last minute questions.  What to bring to school, what to wear, summer reading assignments, and where to go at 7:30 AM are some of the more typical questions. 

Also, we talk to parents and remind them about Get Connected, which is a Peace Project program that pairs an upperclassman with an incoming freshman who is anxious about high school.  The upperclassman and freshman typically have lunch once-twice a week for several weeks, or until the freshman has found his place.

4. “The first day of school is a blast,” said Taylor Celentano, a member of the Peace Project.  “We host a 45-minute assembly that has music and funny skits.  We position two-dozen FROGS around the building.  FROGS are members of the Peace Project who serve as

freshmen orientation guides.  They direct the freshmen to class, offer a helping hand to those who are hopelessly lost, and serve donuts and lollipops to those who are having a rough day.  And at lunch there is live music, and the FROGS walk among the freshmen to answer questions about class schedules or the second day of school, which is when the sophomores, juniors and seniors report to class.”

5. Celebrate Freshmen wraps up about a week or so after school starts with small group discussions.  The Peace Project FROGS and guidance counselors gather the freshmen in groups of 25 or so to answer questions about schedules, lingering concerns, after school clubs, and upcoming events. 

“Celebrate Freshmen has to be one of my favorite activities of the year,” said Sarah Porter, a member of the Peace Project.  “Don’t get me wrong.  Our work on teen dating violence, human trafficking, stalking, and the rights of day laborers is important.  But it’s nice to know that you helped almost 400 students get ready for school.”

See the “CYL in the News” page for a news account of a High School 101 session that we led on July 15.