This summer, Boston Cares is pleased to be in a partnership with John Hancock Financial Services and The Boston Globe to support the 2008 Boston Summer Scholars Program. The Boston Summer Scholars program is providing 500 teenagers with on-the-job training in a corporate or non-profit environment, in addition to weekly skill-based workshops. Boston Cares is teaming up with The Boston Globe and John Hancock Financial Services to coordinate the Friday morning workshop series, which is covering topics such as personal finance, interviewing skills, and leadership.

Volunteer mentors are needed support the workshop sessions, which are held on Friday mornings, from 8:30 AM -10:30 AM – there are 4 left in need of volunteers – July 25 through August 15. (Volunteers are asked to get to the session by 7:45am). Volunteers are not required to attend all sessions, but are encouraged to sign up for as many as they are able to attend. Volunteers sit at a table with 9 youth, take attendance, participate in group activities during workshops, and distribute and collect surveys at the end.

The program still needs to recruit between 5 and 10 additional mentors for each week. Volunteers must be 21 years or older.

Here is the schedule for those workshops:

July 25 - Great Applications: How to Get it Right
Patrick Dwyer from UMass Boston
Chip Greenidge, the Bostonian Founder and President of the National Black College Alliance

August 1 - Interviewing: Before, During & After
John Hancock and Boston-native Lynette Correa of Career Coaching 4 Kidz. Lynette is a first-generation high school and college graduate Akrobatik, a performance artist from the Codman Square area of Dorchester and the voice of sports on JAMN 94.5

August 8 - In the News: Why Should You Care?
Boston Globe columnist Derrick Z. Jackson

August 15 - How a Boston Summer Scholar Leads!
Carol Fulp from John Hancock
Robert Lewis, Jr. of the Boston Foundation and two New England Revolution Soccer Players

To sign up, people only need to fill out an online form by clicking here.

The Governor's Statewide Youth Council is one part of Governor Patrick's commitment to engaging all citizens of the Commonwealth in their communities and their government. The Youth Council initiative will encourage and motivate young people to be involved in their communities and to participate in problem solving through assuming leadership and planning roles. Once established, the Youth Council will focus on the Governor's priorities of education, economic development, civic engagement, and community outreach, advising the Governor as representatives of all Massachusetts young people.

Selection of the council will be by application, which is available at www.mass.gov/governor/youthcouncil. The deadline is May 30, 2008. A selection committee will review the applications and select the 28 members, who will then be notified via mail.

Congratulations to the Mini-Grant Award recipients for taking the first steps to improve the Woburn community. On the behalf of Social Capital Inc (SCI), CHNA and the Woburn Youth Council I commend you for being active citizens in your community.

Civic engagement is the cornerstone of building healthy communities. All of the award recipients for 2008 have explicitly answered the needs of the Woburn residents. More importantly, you are encouraged to identify a need and apply for the Mini-Grant Award coming in 2008-2009. We encourage you to remain cognizant of the needs in your community so we can collectively keep the Mini-Grant legacy alive.

Please contact me for more information or volunteer opportunities.

The Mini-Grants are made possible by the Northwest Suburban Health Alliance/CHNA 15 DoN funds from Lahey Clinic.  read more »

Location(s)

Join us everyone!

This coming Tuesday George Martinez will be facilitating a forum hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Woburn. This is an exciting opportunity for us to gain a better sense of culture, national issues, and Civil Rights.

His visit is made possible by the Woburn Arts/Culture Initiative with Northwest Suburban Health Alliance/CHNA 15 DoN funds from Lahey Clinic.