September 2024
Read all about what we have been up to in September
Pathway to Dreams : Children’s K-6
Our Pathway K-6 After-School Program is a new branch of our Pathway to Dreams initiative, which launched in the spring. The after-school program takes place at the Hillview Resource Center on Thursdays and has gotten off to a great start. Our Youth Leadership team has been offering a supportive space for youth to engage in a variety of fun and educational activities. The program is designed to provide them with a safe environment after school, focusing on building social skills, teamwork, and community through interactive games and group activities.
The children have also enjoyed participating in icebreakers, team-building exercises, and outdoor games like soccer and kickball. Each session also includes time for snacks and casual interaction, giving them a chance to relax and connect. Our team is committed to creating a space where the youth feel valued, heard, and excited to participate.
With weekly sessions , the program is already making an impact, and the kids are looking forward to the upcoming activities. We’re excited to continue offering this opportunity for the youth at Hillview, and we know the program will keep growing and evolving in the coming months during the school year.
Youth Empowerment through the Arts: SLRO Collaboration with Maine Inside Out and MEIRS
Since late September, SLRO has been collaborating with Maine Inside Out and MEIRS for an impactful play that will be showcased in December. Our group of boys have been rehearsing twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. This space has been giving our youth a platform to express their emotions on how the way gun violence has affected their lives .
The theme of the play centers around gun violence, focusing on what the youth in our community are experiencing. . Youth are picked up from their homes and transported to the Maine Inside Out office, where they begin with a daily check-in before diving into their rehearsals. After working on their silent sculpture scenes, they’re rewarded with snacks and group games, building both teamwork and creativity. Liban Negeye, our Youth Coordinator and Ibrahim Mohamed, our Community Engagement Coordinator are excited about the progress, noting that the play is coming together well, and he can’t wait for the community to see the youth’s powerful performance.
This performance is particularly meaningful for the immigrant parents of our youth, as it provides a non-verbal, accessible way for them to connect with their children’s stories. SLRO staff are working hard to make sure that parents can attend a special workshop night to learn more about the play. The boys excited to share their powerful message with the community in a performance open to everyone. This collaboration is a wonderful example of how the arts can be a tool for empowerment, creating awareness and bringing our community together.
Strengthening Community Connections: SLRO and YWCA Partnership
SLRO is excited to announce that we are partnering with the YWCA during this school year. This collaboration will be starting on November 5th, and will focus on offering a range of services, primarily swimming lessons, but also extends to other community-building activities. For many in our community, swimming may not have been a part of their upbringing, and there has been a limited access to swimming opportunities due to various social or economic factors. As a result, a majority of our community members are unfamiliar with swimming. This has created barriers to learning and participation. Our goal is to offer a supportive and welcoming environment where individuals and families can gain confidence in the water, helping to overcome these challenges and build this important life skills.
Through this partnership, the YWCA will provide swimming classes for children and Single-Gender Swim sessions for mothers and girls. The YWCA’s expertise in water safety will allow us to offer provide valuable skills to community members. Beyond swimming, we are also collaborating on other enrichment opportunities, including spaces for community events, and wellness initiatives. We are committed to working together to create a safe, supportive environment for our community, offering programs that will empower individuals and families. We are excited to see this collaboration unfold and look forward to the impact it will have across our community.
Mother’s Wellness Group Tackles Gun Violence in Recent Workshop
As part of our Adult Integration and Empowerment Program, our Mother’s Wellness Group recently held their biweekly meeting. The main topic of discussion was the ongoing issue of gun violence in our community. The mothers shared their concerns about how it is affecting their families, especially their sense of safety for their children. Together, we began brainstorming ways to address this issue, and we will continue to explore community-based solutions in future meetings.
We also had the group partake in a community assessment survey provided by our partner, MEIRS, to better understand how gun violence is impacting parents. The survey, which had over 60 questions, asked parents about their experiences and concerns. Our Community Health Workers assisted the Somali mothers with interpreting the survey, and we were able to gather responses from all 10 parents present.
To show our appreciation, we gave out gift cards and shared a meal with the mothers before arranging transportation for them to return home.
This conversation around gun violence is far from over, and we will keep the focus on this issue in the coming months. Updates will be shared as we continue working towards solutions.