Reports on Hands-on Technology Experience for Low-Income Kids

Project Report | Apr 20, 2018
Citizen Schools Spring Update 2018

By Markiesha Duverneau | HQ-Prospect Management VISTA

Students explored different careers in CA.

It is a very rewarding experience to give our students different perspectives as part of their growing up. - Alice (CA)

Citizen Schools' mission is "Educating Children, Strengthening Communities." Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gap for middle school students from low-income communities and move students onto a successful track, heading toward high school graduation, college attainment, and positions of leadership in their careers and communities. Since its inception in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has partnered with middle schools and communities to reimagine the learning day and provide all students with rigorous and engaging experiences that connect students’ current learning to their future. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and apprenticeships - hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. By focusing on middle school, Citizen Schools capitalizes on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on graduation, college matriculation, and ultimately a successful career. Citizen Schools also seeks to build a strong and skilled pipeline of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals to fill the national gap in qualified STEM professions. Our Citizen Teachers continue to be a source of great support for Citizen Schools – not only through financial contributions but especially through their human capital, teaching our students in 10-week, hands-on apprenticeships.

I really enjoy connecting with the students and seeing how excited they get about the content and projects they work on. - Jackie (NY)

During the past couple of months, we held our Annual 6 Degrees Networking and Opportunity Fairs in Massachusetts and California. In order to prep for this day, students worked on their professional skills throughout the winter by developing resumes, cover letters and business cards, practicing their public speaking and interviewing skills, and applying for summer internship positions. Between the two regions, there were 39 organizations that hosted interactive “Opportunity Booths” for 170+ 7th and 8th graders, which showcased future career pathways, as well as, summer and high school programming opportunities. Here are some examples of participating organizations and what their Opportunity Booths showcased:

In Massachusetts:

EF Education First is an international education company that specializes in language training, educational travel, academic degree programs, and cultural exchange. At the 6 Degrees event, students participated in an Around the World activity to learn about the different countries where EF hosts exchange programs.

Healthy Chelsea is a community coalition focused on improving the overall health of Chelsea residents by working to increase healthy eating and active living and to decrease the negative effects of substance misuse and toxic stress. At 6 Degrees, students learned about different ways to infuse natural flavors into water with additives like sugar.

Wave Life Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on delivering transformational therapies for patients with serious, genetically defined diseases. At 6 Degrees, students networked with employees from several different job functions - including Quality, Patient Advocacy, and Corporate Social Responsibility - to learn about the many different careers that exist with a large STEM-focused organization.

In California:

At 6 Degrees the students got to speak with entrepreneur Dania Denise, a.k.a. The Chalk Chica, an artist who provides special event chalk art for corporate events and other special occasions. The students learned the value of following your passion. They witnessed how Dania's artistic ability and creativity turned her talent into a lucrative career.

MBH Architects is an architectural firm specializing in retail, restaurant, housing, mixed use, work space, hospitality, healthcare & fixture design projects. At the 6 Degrees event students were able to see true-to-scale, 3D models of building designs that the firm created which enabled the students to have a great conversation about the complexities of architectural design.

When the students visited the Digital Mortar booth, an enterprise analytics company, they got to meet and speak with computer engineers who've designed Artificial Intelligence which tracks the purchasing patterns of retail shoppers. The students learned how AI can help retail businesses understand their consumers better, thereby providing a better customer service experience, ultimately enhancing sales for the retailer.

It’s easy for me to be excited about an organization that attempts to prepare young people for the challenges and opportunities that exist after their formal education is over. - Ryan (NC)

Citizen Schools is extremely grateful for all of the participating organizations that came out to showcase their work to our students.

Students explored careers as an attorney.

Students learned about financial preparation.

Students discussed diversity and inclusion.

Links:

Citizen Schools website

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Jan 2, 2018
Citizen Schools Winter 2017 Update

By Michael Trabert | Manager of Corporate Engagement

Students Hold Group Discussion in "Girls who Code"

It is a very rewarding experience. You don't get that many opportunities to be part of impacting the future generation. - Citizen Schools Volunteer, California

Citizen Schools' mission is "Educating Children, Strengthening Communities." Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gap for middle school students from low-income communities and move students onto a successful track, heading toward high school graduation, college attainment, and positions of leadership in their careers and communities. Since its inception in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has partnered with middle schools and communities to reimagine the learning day and provide all students with rigorous and engaging experiences that connect students’ current learning to their future. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and apprenticeships - hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. By focusing on middle school, Citizen Schools capitalizes on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on graduation, college matriculation, and ultimately a successful career. Citizen Schools also seeks to build a strong and skilled pipeline of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals to fill the national gap in qualified STEM professions. Our Citizen Teachers continue to be a source of great support for Citizen Schools – not only through financial contributions but especially through their human capital, teaching our students in 10-week, hands-on apprenticeships.

I really enjoyed seeing the student's attitudes about Math change over the course of our time together. By the end of the apprenticeship, they seemed to really enjoy the challenges and saw that Math could be enjoyable. I have always enjoyed working with children, and I do not get the opportunity to in my profession. The apprenticeship was a great way to help make an impact on some students and share my love of teaching with them. - Citizen Schools Volunteer, New York

This past December, we celebrated the conclusion of our fall apprenticeships at our WOW!s, held across our network. From Massachusetts to California, we had 394 apprenticeships featured at our WOW!s. These semester-end events are where students are able to show what they’ve learned during their apprenticeship to the community. Here are some of examples of what was on display this December:

Mock Trial: Students learned about the judicial system and court proceedings and worked on a "mock " criminal case. They presented agruments in teams representing the prosecution and the defense. Students also learned about different career paths in the judicial system and practiced their public speaking.

Pencil Code: In Pencil Code students learned the value of coding (i.e. what coding can accomplish in the modern world), how to read CSS and HTML, and got experience in coding. For their end-of-semester event, they showcased the videogame that they created!

Biz Kidz: During Biz Kidz, students started their own business by learning how to apply for a micro-loan to create a company and sell a product. They started off by learning about the leaders of a company, and then held elections for different departments and roles. Students also learned about manufacturing, distribution, profit, and loss. For their big project, students created and sold a product through their buisness at their WOW! event and donated their money to a charity.

Students Pose for a Photo During Field Trip

Students learn about Electrical Engineering

Links:

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Oct 4, 2017
Citizen Schools Fall 2017 Update

By Michael Trabert | Manager of Corporate Engagement

CEO Em McCann with Citizen Schools' Students

"This is my second semester teaching with Citizen Schools, and as summer approaches and our time together comes to an end, I will genuinely miss my 90 minutes each week with the students. I can honestly say, the time dedicated to being a Citizen Teacher (and it is a lot) does not come close to the reward. Really at the root of it, volunteering with Citizen Schools is life changing." - Citizen Teacher Volunteer, CA

“While I participated in Citizens Schools, I developed a deep interest in the fields of Science and Math. Many of my apprenticeships like “Think Like a Scientist” and “Neuron Robotics” revolved around technology and science which I find very intriguing.” Student Alumnus, MA

For this report, I’d like to share a message that the CEO of Citizen Schools, Em McCann, recently shared with our organization’s supporters.

This past week, I had the opportunity to sit with a group of rising Boston 9th grade girls, who were both graduates of our 8th Grade Academy program and summer interns at Citizen Schools. We gathered to talk about their experience with us and the ways in which Citizen Schools is – and isn’t yet – fulfilling its promise to help middle school students launch confidently into their high school years. They shared stories of their favorite staff members and apprenticeships, advice on where we could have offered more agency, and talked about the breadth of responsibilities they had as interns and at home as daughters and sisters. And they each shared details of their very different but equally onerous commutes on public transportation. “What, “ I asked, “has been the most meaningful part of this experience?” On this, they were fully aligned. “The people” they shared in unison. One girl elaborated: “We have people all around us who are kind, interested in our lives, and have high expectations for what we can accomplish. That gives us confidence.” Citizen Schools – and the amazing web of people it brings into students’ lives – is the ultimate launchpad.

Like these amazing interns, Citizen Schools is preparing for launch into a new academic year and a new set of adventures. This year, we are embarking on number of initiatives that, collectively, are designed to help us better deliver on our mission to ensure children are prepared to thrive as students and succeed as adults. All three will help us continue to build a broader community of citizens, educators and families committed to student support.

First, we are launching our expanded learning time programs in six cities across CA, NY and MA with a set of new AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows and volunteer Citizen Teachers. Our students will receive additional academic support and engage in project-based apprenticeships, to help them develop the skills, access and beliefs they need to thrive in their classrooms and communities.

Second, we are starting a new pilot with teacher partners across the country eager to bring our apprenticeship-style learning into their classrooms. In partnership with research and evaluation firm, Transforming Education, we are engaging teachers across three districts in the co-design of a model that can reach more teachers eager for innovation and students desperate for inspiration.

Third, we will hold our third annual US2020 STEM Symposium and Awards on October 10. This event honors the work of the 8 communities and network partners who are expanding student access to STEM mentors and igniting a passion for STEM pathways. We plan to make an exciting announcement about US2020’s - and the STEM mentoring movement’s – growth in the coming year.

You can read stories about these initiatives and the people engaged in and leading in them – in this newsletter's links: You’ll meet our summer interns, a committed CA volunteer, and an ELT alumnus. Their stories will make clear what the rising 9th graders with whom I spoke seemed to understand intuitively: that the diverse network of people we rally around is our greatest asset… and the launchpad for their success.

“Seeing the students develop over the 10 weeks with confidence and a sense of accomplishment is the most gratifying personal experience. Professionally, my colleagues and I have worked together to bring this change into the students’ lives and we can and experience that together which is very rewarding. It is the best way to get to meet and know your colleagues.”- Citizen Teacher Volunteer, MA

Our AmeriCorps service members and our volunteers are only able to do this important work because of supporters like you. We are so grateful for your commitment to our efforts to close the opportunity gap.

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