New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership Seeking Volunteers

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Every school day 7,000 students become dropouts nationwide, that’s one every 26 seconds. The Greater New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership needs volunteers to help address this crisis within the New Bedford area by delivering CHOICES, an interactive decision-making workshop that empowers teens to achieve academic success in pursuit of their career and life aspirations. Volunteer presenters from the local community are needed to deliver CHOICES to local 8th and 9th graders at New Bedford High School and Hastings Middle School in Fairhaven.

In the 90-minute session, presenters take students through real-world exercises on academic self-discipline, time and money management, and goal setting. The hands-on activities awaken students to the fact that they have the power to make important future-impacting decisions right now. The seminar develops the ideas of time management, self-discipline and wise academic decision making. It brings home to teenagers the meaning of the term “cost of living” and exposes them to sobering information about the education skills required for various occupations in today’s and tomorrow’s workplace. They stress how education achievement levels will either greatly limit or expand career choices and the ability to financially support oneself or a family.

“The presenters want to help the students understand how their level of education will expand their future choices and income,” says Noelle Pina, Employer Specialist for the Partnership at the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. “The CHOICES program makes a positive difference in the lives of students by encouraging them to make good decisions and stay in school. The program is fast-paced and participatory so students are constantly active and never have the opportunity to become bored,” Pina continues.

CHOICES is a fun workshop that quickly becomes easy to present. The partnership is looking for local business and community leaders who are comfortable with public speaking, are passionate about the success of youth and are interested in education, are organized and creative, and who can donate approximately 5 hours of their time to the workshop. This includes presenter training on March 14th, 9:00am-12pm (3 hours) and presenting the full workshop (2 hours). Presenters are encouraged to practice the presentation before their first workshop and to work in pairs to allow for variety and sharing of the workload. “We will be with our presenters every step of the way so they feel at ease in front of the students,” says Zelia LaGarde, Internship Coordinator for the Partnership from Bristol Community College.

“CHOICES strives to awaken high school students to their potential, and helps them discover and develop aspirations for their lives,” said Leo Muller, Executive Director of the national non-profit. “We help kids understand the consequences of dropping out and the opportunities available by pursuing their education. We introduce them to life skills they can use to take charge of their lives and to build a better future for themselves. We look forward to our partnership with Connecting Activities and are honored to be part of a comprehensive solution for students in theNew Bedfordarea.”

After the workshop each student can participate in the CHOICES Challenge, a text messaging activity designed to reinforce the principles of the workshop, students who complete the activity will be entered to win prizes.

Presenter training is taking place at the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday March 14th, 9:00am-12:00pm. To register to be trained as a CHOICES presenter please call Noelle Pina at (508) 999-5231 or e-mail npina@newbedfordchamber.com.

About the Connecting Activities Partnership

The Greater New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership, a collaboration of the City of New Bedford Office of the Mayor, the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board and Youth Council, Bristol Community College and the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, promotes the connecting of academic and workplace learning through Connecting Activities workplace internships. Area employers assist High School seniors to make more informed decisions about their future education and career choices. Currently we service students at Dartmouth High School, Fairhaven High School, Global Learning Charter Public School, New Bedford High School, and Old Rochester Regional High School. More information about the partnership is available at www.newbedfordchamber.com or by calling (508) 999-5231.

About The CHOICES Education Group

The CHOICES Education Group is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise started in 1985 with initial funding from Pacific Northwest Bell (now Qwest Communications). CHOICES has been delivered to more than six million students since 1985. The CHOICES workshop is currently being delivered in hundreds of locations across the U.S. and Canada. More information about CHOICES is available at www.choices.org or by calling 1-888-CHOICES (1-888-246-4237).

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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One comment

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