Education Virgin Islands Project #31699

Changing the Lives of At-Risk Youth in St. Croix

by Ileri Inc. dba Project Promise

Changing the Lives of At-Risk Youth in St. Croix

Project Report | Sep 18, 2019
A Summer of Giving

By Resa O'Reilly | President

East Harlem Project

I am delighted to report that Project Promise’s “Summer of Service” was a huge success! On August 1, 2019, we launched an exciting 21-day, 18-city, 14-state service trip across America for our participants and chaperones to participate in community service projects across the U.S. mainland. The Caterpillar Project students (“the Caterpillars”) along with three chaperones, a driver and a videographer visited various cities and worked alongside individuals and organizations that Project Promise has formed connections with over the past five years. In addition to connecting with old friends, we made many new friends and supporters along the way.

Beginning in New York and culminating in California, this opportunity of a lifetime allowed the Caterpillars to experience first-hand, the history, sights, and sounds of the mainland while helping their fellow citizens in the process. In addition to completing 7 service-learning projects, the Caterpillars brought the culture and awareness of the USVI to all the communities they visited. Promotional items were also distributed at various stops; donated vintage St. Croix Posters and Crucian Gold jewelry were presented to our service project partners, supporters, and friends at various stops throughout the tour. Project Promise partnered with 7 mainland organizations in New York, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Nevada and made a long lasting impact along the way.

Our 7 service-learning projects included;

*Rehabilitating Union Settlement's community garden in East Harlem. For our very first service project, we partnered withUnion Settlement is an on-the-ground resource in East Harlem, providing education, wellness, and community-building programs since 1895.

*Packing lunches at LifeCare Alliance's Meals on Wheels Distribution Center. Day 6 on our Summer Of Service Roadtrip and we are here in Columbus, Ohio volunteering at LifeCare Alliance (Columbus, OH).LifeCare Alliance's Meals-on-Wheels program feeds up to 7,000 people a day.

*Socializing with Seniors and tending to their garden. Day 8 of our Summer Of Service Roadtrip, we were in Chicago, IL

at Clair House Senior Apartments. Clair House provides Low Income-Affordable to seniors in Chicago, IL and also provides an assisted living community which allows an older adult to maintain their independence while still having the assistance they need nearby.

*The half point of our 22 Day Summer Of Service Roadtrip across the United States and we were at the Dorothy Day House in Memphis, Tennessee. It was an amazing delight to not only meet and spend time with the families but to be able to donate snacks and supplies. Dorothy Day House keeps homeless families together, creating a safe haven and a community for entire families!

*Day 13 we found ourselves in Oklahoma City meeting and impacting a refugee family from Burundi! We donated $250 raised by our Caterpillars during our ‘Walk for Awareness’ in honor of World Refugee Day. We partnered with the Spero Project that partners with the resettled refugee community to ensure every new neighbor has access to tangible assistance and meaningful relationships essential to thriving in our city.

*In New Mexico, we stopped at El Ranchito De Los Ninos to give back and spend some time with their residents. El Ranchito de los Niños is a children’s home dedicated to keeping sibling groups together who might otherwise be separated in foster care.

*Day 17 we completed our final service project in Las Vegas at Hearts Alive Village. We were so excited to be able to volunteer and spend time with the animals there.Hearts Alive Village was founded in 2013 because of an intense need to help save dogs and cats that were losing their lives in an overcrowded shelter system, and to assist pet owners who have no other place to turn.

This Summer of Service trip allowed our youth “ambassadors” to grow and to proudly share the community service spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Columbus Project

Chicago Project

Memphis Project

Oklahoma City Project

Albuquerque Project

Las Vegas Project

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