Ravenswood's Kick Off Part II!

IHDF-NY December 2, 2014

In 2006, our Ravenswood cohort hosted a kickoff party to launch its afterschool programming for a new class of third graders. Last month, eight years later, it hosted a Rededication Ceremony (or “Kickoff Part II,” as the Dreamers dubbed it), bringing all Dreamers and families back to P.S. 112 to celebrate the successes of the program so far, recognize community partners, and inspire Dreamers to rededicate themselves to the home stretch of high school and the program. The event was a wonderful way to bring together the program’s key stakeholders and a celebration of all of the hard work that our Dreamers have accomplished to date. Below, two Dreamers reflect on the event and their past eight years in the program.

Dreamers at the first Kickoff in 2006...photos from Kickoff Part II coming soon!

On November 18, 2014, the Ravenswood II “I Have A Dream” Foundation – NY: Ravenswood Program hosted their second Kick Off, the “Kickoff Part2”. On that day, I had so much fun and enjoyed myself. Seeing almost everyone reunited in the place where it all started, P.S. 112, made me realize that we’re all growing up. It also made me realize that coming to program for so many years and seeing Matt and Ms. Honore almost everyday is about to come to an end! For the Kick Off, Deja and I made a video mix with clips of the Dreamers from when we were younger to now and played it for everyone in the audience, which made some of them feel old and somewhat embarrassed! Watching everyone laugh and enjoy the video was great. Some Dreamers spoke on stage, along with Mr. Thierry and Jose [Executive Director of The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation, the Program’s key Sponsor]. I found it to be cool how older Dreamers from the first Ravenswood IHAD Program came and spoke to us. The Kick Off was just a great environment to be at because there was music, food, speeches, laughter, families, and friends! It was the place to be that night!

-Chelsea Bueno

The Kickoff Pt II was very exciting. It was an unforgettable night for me. Local restaurants donated a lot of food for our Kickoff, which was very generous of them to do. I helped with the setup and the décor of the cafeteria where everyone ate. Seeing familiar faces I have not seen in [years was] nice. The hardest part for me was getting up on stage and speaking about my childhood memories to an auditorium full of volunteers, mentors, parents, friends and sponsors but I enjoyed it. The evening felt weird, as if we all went away for college for a long time and came back together to catch up about each other’s life. I’m glad I was a part of both Kickoffs and I am looking forward to the next one.

-Daniela Asmad

Spotlight On Dreamer Alumni: Saul Arvelo!

IHDF-NY November 15, 2014

Name: Saul Arvelo

Dreamer Cohort: Ravenswood I

Year joined program/Which grade were you in?: 3rd Grade; 1993

What did you think about “I Have A Dream” – New York when you were in school? The program was an “academic training ground” that supplemented the education that I was receiving in school. Because of the [investment] of time and energy from our mentors, I was able to excel in school. IHDF-NY also provided a safe place for us to be creative

What High School did you attend, and what year did you graduate? Long Island City High School Class of 2004.

Did you graduate college? If so, what school and what did you study? I graduated from Hofstra University with a BA in Communications.

What are you doing now? I am actually in the middle of an exciting transition in my career. I had been working at the Disney ABC Television Group as a Talent Acquisition Coordinator. However, my true passion lied within television production and development, and I am finally able to make that dream a reality, as I am now working as a Production Manager for NBC Universal’s Daytime programming.

How would you explain the “I Have A Dream” program to someone who had never heard of it? IHDF-NY is a true year-round youth development organization that keeps kids on the right track academically, while supplementing the education that they receive with amazing life lessons and experiences. They expose the kids that they serve to an unlimited amount of opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have direct access to.

How did being a Dreamer affect you? Being a Dreamer affected me in huge ways. It provided a platform for me to display my craft and to be successful. Ever since I was a young kid, I always had a passion and interest in all things media-related, from acting and singing on stage, to production and writing. The I Have A Dream Program helped develop my social skills and confidence to actively pursue those interests. They also put me in touch with key industry figures and taught me how to network with professionals. As a result, I landed key internships during my college years with VH1 and ESPN, where I helped produce the annual ESPYS, which in turn, led to a successful early career at both ABC and NBC.

What were some of your favorite memories about being a Dreamer? The bond that my friends and I made with our Program Directors, Staff, and sponsors is something that will always stand out. We were incredibly lucky to have so many positive role models in our lives; something that definitely wasn’t the case for other kids in my neighborhood who weren’t a part of the program. I specifically remember the college trips with our Program Director, Thierry Cazeau. Mr. C (as I’ve always liked to call him) simply knew how to get us so rallied up and excited about the whole experience. I also remember going out to lunch with our sponsor, Mr. Friedman. We did this a few times during the years, as he would check in on our academic progress and see what kinds of goals we were setting for ourselves. Mr. Friedman held us accountable. He even came up to have lunch with me at Hofstra University; a gesture that I’ll never forget.

What does your family think of “I Have A Dream” – New York? My family is forever grateful for the IHDF-NY. They entrusted the program with me at such a young age,

Are you still involved with “I Have A Dream” – New York? How? I am definitely still involved with IHDF-NY. I’ve served as an amanbassador and spoken on their behalf at various events and fundraisers. I also recently participated in a career day event for the Dreamers at the Ravenswood II Program, as well as served as a translator for the Spanish-speaking parents at a FAFSA Application session.

Mentoring: A Force at the “I Have A Dream” - NY East Harlem Program!

IHDF-NY November 6, 2014

By Nancy Restrepo-Wilson, Program Director, IHDF-NY East Harlem Cohort

What began as a small project piloted last year at the East Harlem site, is becoming a “force” of commitment and contribution led by wonderful adults who want to be part of a child’s life and help positively influence their future possibilities. During our pilot program, 15 Dreamers had a mentor, who helped them with homework and providing general support. We are delighted to have 11 returning mentors this year, including a Dreamer Alum and current staff member at the sister Chelsea cohort site, Terrence Stokes!

On October 20th, 2014, we kicked off the new Mentoring year with 25 pairs. During a lively “Meet and Greet” session, modeled after speed dating (!), new mentors from Mentoring USA (MUSA) and RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program or RSVP) of the Community Service Society and Dreamers, gathered in the school’s cafeteria for a 3-minute sessions per pair. By the end, it was clear that both groups were eager to have their own Mentor/Mentee. Meanwhile, the returning mentors were greeted with the most gleeful look in their mentee’s face. There was such an anticipation to see the mentors again, and as if time has not passed, the pairs met separately to continue their relationships.

*East Harlem Dreamers meeting new mentors*

Mentoring provides Dreamers a healthy, supportive relationship with an adult who has the child’s wellbeing at heart. Mentors come from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds, but all share a great sense of responsibility for a child’s future. Mentors receive training on roles, expectations, boundaries and child development among others. They are supported and supervised on site by each mentoring program coordinator (Dimple Patel of MUSA and Sarahlyn McInerney of RSVP) and the East Harlem Program Director, Nancy Restrepo-Wilson.

We are very grateful to MUSA, RSVP and Terrence for igniting the idea of supporting Dreamers through mentoring. Both MUSA and RSVP tirelessly recruit, train and screen mentors in hopes to fulfill our vision of providing a mentor for every Dreamer. We still have some way to go to recruit 70 mentors, but right now, we have seven additional mentees on the waiting list.

As the Mentoring Program is growing, we have dedicated Mondays as the Mentoring day in our after school. To learn more about each mentoring organization or to sign up for mentoring at the IHDF-NY: East Harlem program, please visit:

www.cssny.org

www.mentoringusa.org