The students spent their time visiting the Woods Hole Aquarium and participating in hands on activities at the Marine Biological Laboratory and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Students were able to touch a variety of marine species such as Horseshoe Crabs, Blue Lobster, Skates, and many others which are used for medical research.

In addition, students were able climb aboard the NOAA vessel, Delaware. They explored the vessel’s sleeping quarters, galley, and research center.  Two students were able to try on the vessel’s survival suits, which are used in case there is a need to abandon ship. Our last activity took place in Loeb Laboratory, where students took part in a workshop, Microscopic Innovations, where they explored Brine Shrimp and other marine species as well as their own cheek cells under a lens.

We were also to take advantage of exploring the beautiful Nobska Beach and Lighthouse, which happened to be the students’ favorite free time location.

Our gracious hosts provided all of our delicious meals and lodging and a wonderful experience that we hope to have again!  Many thanks to our friends in Woods Hole!

Posted by Hannah Rauchfuss, Middle School Program Assistant

The first month, I was overwhelmed. I doubted myself and questioned my decisions. There were a lot of “I could have…” statements lingering in my mind.  I was surrounded by so much energy from the children that sometimes I could not keep up.  But then I realized I am here to support them in every way so if that means I have to run and chase them when playing tag, I would.  If that means dancing to cloying Justin Bieber’s Baby, I would join them in chorus!  It is ironic how the activities I could never see myself participating in prior to St. Stephen’s such as athletic/physical games and singing and dancing to pop songs are now the ones that are among my favorite moments in the program. 

In more serious matters, I was afraid that I might not be able to relate to the students’ stories—of what’s going on at school, home, and in their community—and that I might say the wrong things.  However, I learned that children primarily want a solid listener who is willing to ask them what is happening.  I now treasure the times when I have had to separate a struggling student from the group—academically or behaviorally—to talk about what is going on or do one-on-one tutoring.  It has provided me with an opportunity to understand where children are coming from and to learn about their struggles, and consequently to improve the strategies I have for teaching and interacting with them.

I would say that what I do at St. Stephen’s, whether it is creating the Technology curriculum or leading a group in the after-school, motivates me to wake up in the morning and prepare for the day. It is wonderful to see how children are finishing their homework and doing it well, participating in different workshops and activities, socializing with their peers and volunteers during free time, doing therapeutic labyrinths and crafts, and helping pass out plates and cups during snack time. There are tough days but many of the students are determined to make good decisions, which I not only admire but find hope in. We must be doing something right!

Posted by Eunice Brady, Technology Coordinator and St. Stephen’s LEARN Counselor
TechMission Corps Member

Our relationship with Squashbusters, Inc.  has blossomed over the last year.  Jenn Lillis, Academic and Community Coordinator at Squashbusters, was so impressed with the maturity and level of participation of our youth,  that we were asked to return to take part in a Nutrition and Squash Workshop a few short weeks ago. Students were shown snacks and beverages they eat daily and ask to compare nutrition labels on each. Students were asked to calculate total sugars in bottles of juice, and then to provide a visual measured out in tablespoons how much sugar is in each. Other activities included taste testing drinks and coming to the conclusion that better tasting drinks are usually better tasting and worse for you because of the exorbitant amount of sugar in them. After participating in activities of this nature, students were given equipment and sent out on the court with teen staff to learn the specifics of the game.

After making an initial partnership with Kidding Around Drama last year, we were honored to see them return for theater games and workshops this trimester. Over their four week curriculum, our youth learned to find confidence in themselves through acting while entertaining their peers.

Kids Can Cook, deemed “the best thing we do here,” by our students was gracious enough to have us back this year, and over our 5 weeks, the kids learned everything from basic cutting techniques to the difference between spices and herbs and from making vegan chili to making chicken and rice. Kids Can Cook is a phenomenal organization that not only provides students with easy, delicious recipes and food to take home but teaches them discipline and dedication through culinary arts.

Finally, a new partnership with YES welcomed our students with informational workshops about their Job Training Program, Girls Outdoor Adventure Program and Environmental Team. We were also asked to see their Ski and Snowboard Shop and shown how equipment is organized and distributed. Through these activities, representatives from YES hope to connect youth all over the city of Boston, in order strengthen relationship within youth serving organizations.

posted by Hannah Rauchfuss, Youth Leadership Corps Coordinator

Michael with three of his LEARN students on their student service day!

Hello, everyone! My name is Michael Lavelle, and I’m the Academic Coordinator for the B-READY after-school program. I’m here to reflect a little on my experience of being a second year Jesuit Volunteer. As some of you may know, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps consists of a one-year commitment to service.  However, due to my immensely positive experience last year at St. Stephen’s last year, I elected to extend my service for an additional year. It was a difficult period of discernment for me as I decided about doing an additional year.  Indeed, at the beginning of this year, I had some doubts about whether it was the right decision– it meant another year without making money; putting off grad school for another year; taking the risk of joining an unknown community of new Jesuit Volunteers after the first had been so great, etc. 

However, all my doubts were eliminated when I walked back through the door of 419 Shawmut Ave. and received big welcome back hugs from Christina, Hannah, and Liz!  Not only were my very welcoming and appreciative co-workers a substantial affirmation that I had made the right decision, but also the general reaction of the young people I serve.  Simply put, they took my presence for granted! At first, that might sound like an odd affirmation to be grateful for, but I feel there’s a great deal to be found in that reaction. Just being a familiar presence to the kids here bestowed upon me an immediate respect and trust that had taken me months to build up last year. Knowing the kids as intimately as I do gave me the confidence from the get-go to deal with the tougher situations that arose and make my group a more positive place for everyone. Lastly, being able to reminisce about past field trips and activities has been a great way to continue building relationships with my kids as well as encourage positive and optimistic behavior. When I can approach Alexis and talk about the many times we played kickball together last year, or talk to Kamilla about another girl that had been in the program last year but didn’t return and how we both miss her, I make significant progress in helping them feel big, safe, and connected! 

Although my continued relationships with the kids and staff here at the B-READY Program have been the most rewarding aspect of my second year, my experiences both as Academic Coordinator and as an Academic Intern during B-SAFE have helped me gain the flexibility to try new things, most notably in the area of science programming here at St. Stephen’s. Last summer as part of the B-SAFE program, I led various science activities during what we called Mad Science Day.  During this school year’s B-READY after-school program, we have been able to incorporate the same activities and more every week. Also, with my prior experience as the supervisor of our PULSE student volunteers from Boston College, I have streamlined all their paperwork and have been able to let all fourteen of them (an unprecedentedly high number) contribute in new and innovative ways. For example, Bernice very successfully leading Valentine’s Day Teambuilders this past Fridaym and Agnes and Lindley proctoring Math Diagnostic Tests to track our kids’ math progress are both responsibilities that I would not have been able to give last year. 

I have definitely faced some struggles this year both personally and at work; however I’m still very grateful to Christina and Liz for the opportunity to continue serving these kids that I love in a program whose philosophy I so fervently believe in. In all the struggles that I have faced, it’s the day-to-day interactions with wonderful children like Arianna, Jayd’n, Adianai, abd Nellymar (and many more) that continue to keep me motivated. It’s been a great first half of the year, and I’m very excited for all the great times that are still coming!

Posted by Michael Lavelle, Jesuit Volunteer and Acadmemic Coordinator and Lead Counselor at B-READY @ St. Stephen’s

“Being bullied makes me feel INSECURE.” By Franceska

The Culture for Change project was a lot more interesting for me this year.  We worked on photography, and we each decided to work on a piece that had to do with bullying.  Being asked not to take pictures of people confused us at first, but it helped to challenge us and to make us work beyond our comfort zone.  My word was insecurity.  At first, thinking that I would photograph a person, I was confident, but after learning I couldn’t use people, my ideas had to shift.  The first thing that came to mind was a mirror.  Then after the mirror came paint.  For me, it was only right to use the two together.  Insecurity was portrayed by me using a broken mirror and paint as emotions.  Aside from all the working, I got to hang with my friends, and I got to meet new people.  It helped to meet and work with other people; it was fun, and I loved it.

Contributed by Franceska, teen member of the St. Stephen’s Place of Opportunity for Teens (The S²POT)

Note:  You can view the photographs of all of our teens here: 
CfC Bullying Photography – Landscape
and here: CfC Bullying Photography – Portrait.

About Culture for Change (from their website):  “The Culture for Change Project (CfC) is an initiative of the Barr Foundation in partnership with Health Resources in Action (formerly The Medical Foundation) that aims to support an ongoing collaboration between artists, youth workers, and young people.  At its core, it values self-empowerment for young people and enhanced creative skills for all.  CfC endorses authentic inquiry and youth voice as critical components of youth programs working for social change.  It uses the arts to explore social issues, and hopes to encourage leadership, self-expression, and self-discovery for children and teens of all races and ethnicities in Boston neighborhoods.”   You can learn more on the CfC website: http://cfc.barrexternal.org/about/.

Our teens at a November Culture for Change gathering with members of other participating youth programs.

As a first year social work intern with the B-READY after-school program assigned Youth Leadership Corps (our middle school program, also known as the YLC) and teens, I’ve learned a lot since September!  Meeting students and staff members, helping with homework, participating in groups, and going on field trips are just a few of the many wonderful activities I’ve participated in. 

However, one of the best experiences I’ve had is being part of the Culture for Change project, an intensive, social justice-based art program (read more information about the project below).  Every Monday night, a group of teens has been meeting to brainstorm various issues that teens face on a daily basis.  After weeks of hard work the group decided to focus on the issue of bullying and to use the medium of photography to portray their thoughts and feelings.  The students photographed various objects to represent different feelings associated with bullying. Their final work will be displayed in a gallery showing to be announced.  One of our teens also wrote a blog about her CFC project here.

Posted by Jillian Degnan, MSW Intern from Wheelock College

About Culture for Change (from their website):  “The Culture for Change Project (CfC) is an initiative of the Barr Foundation in partnership with Health Resources in Action (formerly The Medical Foundation) that aims to support an ongoing collaboration between artists, youth workers, and young people.  At its core, it values self-empowerment for young people and enhanced creative skills for all.  CfC endorses authentic inquiry and youth voice as critical components of youth programs working for social change.  It uses the arts to explore social issues, and hopes to encourage leadership, self-expression, and self-discovery for children and teens of all races and ethnicities in Boston neighborhoods.”   You can learn more on the CfC website: http://cfc.barrexternal.org/about/.

The memorial labyrinth at Boston College

When I began working in the B-READY after-school program in September, I was warmly welcomed into a family.  I have spent my time getting to know the staff and establishing relationships with the children in the LEARN (elementary school) program.  As a MSW student at Wheelock College, I have been taught to focus on the strengths of the individual.  The children in the B-READY program are some of the strongest, most spirited children I have ever known!  They are always quick with a smile, have a real passion to learn and are never afraid to voice their opinions.  They continue to teach me everyday while I develop my style of social work practice.

We have found at times that the children can seem stressed, have problems identifying their feelings or have difficulty calming down.  During a staff training in December revolving around relaxation techniques, handling stress, and personal wellness, the staff of St. Stephen’s Youth Programs learned several breathing, relaxation, and visual techniques.  We hope to not only utilize these skills for our own personal wellness, but also for the well being of the children.

One particular technique we focused on during this training is the use of a walking labyrinth.  Labyrinth walking is a form of meditation.  They are winding pathways drawn or laid on the ground.  Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one entrance and one exit.  During the meditation, you are to journey to the center of the labyrinth in hopes of shedding the stresses and negative thoughts that are holding you back and gaining a deeper understanding of yourself.  During this training, each staff member was given the opportunity to walk a labyrinth and explore this meditation device firsthand. We are currently adapting this practice for children, by offering labyrinths to color and “finger walk.”  This is not only a relaxing exercise, but also an opportunity for unique self expression. 

In the long term, we hope to create a true walking labyrinth for St. Stephen’s in the South End and continue our education on wellness and relaxation.  Once the snow is cleared (and we’ll certainly all be grateful for that!) plans will begin to build a labyrinth of our very own.  Not only will the labyrinth be used as a meditative tool, but we hope the creation process will form strong bonds and friendships between children and staff through this lasting memory! 

Posted by Meghan Coonan, MSW intern from Wheelock College

BEFORE: One of the new additions to the Blackstone Elementary School greenhouse is a "Salad Bar"!

On the morning of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I was elated to discover that work on the production of the Blackstone greenhouse had already been underway when I arrived.  Immediately, I availed myself of an opportunity to help and — along with other members of the St. Stephen’s community organizing program, as well as a few volunteers from The Food Project –began to transport soil and make arrangements for our pre-meditated planting process.   In addition to the planting of various forms of vegetables and flowers, along with the rearrangement of the greenhouse, my eyes beheld a mural drawn by other members of our volunteer force, depicting the water cycle.  All of this, I knew was for the further advancement of the science curriculum at the Blackstone Elementary School.  I couldn’t help but be proud of the work done by my teenage peers and others, and be proud of the work that would be done in the children, who would gaze in awe of all that was done in the greenhouse and be inspired to learn.

AFTER: The Salad Bar is already in full bloom by the time of the Blackstone library opening.

Contributed by Alex, teen member of the St. Stephen’s Place of Opportunity for Teens (The S²POT)

About about the teen community organizing project:  The Stephen’s Place of Opportunity for Teens (The S²POT)  offers an annual community organizing program where teens learn about leadership, select and research a key area of concern, and mobilize their peers to take action on this issue.  This year, as part of St. Stephen’s renewed partnership with the Blackstone Elementary School, our teens decided to join together to help restore the Blackstone’s greenhouse.  As part of their education and with the help of  The Food Project, our teens also learned about growing food, food distribution systems, and issues of food justice.