Anyone can do service!

Tinnycua WilliamsEducation Programs Coordinator, Saratoga Family InnHomes For The HomelessNAEHCY 2012, Albuquerque, NMOctober 29, 2012

Anyone can do service!

Speaker Introduction

Tinnycua Williams, Education Programs Coordinator, Saratoga Family Inn, HFH

Oversee Afterschool Programs for Elementary, Middle & HS

Oversee Adult Education Programs consisting of Pre-GED programs, Career development/Education, etc.

Community liaison and outreach including community partnerships

Welcome to Today’s Presentation

Mission: To provide homeless families with the opportunities and support necessary to move out of shelter and live independently.


Homes for the Homeless (HFH)


Community of Opportunity

Some Quick facts:•Over 550 families served on any given night•Over 18 million meals served to New York City homeless families since 1986•2,500 families served every year•Over 100 young homeless children served via Early Childhood programs•Nearly 125 children receive HW Help every weeknight•Over 12,000 homeless children have attended HFH summer camp


Saratoga Family Inn

• One of the largest shelters in the Country

• Capacity: 255 families• Approximately 375 children• Established 1987• One of 4 American Family

Inns• Located in Queens, New

York


• OST stands for Out of School Time

• Funded through local govt. agency

• Staffing: Director, Head Instructor, Recreation Director, Line Staff

• Staff: child ratio - 1:10• Population: Shelter & local

community

The Saratoga Brownstone & Future Link O.S.T. After School Program


• Brownstone (Elementary Grades K-5)

• Future Link (Middle School Grades 6-12)

• Current enrollment: 90 Brownstone;

• 15 Future Link• Average daily attendance: 70-80

children a day• Operation: Mon-Fri, 3pm – 6pm &

during select holidays

The Saratoga Brownstone & Future Link O.S.T. After School Program

Players & PartnershipPortrait ProjectBenefits & Considerations


Players



• Committed to fostering a collaborative, learning-centered community

• Committed to open-admission access for all learners

Mission:


• Community college under City University of New York (CUNY)

• Located in Bayside, Queens, New York• One of the most diverse populations of any college

in U.S.• Students represent 129 nations & 99 native

languages• 15,000 students pursue associate degree/certificate

programs• Began service learning projects in Spring 2007


Service-Learning Definition: •A teaching and learning strategy•Combines meaningful community service, instruction & reflection•Purpose is to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities*

* Learn and Serve America

& Service Learning


& Saratoga Family Inn



PlanningFaculty/partner collaboration STEM Needs identified


& Service Learning

“Picture Me in College: A Portrait

Project of Homeless Children and Teens”


Objectives

ChallengeOpportunityReplication


“Picture Me in College” Goals

“The hope was that by encouraging the children to consider poses that convey confidence, thoughtfulness, intelligence, or other empowering traits, they would be reminded of their intrinsic worth and potential.” – Liz DiGiorgio, QCC


“Picture Me in College: A Portrait Project of Homeless Children and Teens”

9 Upper elementary, middle & HS students (age 9-16)

Staff Chaperones: 2 21 QCC students3 Sessions at QCC campusOctober 2010 – December 2010



• Discussion via phone/email• Identified common goals• Clarified expectations• TW visit to QCC


Challenge: Homelessness affects academic success & self image

Opportunity: Incorporate civic engagement & leadership

“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.





Process:1.After school/QCC pairing2.Preliminary interview3.Poses chosen4.QCC begin sketching5.Design elements added6.Portraits printed



• 2 Final portraits presented (Poster & 5x7) (QCC students)

• Gift exchange

• Celebration (refreshments)• Positive message sharing

Benefits & Considerations


Student Exposure to College

Opportunity for adults to keep their word

Empowerment through giving

Higher attendance rate

Reflections: Lessons learnedOrientation on both sides criticalPost project reflection missingBest reserved for older students


Challenge: Homelessness affects academic success & self image

Opportunity: Incorporate civic engagement & leadership

“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Future Realized

Partners since Fall 2010 Explores issues of poverty and social injustice Students work with community organizations Ozanam Scholar students assist in After School

Program Graduate student supervisors

St. John’s University Vincentian Institute for Social Action (VISA) &

Brownstone Future Link O.S.T. After School Program

The Future Realized

St. John’s Americorp group awarded $125 MLK grant Community service project with Saratoga students Saratoga students worked with Americorp students Provided toiletry gift bags to local senior center (Jan

2011)



The Future Realized

After school students made gift bagsBaked Snickerdoodle cookiesShared a Line dance



Line dancing at Calvary Senior Center!

Encouraging our seniors !

The Future Realized:Benefits of Service

American Psychological Association study:Benefits of gratitude include:Positive mental healthLess likely to abuse drugs/alcoholDecreased behavior problemsDrop in negative emotions including depression


Increases motivation to learnCivic engagementCareer possibilitiesBehavior problems decreasedIncreased program retention & recruitment


Breast Cancer Awareness March


Breast Cancer Awareness Bake Sale

Website Reference

Homes for the Homeless: www.hfhnyc.org The Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness:

www.icphusa.org Act for Youth Center of Excellence: www.actforyouth.net American Association of Community Colleges: www.aacc.nche.edu Corporation for National and Community Service:

www.learnandserve.gov International Child Development Centre: www.unicef-irc.org National Service-Learning Clearinghouse: www.servicelearning.org Portrait Project article found link (The City College of New York Colin

L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service): www2.ccny.cuny.edu/ci/powell/about/publications/nymaps_sym2011_di_giorgio.cfm

Queensborough Community College Service Learning: www.qcc.cuny.edu/servicelearning/index.html

Literature References

DiGiorgio, Liz (2011), ‘An Analysis of the Implementation of “Picture Me in College: A Portrait Project with Homeless Children and Teens”. Paper presented at New York Metro Area Partnership for Service-Learning (NYMAPS) Third Annual Symposium , March 23, 2011, New York City.

Bono, Giacomo (2012) “Searching for the Developmental Role of Gratitude: A 4-year Longitudinal Anaylsis”. Presented at American Psychological Association 120th Annual Convention, August 5, 2012, Orlando, Florida.

Lippman, Laura, H., Kristin Anderson Moore and Hugh McIntosh (2009), ‘Positive Indicators of Child Well-Being: A Conceptual Framework, Measures and Methodological Issues’. Innocenti Working Paper No. 2009-21. Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

Robinson, Gail (2012), ‘Community Colleges Broadening Horizons through Service Learning, 2009-2012’. Project Brief. American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

Contact Information

Tinnycua WilliamsEducation Programs Coordinator

Saratoga Family InnHomes for the Homeless

[email protected]

Questions?

Documents

Anyone can do service!