Fall 2016 Community Partners
RELS 280
Ascentria Services for New Americans / Various days and times (Monday-Friday only) / CBL Fair
Assumption Center / Wednesday or Thursday, 2:30-4:45p; Tuesday or Thursday 10a-12p / CBL Fair
Claremont Academy / Monday – Friday, 8a-4p (for one 2-hour time block) / CBL Fair
Dismas House / 2 hours per week (based on volunteer’s schedule) / Office
Dress for Success Worcester / Tuesday-Friday, 10a-2p (for one 2-hour time block) / Office
Let’s Get Ready (LGR) / Monday or Wednesday, 5:30-8:30p / Office
MassEdCo. / Monday-Friday, 7:10a-1:40p (for one 2-hour time block) / Office
St. Francis and St. Therese Catholic Worker House / Various times and activities / Office
St. Mary Health Care Center / Every day, 10a-4p (for one 1.5-2 hour time block) / CBL Fair
Training Resources of America (TRA) / Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:15p-7:45p (for one 2- or 3-hour time block) / Office
WPS Adult Learning Center / Monday- Friday, 9a-1p (for one 2-hour time block) / Office
Ascentria Care Alliance - Services for New Americans Program
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. Classes are Thursdays from 12p-2p. 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.
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 on Tuesday, September 20th from 4-5:30p. 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
16 Vineyard Street
Worcester, MA 01603
Staff Contact:
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
Claremont Academy
15 Claremont Street, Worcester MA 01610
Staff Contact:
Jessica Coleman
School Counselor, Guidance
Office (508) 799-3077
Cell (508) 320-9370
Organization Description:
Claremont Academy is a grade 7-12 public school located in the Main South section of Worcester. We have a diverse population of approximately 500+ students, predominately from low income households. According to the Claremont 2014 DOE Report Card, our English Language Learner population accounts for approximately 40% of our students and this number continues to grow.
Claremont is committed to providing all students with a college and career-ready education. Students take an all honors course of study starting in the middle school; upper classmen can take college courses as part of our dual enrollment program. In addition to the core curriculum, Claremont also offers many elective courses including American Sign Language, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Computer Technology, Engineering, and African American History. There are also many AP courses from which to choose including AP Biology, Calculus, Statistics, English Literature, and Environmental Science. In addition to academics, Claremont has many student-run programs and groups including the Claremont Community Service Club, National and Junior National Honor Societies, and Student Government. Claremont has a thriving student and teacher culture where high expectations and success for all are core beliefs.
CBL Opportunities
Claremont would like CBL students to serve as tutors for our English Language Learners (ELLs), former ELL students, as well as any students needing extra support in Math, English, and Science.
Tutors are needed throughout the day, as well as after school.
1.5-2 hour weekly commitment is needed within the following time periods:
Monday-Friday during and after school: 8:00-4:00 (flexible start and finish times)
Volunteers Needed: As many as possible
Pre-Service Requirements: CORI form
Dismas House
Staff Contact:
Dave McMahon
30 Richards Street, Worcester
(508) 579-9249
Organization Description:
Dismas provides housing and services at three locations for homeless and ex-offenders. In our homes, Dismas House, Dismas Family Farm, and the Father John Brooks House, former prisoners are engaged in the hard work of rebuilding lives, and rekindling hope for themselves and their families. Families with kids, volunteer Board members, live-in international students, and church groups help create the family atmosphere by breaking bread with residents and spending the holidays with them. Our dedicated staff - many former prisoners themselves - provide key educational, recovery, and reentry tools to our residents.
CBL Opportunities:
One CBL volunteer will be involved in updating the Coming Home Directory to include western Mass resources, as well as interacting with the clients of Dismas House. The Coming Home directory is a directory of services available to ex-offenders returning to, or currently living in the greater Worcester area. The directory is a resource that presents important information for ex-offenders about the services available in our community. This guide may also be useful for corrections practitioners, program staff, policymakers and the friends, families and volunteers that work with former offenders in the community.
The CBL Volunteer will also be required to attend at least one of the Dismas House community meals. This will be a chance for the volunteer to get to know the residents, as well as begin to build relationships with the Dismas House staff and the people Dismas House serves.
The volunteer will be expected to serve for one 2-hour block each week. The volunteer should reach out to Dave McMahon to set their volunteer schedule.
Pre-Service Requirements: None listed
Number of Volunteers Needed: 1
Dress for Success 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
Let's Get Ready
89 South St. Boston
(staff work in Boston, but program administered at South High in Worcester in the fall semester, and North High in the spring semester)
Staff Contact:
Elena Vasquez
College Access Program Manager
Main Line: 617-366-2643
Direct: 617-345-0098
Fax: 617-507-6041
Organization Description:
Let's Get Ready provides low-income high school students with free SAT preparation, admissions counseling and other support services needed to gain admission to and graduate from college. Services are provided by volunteer college students who also serve as role models and mentors. LGR was founded in 1998 by Jeannie Lang Rosenthal, a Harvard undergraduate. Believing that the knowledge and experience she had gained while applying to college could be of substantial value to low-income high school students who lacked access to the critical support resources she had, Jeannie started the first Let’s Get Ready program in a church basement in Mount Vernon, NY. Since then Let’s Get Ready has served more than 25,000 low-income high school students with the mentoring power of 9,000 trained volunteer college Coaches. In partnerships with colleges, high schools and community organizations, programs stretch from Lewiston, Maine to Philadelphia.
CBL Opportunities:
Let's Get Ready mobilizes and trains volunteer college student ""Coaches"" as tutors and mentors who provide not only instruction but also the encouragement and inspiration students need to succeed. Coaches are comprehensively trained to teach reading comprehension & writing or math (or both), as well as financial aid and college readiness. The program runs from 5:30-8:30 on Monday and Wednesday nights. Reading comp coaches teach one night and math coaches teach the other night, but students attend both nights each week. Coaches must commit to preparing for and teaching the full three-hour class each week. Let's Get Ready provides a workbook and lesson plan, which coaches can supplement with fun activities of their own.
Coaches are dynamic and motivated undergraduate students who are committed to equality and social justice. Coaches will work on site once or twice a week to guide a small group of high school students through the SAT and college application process.
Qualifications:
•Have SAT score of 600 or higher in the subject they want to teach
•Tutoring experience ideal, but not required
Responsibilities:
•Attend a 4-5 hour orientation session
•Volunteer one evening per week for approximately 7-9 weeks
•Serve as a mentor to high school students
•Prepare high school students for the Math or Critical Reading/Writing Sections otheupcoming SAT
•Help students better understand the college admissions process and assist on completion
of key components of their application
Pre-service Requirements: CORI form, Online Volunteer interest form at
Application coming soon. Please check for the latest application.
Volunteers needed: 5-10
MassEdCO
484 Main St Suite 500 Worcester, MA 01608
Staff Contact:
Donna Connolly
508 754 6829 ext. 3016
Organization Description:
Massachusetts Education and Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCO, Inc.) is a statewide network of service sites that provides education and career advising to over 14,000 individuals each year.MassEdCO’s mission is to assist individuals in identifying a potential career path and the education programs that will lead to that career, and help them enroll in, pay for and succeed in the appropriate education program. Economically and educationally disadvantaged individuals are the focus of our services, which are provided free of charge. Funding for MassEdCO comes from the federal and state education departments, as well as private foundation and corporate sources.
Our Mission
MassEdCO provides access to educational and career opportunities that empower people from diverse backgrounds to achieve their potential.