Spring 2017 Community Partners
RELS 299
African Community Education (ACE) / Monday- Thursday, 3-6pm (for one 2-hour time block)
Ascentria Services for New Americans / Various days and times (Monday-Thursday only)
Assumption Center / Wednesday or Thursday, 2:30-4:45p; Tuesday or Thursday 10a-12p
Dress for Success / Tuesday-Friday, 10a-2p (for one 2-hour time block)
Pernet Family Health Service / Various days and times (for one 2-hour time block)
Positive Directions / Monday or Wednesday, 1:45-3:15p or 3:30p-5p
St. Francis and St. Therese Catholic Worker House / Various days and times (for one 2-hour time block)
St. John’s / Monday-Friday, 6a-10:30a (for one 2-hour time block)
African Community Education
http://www.acechildren.org/
24 Chatham St. Worcester
Staff Contact:
Waitta Vainga, Volunteer Coordinator
508-799-3653
Organization Description:
The African Community Education Program (ACE) has a mission to assist African refugee and immigrantyouth and families in achieving educational and social stability through access to academicsupport, leadership development, cultural expression, and community outreach in Worcester, MA. ACE focuses its attention on recent refugees and immigrants, especially those coming from countries of conflict. ACE students are English Language Learners with limited or interrupted formal education, are low-income, and adjusting to American educational culture.
CBL Opportunities
After School Program Volunteer:
Our After-School program combines homework tutoring and extracurricular activities to provide students in Grades 5-12 with supportive, structured, enriched learning opportunities during out-of-school hours. The goals of the After School Program: (1) provide a structured environment for students to receive academic support and assistance to complete homework & engage in academic enrichment; (2) provide interactive extracurricular and recreational activities that enrich students’ academic, social-emotional, and physical well-being.
Volunteers commit to at least 2 hours/week for at least 1 semester to serve as academic tutors and activity assistants. Volunteers assist students with their homework assignments, projects, and academic enrichment and guide them to become independent learners. Volunteers also assist extracurricular, gym, and leadership activities to guide students to engage in learning, demonstrate good sportsmanship, and develop positive leadership skills. Volunteers must be flexible to work with one student or in a small group as needed. Volunteers may state preference for age/grade level and academic subject, which ACE tries to honor.
When: Monday- Thursday, 3:00-5:45pm.
Pre-service Requirements:
Volunteer Application & Emergency Contact Form; CORI form & photocopy of photo ID; & attend a 2 Hour New Volunteer Orientation
Volunteers needed: 10-15
Ascentria Care Alliance - Services for New Americans Program
http://www.ascentria.org/our-services/services-new-americans
11 Shattuck Street, Worcester MA 01605
Hours: Monday – Friday; 8:30am – 5:00pm
Staff Contact:
Beth Singley, Resource Developer
Office: 774-243-3027, Cell: 508-468-7622
Organization Description:
Ascentria Care Alliance is one of the largest social service organizations in New England. Ascentria serves children, youth and families; persons with developmental disabilities, mental illness & deafness; refugees, including unaccompanied refugee minors; and older adults.
The Services for New Americans program provides resettlement services for refugees of all ages fleeing conflict and oppression in their homeland. We offer client-centered assistance that includes: Case management; Education classes & tutoring; Employment assistance; Legal Assistance; Microenterprise development; and New Lands Farm for refugee & immigrant farmers.
CBL Opportunities:
Ascentria hopes for a group of HC tutors (see ESOL Tutor and Computer Tutor) and will pick the time that works for most of the students’ schedules (most likely in the afternoon). If this time does not work for some students, students can serve as a Class Aide (see the Class Aide description below).
Education Class Aide: The Education department offers a variety of classes, including ESL, ESL literacy, and ESOL on a variety of levels, Math, Financial Literacy, Computer Literacy, and Health Careers. New students are assessed for their education level and assigned to the appropriate class. Education Class Aides assist the classroom teacher once a week with either a morning or afternoon class. Aides work under the direction of the teacher to prepare classroom materials and equipment and assist students with classwork as needed.
ESOL Tutor: Ascentria clients have varying levels of English, education, and literacy. ESOL tutors meet with clients once a week to provide one-to-one practice sessions for English language tutoring and homework help to improve the clients’ English skills.
Computer Tutor: Ascentria has a new computer lab! Under the direction of the computer teacher, tutors will provide one-to-one assistance with clients who have varying levels of computer literacy.
For all positions, volunteers will generally assist one time per week for 2-3 hours, Monday-Thursday only.
Pre-service Requirements:
Ascentria requires commitment and confidentiality regarding our clients. All volunteers/interns must fill out the Volunteer Application form, as well as a CORI background check, and attend an Orientation/training session. Ascentria staff will review applications and select volunteers based on the needs of our clients. Ability to speak other languages is a plus, but not required.
Volunteers Needed: 6-8
Assumption Center
http://www.assumptionsisters.org/
16 Vineyard Street
Worcester, MA 01603
Staff Contacts:
Sr. Catherine Anne Soley, RA
Sr. Mary Ann Azana, R.A.
508-767-1356
Organization Description:
The Assumption Center in Worcester is a ministry of the Religious of the Assumption. In partnership with the parish of St. Peter-St. Andrew in the city’s Main South area, the Center serves the various educational needs of the neighborhood through English as a Second Language classes for adult learners, after-school mentoring and literacy programs, the Kate O’Neill spiritual book library, Girls With DREAMS, GIFT Lecture Series and a Vietnamese summer camp. In addition, the Center also sponsors a Knitting Circle and a community garden which involve many volunteers from around the city. All the programs were founded by the Sisters and are carried out by the Sisters, AMAs and volunteers from Assumption College, Clark University and College of the Holy Cross as well as a good number of adults from the parish and the area.
The headquarters of the Sisters’ lay volunteer program, the Assumption Mission Associates (AMA), is housed at the Assumption Center. A project of the Religious of the Assumption since the 1950s, AMA has been particularly active in the U.S. since the 1980s. Since its move to Worcester in 2001, AMA-USA has sent approximately 100 young people to mission sites both overseas and in this country. Currently the AMAs serve with sisters in Worcester, MA and in Chaparral, NM in the USA and in the Philippines and England, internationally.
In addition to the AMA office, the Center provides housing for the AMAs themselves, who live together in the Cana community along with other young adults who are committed to intentional living. The Cana community shares meals and prayer regularly with the community of Assumption Sisters. The AMAs offer service at Assumption Center, the parish of St. Peter-St. Andrew’s, and other neighborhood organizations that serve the disadvantaged.
CBL Opportunities:
MENTORING
The Assumption Center runs an after-school mentoring program at St. Peter’s Church on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:30-4:45 p.m. Children, ages 6-15, are paired one on one with college mentors who help with homework, reading, arts and crafts, games and much more. Since 1996 the mentoring program has provided a safe, supportive and fun environment for children to spend their after-school hours.
ESL Tutoring
Assumption Center ESL Classes at St Peter's Church, Tuesday and Thursday, 10a-12p. The program provides instruction in English as a Second Language to approximately 125 adult learners each year. The majority of our students are recent immigrants from all over the world. In joining the learning community, you will gain insight into the struggles of our families to integrate into American society.
Child Care :By providing supervision for their children, you will be facilitating the acquisition of English language skills for our parents. Without this service, they would not be able to attend our classes.The program accepts children ages 2 – 6. The ratio of children to care provider will be 2 – 1.
Teacher:No second language skills are required, training will be provided. You would have three options: to teach a class of approx. 6 - 10 adult learners in our classrooms; to tutor one on one in our classrooms during our class time; or to tutor a student outside of our class space and time.
Pre-Service Requirements: CORI Form and application (for ESL tutors only)
Number of Volunteers Needed: As many as possible
Dress for Success Worcester
http://www.dressforsuccess.org/worcester
484 Main St. Suite 110 Worcester
Staff Contact:
Janet Paskauskas
508-796-5660
Organization Description:
The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help our clients find jobs and remain employed. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for additional professional attire when she finds work.
Dress for Success serves clients by referral only, and women must be actively searching for employment. Our clients come to us from a continually expanding and diverse group of non-profit and government agencies including homeless shelters, immigration services, job training programs, educational institutions and domestic violence shelters, among many other organizations. Almost 4,500 organizations throughout the world send women to Dress for Success for professional apparel and career development services.
CBL opportunities:
CBL students will have an opportunity to work directly with clients as well as support the boutique. Students will each sign up for a weekly two-hour slot when the boutique is open (Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-2:00pm). During this time, students will be scheduled to assist clients with selecting professional attire for their interviews or new jobs. Students will also spend time assisting with sorting and arranging merchandise donations. Students may also have an opportunity to assist with the various workshops Dress for Success provides (note: the workshops occur during hours when the boutique is not open, so students desiring to assist with these workshops must have a flexible schedule and the initiative to seek out this volunteer opportunity).
Pre-service Requirements: None
Volunteers needed: 3-10
Note: This opportunity is only appropriate for female-identified students
Pernet Family Health Service
237 Millbury Street, Worcester, MA 01610
http://www.pernetfamilyhealth.org
Staff Contacts:
Emily Linhares, Director of Family & Community Development (primary contact)
508-755-1228 ext. 224
Organization Description:
Pernet Family Health Service is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, DPH-certified home-health agency working with individuals and families to provide family-centered, health and social services that lead to long term strengthening and enhancement of family and community life.
Pernet runs an emergency food and infant supply pantry. Residents of Worcester’s 01610 zip code can receive food from the food pantry once a month by showing identification. To obtain baby and infant supplies such as formula, baby food, cereal and diapers, clients must show proof of child (such as a birth certificate or WIC card). Supplies are given out in quantities to last approximately three days. Clients are also encouraged to talk to trained staff and volunteers about long-term hunger solutions such as Food Stamps and WIC. The Emergency Assistance Program is possible through grants from Project Bread, the United Way of Central Massachusetts, Rachel’s Table and the generous contributions of local groups, individuals, churches and the Worcester County Food Bank. Pantry hours are: Mondays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM; Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11 AM - 3 PM.
CBL Opportunities:
Food Pantry
HOURS: Mondays 8-11, 11-2, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11-2
Pernet Family Health Service Food Pantry provides emergency food, infant formula, and diapers for families in need of these items. We serve the 01610 zip code and surrounding areas. The food Pantry is open to the public Mondays 1:00-3:00, Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-3:00. Infant supply hours are Anytime during the week with need proof of child
Background
Pernet families are disadvantaged families who live in Worcester and surrounding towns. They face many challenges: poverty, lack of education, lack of employment, lack of safe, affordable housing. They often are single-parent families, with a percentage of them being teen or young parents who lack support systems. The children served by the Youth and Teen groups come from such homes. Pernet often becomes one of the most trusted safe places for them to receive positive messages of hope and possibility.
Activities
- Help staff at the Worcester Country Food Bank Mondays 8-11 for secure food
- Make bags and support staff in intake and distribution Mondays 11-2, Tuesdays 12-3 and Wednesdays 12-2.
ESL Tutoring
HOURS: flexible based on clients schedule, once a week
The ESL (English as a Second Language) program is established to provide members of the Worcester community with the vocabulary and grammatical structures needed for everyday living.
Participants will work one on one or one on two with an ESL volunteer to develop language acquisition and cognitive language skills through the use of sound instructional, and writing techniques.The ESL program provides the English Language Learner (ELL) the opportunity to grasp the social and cultural aspects of the English language through the teaching of reading, writing, listening & speaking.
Activities
- Provide one-on-one tutoring for clients who want to work on their English. Working with the client’s schedule to find a time that works with them.
- Work on the participant’s proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and to help them in their everyday life.
Youth Program
HOURS: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30 – 6:00
Pernet Family Health Service’s Youth Group is a program offered to middle school and high school students for socialization and positive interaction. This program offers a safe place of our community youth to go afterschool. This program consists of free time, field trips, workshops and trainings to work with the youth on their social, behavior, leadership and self-esteem. Your main role will be to mentor and build and relationship with these youth.
Activities:
- Volunteer will come on time and notify volunteer coordinator or program supervisor if they are unable to attend a session
- Serve as a role model for youth