AROUND THE CENTER
Update on First Cohort for Treu-Mart Youth Development Fellowship Program
Second Cohort Selected in November
The members of the first cohort of the Treu-Mart Youth Development Fellowship Program are working in their various agencies building resilience and positive youth development into agency programming. They continue to meet with their coaches and with one another in peer learning groups, supporting one another professionally. The first cohort held their "graduation celebration" on November 30, 2005 but will continue to work together as the first alumni class.
"The Treu-Mart fellowship has changed how I operate our program on a short and long term basis," explained Lisa Bugenske, Treu-Mart Fellow and Executive Director of Open Doors Program at First Unitarian Church in Shaker Heights. "My daily interactions with the youth and the structure of our program have been greatly enhanced by the strengths-based focus of resiliency. It has touched aspects of program structure, discipline, and curriculum. I hope to continue to use resiliency as a framework upon which to strengthen our services to youth."
Another fellow spoke of a student in her program who was ready to "give up", and had failed all of her classes the prior semester. The youth's school issues were exacerbated by a parent who could not read or write and was unable to assist with schoolwork. Because of support received during the out-of-school program, the youth is currently passing all of her classes. Working with the fellow, the youth's parent has learned how to advocate for and support her child.
"The fellowship program has been a very helpful, good program. I have a better understanding of resiliency. It has validated the work already done at the agency and has increased the focus on resiliency. The program has also helped me with my own children."
Applicants for the second cohort of the fellowship were interviewed by the Selection Committee, which includes:
- Chip Edelsberg, Jewish Community Federation
- Pat Heilbron, Fellowship Program Director
- Al Lopez, Cuyahoga Community College, retired
- David Miller, Associate Professor at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences/Case
Applicants were selected in November for the second cohort and include:
- Roberta Baioni, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
- Barbara Cash, Save Our Children
- Erica Davis-James, Community Re-Entry/Covenant Project
- Jeff Ehlert, Berea Children's Home
- Connie Fletcher, YOU
- Gerald Gord, YO! Cleveland
- Lydia Hill, Cleveland Department of Public Health
- Lamar Hinchen, City of Cleveland Recreation Department
- Marissa Jewell, Goodrich-Gannett
- Lametris Joiner, City of Cleveland, LaDorr Foundation
- Melissa Keith, Shaker Heights Youth Center
- Valerie Pinkney-Duke, Center for Families and Children
- Isaiah Rembert, City Year
- Clifton Sweeney, Open Doors, Inc.
Programming for the second cohort of fellows began on December 6, 2005.
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