What's New at CFY?

I feel like I'm back in undergrad filling out journals for a social work class...I would procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate until the due date for the journals, and then crank out all of them in 48 hours. Much like these blog posts! Anyway, here's the update on my work at CFY.

In February, the Volunteer Program was cut from CFY-NYC. My supervisor, Jasmin, was laid off, and I switched roles from Volunteer Coordinator to become a Family Engagement Associate.

What's a Family Engagement Associate? Great question. This is a completely new position CFY created for me. My main responsibility is to support the Family Engagement Team in implementing our Family Learning Workshop 201s.

What's that? Another great question. CFY is in the process of changing our approach to service.  We began as a computer distribution program, and we are now moving towards a partnership with our schools.

Last fall, we had our Family Learning Workshop 101, and served over 4,000 families. Each family received a free Home Learning Center (a desktop loaded with educational games and software). During the workshop, they also received coaching on how to use the Home Learning Center to improve their student's educational outcomes. 

This spring we are piloting a new program, our Family Learning Workshop 201. We are working intensively with six schools located in Brooklyn, Harlem, and the Bronx. Each school receives three workshops on the topic(s) of their choice: Internet Safety and Awareness; High School, College and Career Readiness; Helping Your Student Achieve at Home; and Computer Programming. Their fourth workshop is a Stop Summer Slide Kick-off.

Stop Summer Slide is another pilot that only CFY-NYC is doing. It is a ten week series of digital learning activities (games, video tutorials, etc) students can access on CFY's Digital Learning Platform, PowerMyLearning.com. The goal of this program is to reinforce learning students accomplished during the school year through the summer so knowledge can be retained.

How does Allison fit in this?

I attend all of the Family Learning Workshops. They are about two hours in length, and are held at the school. I register families as they arrive, and provide assistance and support to them during the workshop. I also co-facilitate some of the workshops.

Because this is a brand new program, there are a lot of kinks we still need to iron out. For example, our attendance is pretty low. In the fall, we would as many as 100 families come out. For the spring, our record high was 15 families. At one workshop, no families came.

There are pros and cons to this. When there is no incentive for families to come except to gain valuable knowledge, you only get the families really invested in their students' education. It's really fun to see parents that are so invested in their child.

My favorite story is about Henry. He and his father attended our workshop in the fall, and received their computer. The other kids were annoyed that it was a desktop computer, and not a snazzy laptop or i-pad. Not Henry. He and his dad were ECSTATIC!! They loved their computer, and were very animated during the workshop.

This spring, they have come to every workshop we've held at Henry's school. The last workshop we had, they brought Henry's sister, an 8th grade student. When she realized they were the only family, her 8th grade girl 'Tud came out complete with eye-rolls. She came around though. It's amazing to see Henry's father's commitment to his children.

Another story is about Jimmy. He is a recent immigrant from Napal, and is very shy. He and his father attended one of our workshops, but their English wasn't very good. They could barely follow along with the presentation. I was talking with them, and his father told me he was on asylum from Napal here. He missed Napal, and wished Jimmy could go to school there, where he has friends and family. The process to enroll Jimmy into high school was overwhelming to him. My heart ached for him.

I found the Parent Coordinator, and she sat with them, explained the workshop in slower speech, and offered her assistance as they navigate the New York Public School System. I felt terrible that I couldn't be of more help, but I know the Parent Coordinator is very capable, and is wonderful. They are in good hands.

In other news...

• I have joined the Values Vanguard for CFY-NYC. This is a team of individuals who are helping implement the new values into CFY-NYC culture. My latest task was organizing a volunteer event for the office. Which I did! We will be reading stories submitted by elementary school students to the Story Pirates to be acted out. Not all stories can be performed by the Story Pirates, but every story deserves recognition. That's where we come in. We read the stories, and offer positive feedback. I'm really excited :)
• I have also joined the Culture Club. Culture Club keeps the spirit up in the office with Happy Hours, pot-lucks, and merriment. It's a great group of people, and I'm excited to work with them further.
• I have decided to stay in New York another year!! I don't know if I will continue working at CFY, or if I will go somewhere else. I'm excited to stay in the city, and stay in Menno House. I love it here. Prayers for a smooth transition as my term ends, and my new job begins are much appreciated!!