“Take Back the Streets!”

New Britain’s annual “Take Back the Streets” anti-violence rally attracted a great crowd at Walnut Hill Park last Saturday. The rally had over 1,000 attendees! With the efforts of community agencies and programs, such as Opportunities Industrialization Centers, New Britain Parks and Recreation, Pathways/Senderos and Jobs for America’s Graduates, we all came together to help create and maintain positive relationships between law enforcement and our city’s youth.

New Britain High School JAG participants wanted to help spread the peace. As a project created in the student-led Career Association, JAG students promoted the cause by selling purple anti-violence ribbons, ti-dyed purple shirts and ran a booth on the day of the event. The students created a banner that stated, “Come up with a resolution, violence is never the solution.” Guests of the event who stopped by JAG’s table pledged to be non-violent by adding their painted purple handprint to the banner. Purple was the theme color because it is the color that nationally represents non-violence.

 

In the above picture are New Britain Board of Education members Sharon Beloin-Saavedra and Daisy Sanchez making their pledge! Thank you for your support!

Student volunteers included Quandaysha Shumpert, Morgan Mack, Kyara Vargas, Thalia Rodriguez, Savina Hollingsworth, Jimmy Vega-Nelson, Samantha Kilduff, and Myleisha Ortiz.

Don’t Be Nervous!

Taking part in mock employment interviews is a standard element of JAG CT activities, very often accompanied by volunteer professionals who visit the class to assist.

They were in full swing last week, as New Britain High School Specialist Emily Carver and Manchester High School Specialist Justine Meyer recruited nearly a dozen volunteers in to work with their students.

Volunteers got a list of interview questions ahead of time, and a rubric they used to rate students on elements such as posture, grammar, body language and completeness of their answers.

“My students really enjoyed the experience and the feedback they received, and are looking forward to heading out for actual job interviews!” Emily reported.

“I felt really nervous going into the interview but once things got going I felt much better, ” said Daishell Roberson of Manchester High. “I’m actually not as worried for a ‘real’ interview anymore!”

Christina Lumbreras of Arris is pictured above, interviewing Izabella Santos of New Britain High; and Jason Scappaticci of the Manchester Board of Education interviews Solomon Reynolds, at left. Thanks to them and all of the others who volunteered their time!

 

 

New Horizons JAG student wins scholarship!

New Horizons senior and JAG student Juan Santiago received a scholarship from  WeCare Community Center, Inc. Saturday night.

Juan joined my JAG class mid year and has been a  positive influence among peers. He upholds and exhibits JAG’s values on a daily basis and I was very happy to assist him with this scholarship application.

“My future feels bright and I believe I can be what I want to be,” Juan wrote in his essay. “Being an accountant is my long term goal and I believe I can actually follow my dream. I would have never thought I would be here today a few years back, but I thank New Horizons and all the positive people in my life for the opportunities  to become a better person and improve on my life skills. ”

Juan will be attending Gateway Community College in the fall of 2016 and hopes to become a CPA in his future. Great job, Juan!

Juan is seen here accepting his scholarship with WeCare secretary, Dawn Smith. He is pictured with his father, Miguel.