HAPPY FALL and welcome to the sixth edition of our online newsletter (LAP) The Learning Academy Post
(After PSAT testing at The U School on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 our Executive Director Donovan Forrest and his mentee Sequoi hung out at the student center, grabbed lunch, and shadowed a class at Temple)

Neighborhood Block Clean-Up (10/19/19)

 
O n Saturday, October19, 2019, DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. and several other organizations from Temple University collaborated on a street clean up at The U School. In attendance were DonCARES mentors: Madison, Mariah, Mu, and Don. The other organizations that assisted in the block clean up were The Temple Owlettes, Queens Org, Temple University, The Queen in You, Temple Chapter, Alliance for Minority Participation, Temple Student Government and DND Philly. 
 
DonCARES Founder Donovan Forrest was highly inspired by the block clean-ups S.M.O.O.T.H, Temple Chapter committed themselves to in the North Philadelphia community earlier last year. Last month, DonCARES Executive Director Donovan Forrest began reaching out to organizations to collaborate with on a block clean-up at The U School.  


The U School is at the corner of 7th and Norris, a few blocks away from Temple University and is the primary center of all DonCARES' mentoring efforts. Across the street from the school, new buildings are going up for low-income residents. 
 
 
All in all, about forty college students of color from various organizations showed up to clean the grounds at The U School including the front of the school, basketball court and court-yard, dumpster section of the back of the school, and side-walk and street on Norris Street.  Within an hour, the volunteers collected eleven bags of trash including and not limited to glass, boxes, sticks, spoiled food, and empty bottles.  Temple University Police also provided trash bags and gloves for our volunteers. 
Vision Board Workshop (10/21/19)
O n Wednesday, October 10, 2019, DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc., The National Council of Negro Women, Temple Section, and Psychology Majors of Color hosted a vision board workshop for young women at The U School in North Philadelphia. During the workshop DonCARES members Nayanka Paul and Cameron Battle-Bradshaw talked with high school students about their dreams and aspirations. 
 One student stated that she wanted to become a Dermatologist and described her want to break the stigma against mental health. Bradshaw suggested to DonCARES Executive Director Donovan Forrest that the student who voiced her interests earlier would be a good candidate for a mentor. During the vision board workshop students at The U School and Temple University conversated about their paths and why they chose their specific career interest. 
 
Nayanka who is a successful entrepreneur shared that she thought the event was a great success. In addition, both U School and Temple students enjoyed Pizza from City View and hung their vision boards in the U School main office.
Man- Up Discussion (10/23/19)
 
O n Wednesday, October 23, 2019, the men of DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. and Strong Men Overcoming Obstacles Through Hard Work, Temple University Chapter hosted a "Man-Up" discussion for male-identifying high school students at The U School. Man Up is a specified initiative targeting male high school students at The U School. 

Members of both organizations talked to the students about each member and U School student's definitions of success. Also, the participants talked about creating a business plan and what it took to be successful in business. Nasir Harris, Vice-President of S.M.O.O.T.H Temple had students write on a piece of paper, their career and academic interests, their name, and email addresses. Harris said he would take the papers back to his fellow S.M.O.O.T.H members at Temple University and they would respond to their ideas and connect them to people within their network in Philadelphia. 
Resume Workshop (10/29/19)
O n Tuesday, October 29, 2019, DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. Executive Director Donovan Forrest returned to his Alma Mater Samuel Fels High School to conduct a resume workshop with 12th-grade students in veteran teacher George Panrock's classroom.  
 
A 2013 graduate of Fels, Forrest was excited back at his Alma mater and give back to who he referred to as: "very deserving students." A few weeks ago, Forrest helped over thirty-five students in grades 10, 11, and 12 start their resumes. Also, he walked through a successful interview with a student volunteer, discussed proper interview attire for both male and female students and encouraged students to think outside what they believe is possible.
"Give light and people will find the way."
―  Ella Baker .