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HAPPY FALL and welcome to the fifth edition of our online newsletter (LAP) The Learning Academy Post

(Long time mentee Albert Feliz and his Mentor Corey Bennett at the U School let out on Thursday, September 19, 2019)

HAPPY FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY FROM US TO YOU Last month, DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. celebrated four years of service in North Philadelphia. DonCARES is a school-based non-profit organization of college students of color who strive to better themselves through community service, education workshops, and who have a desire to give back to their community. Members advocate for youth by pledging to become a mentor and an advocate to a high school student at The U School in North Philadelphia. Our mission is to form more positive mentoring relationships between high school aged youth and their college student of color contemporaries. In addition, we aim to increase representation in youth mentoring while encouraging our fellow college students and their high school mentees to participate in a safe, culturally competent, and uplifting environment. ​

DonCARES' "Say No To Hunger" Campaign Grants $1250.00 To Families in Need In North Philadelphia Since February

One in five Philadelphians struggle with food insecurity. When our youth struggle with lack of food it's hard to learn and feel motivated. To combat this we are give $100 Fresh Grocer Gift Cards to a family inneed at The U School. Since February 2019, DonCARES has granted $1,025.00 worth of Grocery Store gift cards to families in need. We extend our sincerest and best wishes to the Hidervert family at The U School for receiving our September gift card.

Mentee of the Month: Cierra Marrero Cierra Marrero is recognized as the September 2019 DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. Mentee of the Month. Marrero was selected because of her commitment to her education and her perseverance in dealing with life's challenges. Cierra is currently a Senior at The U School and very passionate about her education and has been a member of DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. since February 2019.   DonCARES Executive Director Donovan Forrest met Marrero during the 2018-2019 school year when then new Volunteer Mentor and current Recruitment Specialist Cameron Battle-Bradshaw became Cierra's mentor.    After high school, Cierra plans to attend college. Both Battle-Bradshaw and Forrest and proud of Cierra and her recent academic accomplishments. Congratulations, Cierra!

SENIOR SERIES PANEL: 9/15/19 O n Tuesday, September 17, 2019 DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. Mentors Madison Brown, Randell Williams, Anisa Ara, Kasey Bethea, Aaron Williams, and Donovan Forrest advised Seniors in U School Humanities Teacher Charlie McGeehan's Capstone Class in deciding a topic for their senior service project. The panelists answered the following questions: What “wicked problem” drives your work? Why did you decide to do this work? How does your work seek to address the wicked problem? Do you have any events or opportunities for students to volunteer?   Two panels were held: one at 10:35 AM and another at 12:35. PM. During the first panel, Forrest and Williams shared the floor with three members of Cease Fire Philadelphia. Robert Warner, Program Manager of CeaseFire PA at Temple University shared his work experiences with inquisitive seniors at The U School. Warner shared how he and his co-workers attempt to talk to gunshot victims at Temple University hospital about making better life choices and encouraged students to think critically about solutions to the high rate of gun violence in communities in Philadelphia.   Forrest charged students to think critically about building positive and edifying relationships with members of their community. "The solution is more simple than previously thought. The problem isn't the guns, we can have guns hanging on the walls of this classroom and they won't cause us harm. The problem is the social and emotional immaturity of those who use them to cause others harm. We need to focus on mentoring and engaging with young men and women in our community on a human-level; one where we can enforce community, communication, and discourage destructive conflict." Forrest said.    U School Humanities Teacher Charlie McGeehan also encouraged his students to brainstorm about their proposed topics while charging them to think critically about how they will implement self-care throughout their research processes.

“All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.”  – Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌