Humans of SSYP (Week 5)

Welcome to the fifth iteration of the Humans of SSYP blog! It’s hard to believe that we have already reached the halfway point of this amazing social media campaign. I can’t wait for you to read more inspiring stories from the humans who have made SSYP what we know it as. 

Dani

What made you become involved with SSYP and SES? What was your introduction to that?

I was looking for a job after grad school where I studied mental health counseling and art therapy. One of my internships was a shelter for women and children that had an afterschool program. I really loved that experience, and knew I wanted to be with youth and families again.

I was originally brought on to develop the social and emotional support program at SSYP. That was really exciting for me to have creative freedom and the experience of developing a program. I think that the time between the rigidity and structure of school and getting home is powerful. 

Can you summarize in one word or phrase either SES or SSYP?

I would say SES is a combination of social and emotional learning and short term counseling that is introducing mindfulness practice. It's a combination of introducing social and emotional techniques. SES is something you'll hear about in schools a lot. I introduce those ideas in rotations with the theory that kids are more likely to seek support in times of need when they're already familiar with the SES team. 

How do you feel about it now compared to when you started?

I'm still really excited and inspired in the direction things are going, I will say coming from a background in trauma informed work that it has been increasingly challenging post-pandemic. 

What has been your biggest challenge so far at SYYP? 

My biggest challenge has been working across all ages and sites because this creates a capacity issue. I will say that being aware of academic trauma, and stress, it has been difficult through the in-person to virtual to in-person learning transition. 

What are you most proud of during your time at SSYP? 

I'm proudest of my relationships with youth, staff and people's willingness to access our SES. I'm most proud that SES is fully integrated in our programs. Everyone from the youngest kids to the YLC knows that we have SES.

What do you wish we did more of or differently at SSYP?

I wish that we had more clinicians, more staff and more people at the graduate level. I would also say that physical space has been a challenge.

What's your favorite memory at SSYP? 

A recent one was when I was sick with COVID all the LEARN groups made a nice video for me. This felt really affirming and kept me in good spirits. 

What do you think the future holds? Where do you see the program in 10 years down the line?

I hope to continue to grow the SES program. I hope to have enough funding to allow for each group of youth to have their own SES person or each site to have their own SES manager. I would like to get to a point where every kid can have the support that they need to succeed. 

Is there anything else you want to say in regards to your experience here, or your time at SSYP so far?

I would say that connecting with youth through art has endless positives and that artists make the world go round. 

Molly

How did you find out about SSYP? 

I was placed with SSYP through my internship through College For Social Innovation. They kind of found me in a way. I think that I was really lucky to be placed with SSYP. I had never heard of it before, but as soon as I read the mission and I saw my placement, I was really looking forward to it.

What has been your biggest achievement at SSYP so far?

I would say my biggest achievement so far has been the reopening of the library. It has been nineteen months since the SSYP Blackstone school library has been open. I think that was a huge achievement because there was so much coordination between the volunteers and the teachers, and so many behind the scenes things that I didn't think of. It's definitely been a long few weeks, but it's worth it. The reopening on Monday went so well. The kids are so excited to be back, and the teachers and volunteers are so excited to be back. The excitement makes all the behind the scenes stuff so much more worth it. 

Can you summarize SSYP in one word or phrase?

I would say beloved community.

How do you feel about SSYP now compared to when you started? 

It’s been a month, but I would say that fundamentally nothing has changed. I think that I've made some really amazing relationships with the people here. I’ve made relationships with full-time staff, interns, pulsers, volunteers and the kids especially. I think the main difference between when I started and now is my relationships with everyone that I work with.

What has been your biggest challenge at SYYP?

I think learning about work-life balance has been my biggest challenge. There will always be a million reasons to keep working on something and there'll always be a million reasons to keep going and keep pushing myself. I think I've needed to find the balance between work life and personal life in the sense that even though this is all for a good cause, at the end of the day, working those two extra hours at night is not going to be worth it when I can't give my all to the kids the next day.

What do you wish we did more of, or what would you like to see more of from SSYP? 

Interesting. I would like to see more community engagement outside of the school. I think that between the parent mentor program and the library, we do have really great connections, but it all revolves around the school. I think other events such as the open house were really great. I think what I would really love to see is connecting with community members and seeing how we can help with issues like homelessness or what we see at 31 Lennox. I know Liz does some great work with that, but having more of that regularly would be ideal. 

What's been your favorite memory so far at SSYP? 

My favorite memory was from this past week because it was a really good day. We went into all the classrooms for the reopening of the library and then I went to pick up the kids outside of the school and bring them back. Tmyla ran right out to me and gave me the biggest hug ever. She said, ‘Molly, I missed you’. I told her ‘oh yea, I don't work on Fridays.’ And she replied ‘well, you should work on Fridays.’ All the kids were like ‘you should work on Fridays’. All the kids wanted to hug me. I think that was great because it had been a stressful couple of weeks getting the library together. To have a day where everything went well was great for morale. It was a positive moment to know that I was doing good with the library and doing well on program hours. 

What do you think the future holds for SSYP in ten years? 

Hopefully, there will be more kids and communities that want to come. Maybe we’ll expand and get a different space that's bigger. Especially with 31 Lennox, I think we still need to do a lot of local equity with them. I can see more community partnerships with Rafa’s program, the parent mentors. I hope that continues to grow. I think there's so much that SSYP as a whole is already working towards. I can't imagine in 10 years what this non-profit is going to look like. 

Is there anything else you want to say? Any final thoughts? 

I really love working here. I'm really thankful to work here. I feel like I've already learned so much about the South End of Boston, the community and the different people who work here. I've made connections and it’s already become more valuable than any other experience that I've taken on has been. I think professionally and personally, I've really grown a lot. 

Danilza

Why did you choose to be involved with the parent mentor program? 

It’s because I’m an immigrant. I found that this was a good way to start to immerse myself in the culture and the way things are and to have more personal development and to get to know the community. 

Can you summarize the parent mentor program in one word or phrase?

I see it as a beautiful experience and a good opportunity for growth. So an experience that's the most beautiful, but with growth integrated into it.

How did you find out about the parent mentor program?

I first found out through flyers that were sent home with my daughter and also through the mom of one of my daughter's friends. 

How do you feel about the parent mentor program now compared to when you started? 

At first, I was very nervous and shy because I didn't really know the language. The teachers mostly spoke Spanish and English and the kids as well, except for a few of them. As the days went by, I felt like I was building those relationships with the kids. Little by little, I felt more liberated and more comfortable in the environment. 

What has been your biggest challenge at the parent mentor program?

The biggest challenge has been the language and not being able to know it. With younger kids, I have a daughter, so I can relate to them easier. So just the language barrier has been the biggest challenge.

What are you most proud of during your time at the parent mentor?

I’m most proud of being able to accompany the kids and walk with them and be with them. Sometimes, they are not feeling their best. The ability to be with them and make them feel better so that they can learn is what I’m most proud of.

What's your favorite memory at the parent mentor program?

My favorite memories are having fun and spending time with the kids. Today was the fall festival. They had lots of sections to have fun, and so we just spent time with the kids.

What is something that you wish the parent mentor program did differently? 

Right now, the mentors are only able to be with the kids for two hours. I hope in the future that the mentors can spend more time with the kids and have more opportunities to be with them because the two hours pass by really quickly. 

Is there anything else you want to say in regards to your time at the parent mentor program?

I think it's super important and great that the mentor program also focuses on kids with special abilities. I didn't know that the program also worked with those kids. It brings me great emotion to be able to know that the mentors are also working with those kids that have special needs that need extra attention.