N E W S L E T T E R August 2021
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Director's Message
Dear Friends of DSABC,
I hope you are enjoying a safe and relaxing summer. As we near the start of the new school year, DSABC will wait for guidance from district administrators and plan our mentoring program accordingly. We developed a virtual mentoring program last year enabling 42% of mentor matches to successfully transition to Google Meets. Despite the challenges of last year, there were countless displays of positivity and resiliency. Our volunteers and school staff rose to the occasion - demonstrating patience and perseverance to help ensure the continuation of mentoring and supporting Danbury students. Many mentors and students were thrilled to reconnect, continue to foster their relationships, enjoy conversation and discover creative ways to engage virtually. One young student was so happy to see his mentor, “he woke up in such a good mood that he made his mom breakfast."
This past year has also been one of reflection for me personally and while working for DSABC for the past ten years has been tremendously rewarding, I have announced my resignation as Executive Director. It has been an honor and privilege to work for this organization and I am so grateful for the opportunity to engage with such a dedicated group of volunteers. I appreciate and value the relationships with Danbury Public Schools staff, business partners and community members that I have been fortunate to build. Observing the connections between mentors and students develop and flourish over the years has been a heartwarming experience and I will never forget the impact that you have all collectively made in the lives of the students and the community we serve.
On behalf of the DSABC Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Susan Queenan has been hired as the new Executive Director. Susan brings experience as Executive Director of the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce along with serving on the Brookfield Board of Education and the Brookfield Education Foundation. She has also worked for the Bethel VNA and had a corporate career in marketing. Most recently she has worked in the Brookfield public school system. She looks forward to continuing and growing DSABC programs, bringing a wide array of talents, skills, and experience to the position and a fresh perspective for the organization.
Thank you all for your kindness and support these past ten years. I genuinely hope our paths cross again in the future.
Kind regards,
Ellen
Ellen Meyst
DSABC Executive Director
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Congratulations 2021 DSABC Scholarship Recipients |
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"Having a mentor through my high school years has benefited me emotionally and mentally. Having someone to listen and give advice has helped me through tough situations."
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Rosemary and have been so impressed by her. She is a sweet, kind, and thoughtful young lady with a great head on her shoulders. The thing that always impressed me the most about Rosemary is that she never gets upset and always stays positive even under the most trying circumstances. Rosemary's goal is to become a pediatric oncology nurse to work in the same children's hospital where she received treatment. I have no doubt that Rosemary will successfully accomplish her goals and become an outstanding healthcare professional."
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Henry Abbott Technical School graduate, Rosemary Siguencia with mentor Kathi Barese |
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"Having her as a mentor really helped me get my grades up and she was so nice to me. We got to a point where we became friends and talked a lot about ways to help me with everything. She really took care of me like a mother because she always motivated me and gave me advice."
"I have been Giovanna's mentor for the last four years. We had spent a great time together; I will never forget that. Giovanna is one of the sweetest girls that I have met in my life. Being Giovanna's mentor was a valuable experience for me. I'm already missing meet her every single week."
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Henry Abbott Technical School graduate, Giovanna Soares Moreira with mentor Aline Silva |
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"Ken is honestly one of the most genuine people I know. The stories he told me stick with me three years later. He always knows what to say."
"My time with Jacob was short, and this “lost” last year impacted us all. But even so, I learned a lot mentoring Jacob. I learned what it is for a young person to grow up juggling so many, many responsibilities, challenges, goals, and hopes.
Jacob has faith in himself that eventually he will get where he wants to be. It is like a “secret sauce” that a chef knows for himself. He keeps working on it; continuing to improve it, always believing it can be better."
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Henry Abbott Technical School graduate, Jacob Rushka with mentor Ken Previtali
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Congratulations
to our Mentors on their
Years of Service
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10 Years
Maria Altieri
Ken Decker
Karen Henderson
Kerry O'Mahoney
Farley Santos
Jeffrey Troccolo
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15 Years
Dayo Hanidu
Rob Marcus
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5 Years
John Bach
Matthew DeNove
James Hopper
Rina Patel
Ashley Ram
Oscar Rodriguez
Elli Scarfi
Madhu Sinha
Tara Stevenson
KJ Wien
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DSABC Mentor Celebrates 30 Years of Service |
By Katherine Colucci
Kathi Barese has been mentoring Danbury Public School students for 30 years. When she first learned about the Danbury Student and Business Connection (DSABC) mentor program from a fellow coworker and mentor, she knew she wanted to participate.
Barese shared that she is the kind of person who looks to help others, especially younger people. “Whatever experience you can share with somebody, will help them to think differently or open their mind a little,” said Barese.
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Barese’s passion and commitment to helping others have shaped her into a role model for students as a mentor and substitute teacher at Henry Abbott Technical High School. Past mentees have described her as kind, helpful, patient, encouraging and easy to talk to.
“Kathi embodies the DSABC mentoring program. Her commitment to volunteerism, dedication to the students and unwavering support of our organization is truly remarkable. For 30 years, she has generously given her time and offered guidance to her mentees who were fortunate to know her," said Ellen Meyst, Executive Director of DSABC.
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During her 30 years in the program, Barese has mentored eight students, ranging from elementary to high school grade levels. She began her journey at Shelter Rock Elementary School where she mentored three students and was eventually matched with students at Broadview Middle School. Most recently, Barese has been mentoring at the high school level, helping young girls navigate the complex years of adolescent development.
“As somebody who likes to empower women, I liked the idea of working with high school girls,” said Barese.
During sessions, Barese spends time doing what mentees want, whether that be just sitting and talking, sharing experiences, or playing a game. She recalls one session in particular in which she noticed just how happy her mentee was to see her and play basketball with him when she arrived. “I spent eight hours at work, but the forty minutes I spent with this kid was the best part of my day,” Barese said.
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Establishing connections with mentees can be challenging at times. “You always wonder if you are making a difference, but just being there to listen makes all the difference,” said Barese. In developing the one-on-one relationship that mentorship provides, Barese says she has learned a lot from her mentees. “They teach you how to be more thoughtful about yourself.”
Barese’s favorite aspect of mentoring is making a connection with somebody and that idea of sharing your lives in some way. She has made long-term connections and friendships with a few of her mentees who have graduated. She communicates with them regularly, continuing to listen and provide advice, and is even a godmother to one of her mentee’s children.
For those who are interested in mentoring, Barese says, “Everyone has something to offer. If you make the time, you will find that time to be so rewarding.”
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Thank You to our Donors
Stephanie Ansel
Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
Elizabeth Booth-Barton
Branson Ultrasonics
Eversource Energy Foundation
Fairfield County Community Foundation
Barclay Griffiths
The Albert Wadsworth & Helen Clark Meserve Memorial Fund
Kerry O'Mahony
People's United Community Foundation
Savings Bank of Danbury
Barbara Stauder
Town Fair Tire Foundation
Walmart Community Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
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Mentor Spotlight
From ‘high risk’ to highly successful:
DSABC student grateful for mentor’s two decades of commitment and support
By Robin Provey
It’s been more than ten years that Jonathan Calderon graduated from Danbury High School. Today he’s got a great job, works out every day and looks forward to a bright future in the construction business.
But things weren’t always easy for Calderon, now 29. His family moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic when he was five years old, just about the time his parents decided to divorce. This meant moving from New Haven to Danbury and frequently changing schools. By the third grade, Calderon was labelled a “high risk” student: he was in danger of failing school.
That all changed when he met Judy Coco, a longtime mentor with Danbury Schools and Business Connection (DSABC). For the next eleven years – from third grade to high school graduation, Coco made a commitment to meet with Calderon once a week at school and offer support and guidance. Calderon says that her constant presence made all the difference.
“I remember not knowing why I had a mentor,” Calderon said recently from his Danbury home. “All I knew was I was missing recess and lunch. I was rebelling a little.”
But after teaching Coco how to throw hoops and play boards games, Calderon softened his stance and accepted the stability and continuity that he had been missing. Despite her busy life with her own children and a corporate job that required frequent travel, Coco made mentoring Calderon one of her top priorities. Calderon grew to understand that he could count on her.
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“She was like a second mom to me, and she helped change my life. Who knows where I would be,” said Calderon, crediting DSABC as being a vital component to his personal and professional growth. “The program has a sense of actual, genuine caring of another human being. Judy was there not because she had to be there, but to try to guide me. It meant a lot to me, even when I wasn’t aware.”
Calderon, who hopes to someday mentor a student and give back what was given him, said he appreciates the time that Coco put into making him a better person. He said it’s a gift for someone to be able to reach a child enough to change their perspective and circumstances.
“You have to know that kids will be kids,” Calderon said. “You have to want to help with development. It has to be in you. You have to know how you were at that age. Other than that, I look at kids as human beings. You just talk to them. Judy has a lot of patience and had a lot of patience with me. God bless her.”
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Coco joined DSABC because she wanted to contribute to benefit someone in the community and said that seeing a positive change in Calderon wasn’t something she had to wait for too long.
“I showed up one day when he was in fourth grade, and he didn’t look good,” she remembered. “He was burning with fever, so I took him to the nurse’s office. He told her ‘Mrs. Coco told me I couldn’t miss any school.’ So, even though he woke up sick, he was determined to go to school. He still has that drive and determination.”
A real turning point, however, was during Calderon’s sophomore year in high school. Calderon, who had made the school wrestling team, turned his efforts to things that matter most and with Coco’s help left the high school drama behind, choosing to focus on mapping out his future.
“We started talking about life, about morals and family things. I got more personal about stuff I went through when I was younger. I looked at Judy as not just a mentor, but as a friend and someone I could trust,” Calderon said.
Coco also stepped in as a liaison between the schools and Calderon’s mother due to a language barrier, which put Calderon at ease and made it easier for teachers to follow up on his progress.
Despite the fact that Calderon has long since finished with school and is a “graduate” of DSABC, he and Coco have made an effort to stay in touch and recently had dinner together.
“It amazed me his confidence and determination,” Coco said. “He’s got goals and plans. He’s much more talkative and smiles a lot more. He’s into fitness and he’s still a gentleman.
“The most rewarding part of this program for me has been seeing Jonathan and who he is today. Just to see how he has grown. He went from having no goals and no determination to being someone who can stand on his own. He is like one of my sons, and I feel so good about the person he has become.”
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Board News
DSABC welcomed the following new Board Members this year:
Maria Bahia - Savings Bank of Danbury
Rachelle Brice - Linde
Taylor O’Brien - Office of The Mayor, City of Danbury
Andrew Tomascak - Boehringer Ingelheim
Thank you to our departing Board Members.
We are grateful to you for dedicating your time and talents to DSABC.
Judy Coco - 4 years
Dilenia Gonzalez - 1 year
Farley Santos - 7 years
Carl Zinn - 5 years
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DSABC Grant Program
DSABC helps fund projects to support Danbury students
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses as well as reduced program expenditures this year, DSABC introduced a grant program for innovative projects that will benefit Danbury Public School students. We invited Danbury Public School staff to submit proposals for projects that provide opportunities for Danbury students while engaging the community and fostering our mission. The submissions were impressive and DSABC appreciates the DPS staff members who identified creative ways to support students.
DSABC was delighted to award grants to help fund the following projects:
The Progressive Alliance submitted by David Levine at Danbury High School
The goal of the Progressive Alliance is to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and forward-thinking community both on campus and in the City of Danbury. This program will promote cultural, academic, social, and political growth to raise awareness of issues and empower student voices.
Life Skills, Inclusion and Kindness Kitchen with Laundry submitted by Christine Miller and Allison Donofrio at Broadview Middle School
This project provides life and social skills training to students with special needs. Through this learning process, students are giving back not only to their school community by supporting the Friday Food Program, the
Broadview Boutique and Unified Sports but also the Danbury community through service projects for the pet shelter and soup kitchen.
Career Connected Learning in Manufacturing submitted by Justin Morgan at Danbury High School
This program provides technical training and ways for students to explore careers and skills. Students can design projects using industry level software and see their designs come to life. Through this career connected opportunity, there is potential to engage many STEM related businesses in the Danbury area.
Revitalization of King Street Campus Garden submitted by Lorena Tesbir at King Street Primary School
The garden provides a hands-on learning opportunity for students to apply what they are taught in the classroom as well as a calm, outdoor environment for students to experience a sense of comfort. It also engages community members who help tend to the garden and donate vegetables to the soup kitchen.
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Calendar Watch
August
30 - First Day of School
September
6 - Labor Day - Schools Closed
7 - Rosh Hashanah-Schools Closed
16 - Yom Kippur - Schools Closed
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We want to hear from YOU!
We are looking for mentors to include in our Mentor Spotlight series - please let us know if you would be interested in sharing your story! In order to make our newsletter as relevant and interesting as possible, we need YOUR input for future publications.
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Our mission is to build the character and confidence of Danbury Students to achieve personal and academic success through business and community partnership.
DSABC is a 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization. Please consider supporting our mentoring and scholarship programs .
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