Waiting for Superman and School Supply Drive

Come and see a free showing of the documentary Waiting for Superman, which brings awareness to the education system in the United States. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN0nf6Hqk0

We will also be holding a school supply drive. In support of the kids we work with at Hoops, we ask if you can please donate pencils, folders, notebooks, or erasers. Many of these students do not have these simple classroom tools. 

The Dorothy Day Room is located in room 400 of the John T. Richardson Library. We will also have Hoops volunteers waiting in front of the Library to point you in the right direction.


Tonight, April 7 at 6:30 PM!


We look forward to seeing you there!

Advise the Advisor

Hello everyone!

This is Jackie from Brussels! I just learned about this awesome program the White House is doing called Advise the Advisor.  Melody Barnes, Director of Domestic Policy Council is taking feedback from American teachers, students, and parents on ways to improve the American education system.  Take a minute and send in your thoughts- they will be accepted until 5PM EST this Friday, March 11.  Next week there will be a summary posted on the blog. 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/07/advise-advisor-melody-barnes-and-education

Sam and I realize we have not updated the blog in quite some time. However, I can assure you this is for good reason.  Sam and the Hoops crew have been working on a "Good Man" campaign.  Sam has been collecting advice from successful men in the community and creating a dialogue with the boys about becoming men and what that means.  We expect to have some updates in the near future! Hold tight, lots of changes going on at Kelly Y, but all good! 

Missing Kelly Hall and the crew with love and hope,

Jackie

Giving Thanks

We have finished our finals (well some of us, the lucky ones!) and are ready for a relaxing holiday.  We have six weeks until winter quarter begins and we will start service again.  Last Wednesday was our last day for the quarter, and my (Jackie) last day for the year.  I will be leaving for Belgium in early January to study international relations abroad.  I will be interning at the EU, and hope to work in something related to education or immigration.  Although it was extremely hard to say my goodbyes, we all know this is not a perminant goodbye. Although physically I will not be at the Y, I will be there in spirit! I will continue to keep in touch with the students, staff, and the crew via postcards, email, and of course the blog!

Before we both left for break, we reflected on the quarter.  We feel that although many changes are on the horizon, we are both very thankful for many things in our life, especially those regarding Hoops.  We asked students and staff to share what they are thankful for, in the spirit of the season.

"My family and food."
"Life."
"My baby brother."
"My family."
"Family, school, and games."
"My family, friends, school, and teachers."
“I am thankful that I have never had more to be thankful about.”
"Everybody- all the volunteers, my kids, my blessings.  I am basically thankful for life."
"My twin sister."
"My family, clothes, food, and the YMCA."
"The world."
"The clothes on my back, my family and friends."
"My family. And that we have enough money to pay rent."
“I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given, and the support along the way to pursue them.”
"My mama."
"My family sitting at the table."
"My mom."
"The people who help me with my homework."
"My mom, dad, brother, and grandma."
"Parents and siblings."
"Everything."

Last time we gathered individual's thoughts, we associated names and ages with what was said.  This time however, we decided not to because we feel that although this community is made up of many individuals, together they create a collective voice.  Our entire group is thankful for the wonderful people we have come to know and love at the YMCA.  We wish you all a relaxing holiday.  And as you fill your tummies with all the wonderful home cooked meals, remember what you have, what you have lost, and what it is you want to obtain. 

With love and hope,

Sam & Jackie

Our heart and soul at Kelly Y

His name is Oladimeji Oliha and he is the son of a Nigerian Edo State chief.  To everyone who enters the Kelly Hall YMCA, he is Jeffrey the security guard.  To us, he is the heart and soul of this small community, and an untapped resource.  We began getting to know Jeffery the fall of 2009, just a few short months after he came to America.  Ironically, his American dream began on the 4th of July. 

When we first met Jeffrey, our everyday interaction was a, "Hello, how are you?" and other simple pleasantries.  But as time has gone by, we have begun to establish a genuine friendship with the inspirational Nigerian man.  It all started last summer when one day Ali and I were walking down Chicago Avenue and heard a man yell, "Jackie! Ali! Wait!"  When we turned around, it was Jeffrey, standing on the corner halted by the crosswalk.  He was so excited to see our familiar faces and asked us many questions about our summer, school, and the YMCA.  After this run in, we began to think of Jeffrey in a new way.  He became an international man of mystery to our group, and we wanted to get to know him on a more personal level. Our goal was to reciprocate the level of interest he showed in us as individuals. 

We had one pivotal conversation that opened the door to our new friendship and new everyday interactions.  One day we worked up the courage to bluntly ask him, “What is your name?”  We all knew his American name was Jeffrey, but his given name was something else.  Instead of Jeffrey saying, “What do you mean, it’s Jeffrey.”  He simply smiled and said, “Ola.”  Which we later found out was short for Oladmeji.  We stopped with this simple question for that day, and saved our many others for the future.  Because of this day, each member of our crew greets him with at least a handshake, if not a hug and many of us refer to him as Ola out of respect for his culture. 

We had been planning to interview Ola for some time yet we had not built up the courage to do so this year. Recently when returning from one of our weekly VIA meetings I entered the train at around nine o’clock to head home, and saw our friend riding the train. I was greeted with a big smile and hug as I entered the car and immediately we began discussing what he was doing. He explained that he was just heading home from his work day. This was utterly shocking as in order to take public transit from the Kelly Y to his house near Loyola University it would take one and half hours on a good day. We began discussing our love of the community that is in place at the Y and how important it is for the children to be there. You could tell this man had a wealth of knowledge and strong beliefs yet we only had two train stops to speak. I left him that evening with a hug and a, “We will have to talk about this more soon.” I left that night feeling utterly inspired and had a desire to spread this man’s beliefs and life story.

That next day of service, we made a conscious effort to speak to Ola.  What we learned about this man was to this day incredible.  Ola was born in Edo State, Nigeria as one of seven children.  His father is the village chief and a man of power.  Ola came to the United States in hope of finding new opportunity and a better life for his children.  He came alone, leaving his children with his 56 year old mother.  He has 15 year old twin daughters, Taye and Kenhinde.  His youngest child is his 9 year old son, named Kayode.  Ola expressed that jobs were hard to find in Nigeria, even as a man with an education.  Ola graduated from University of Benin City, located in Edo State. 
This struggle to find work with an education is where Ola found his belief in the importance of education.  Ola expressed that although it was difficult to leave his children, he knew it was the only thing left to do in order to guarantee them a better future.  He explained to us, “Education is everything.”   He sees America as a promise land, and an opportunity.  Ola explained to us that his children, will never get the same kind of education in Nigeria as they could here.  His clear end goal, is for his children to one day be students in the US.  However, he doesn’t want them to come to the US before they learn their African roots. He wants them to want to learn, and to understand how fortunate they are for a great education.  Ola feels that his children will learn this in Nigeria, as they may not in the US.  He says this because he feels that too many children take advantage of these opportunities.  He said to us, “These children have no reason not to succeed or finish school.  They are handed everything, they need someone to guide them however.”  By this he means that these students should be able to accomplish anything, yet it takes a parent or role model to exemplify that wanting it is necessary in order to achieve it. 

Ola spoke a lot about the African mentality and working with our own hands.  When he spoke of this his face lit up, it brought tears to our eyes as we watched him reminisce and miss his children and family back home.  He expressed that everything can be done if you are determined, and that everything can be made with the hard work of our own hands.  Ola explained to us that we can do anything as long as we stay passionate and keep our eyes forward.  Our goal is to do exactly this, and continue this beautiful, budding friendship.  He is truly an inspiration to the both of us, and we hope that he inspires the rest of you.  Our question for this week is what is the African mentality to you? And, can you build it and make it your own with your own two hands?

Please think about what we wrote, and pass this story beyond the blog.  We want this story to touch the hearts of many, as we believe it can inspire and create change in anyone.   

With love and hope,

Sam & Jackie

New Crew Member!

Meet Lizzie!  Lizzie is a sophomore at DePaul studying Education.  It is obvious Lizzie wants to be a teacher because she is amazing in the homework room! Whenever a student is having trouble with their homework and we can't explain it well we all say, "Go ask Lizzie." 

"Hello! My name is Lizzie Andriese and I am a sophomore at DePaul University as an Elementary Education Major and Community Service and Spanish Minor.  I grew up in Traverse City, MI where I have two younger siblings Allie and Teddy.  I started volunteer work when I was a freshman in high school when I traveled to Honduras to provide medical services for the rural and impoverished areas.  I traveled along side doctors and nurses to assist them in giving the Honduran children vitamin A and de-worming medications.  After that experience I always felt passionate about service work, especially once I started after and in school homework help my junior year of high school.  Since then I received the DePaul Community Service Scholarship where I not only minor in Community Service but complete 30 hours every 10 weeks.  I just began working with DePaul Hoops and the students at Kelly Y about a month ago.  Previously I worked with Chicago HOPES tutoring youth in homeless shelters, Inspiration Café where I worked in a computer lab helping homeless adults with job applications or house hunting, and in the North Lawndale Community at YMEN (Young Men’s Education Network) where I tutored middle school through high school boys after school hours.  I really enjoy working with the students at Kelly Y and love being apart of their lives as a consistent face in their academic progression.  I look forward to working with the kids twice a week, knowing they are always able to brighten my day.  I look forward to continuing working with Hoops and Kelly Y, hoping for the best for all the students."

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to the Y.M.C.A!

Over the last year and a half we have seen definite improvements in behavior and basic manners.  However, these students still have a LONG way to go.  Unfortunately, most of students don't understand that a simple "please" and "thank you" can go a long way.  Every once in a blue moon, one of us will hear a student say "thanks" and when we do, we are floored.  There seems to be some form of disconnect between the home, the schools, and the students.  At home, the kids are given the basic needs, so often times it may not seem like there is a lot to be thankful for. In all honesty, in a neighborhood where there is so much going on beyond the four walls of the home, it becomes almost impossible for these basic lessons to be taught.  While moms, dads, grandparents, or legal guardians are working multiple jobs, raising multiple children, the attention for this is absent.  These lessons often take a backseat to putting food on the table. 

We bring attention to this matter not to blame the caregivers of our students, as we have never had to raise children ourselves. We realize raising children is extremely difficult in any household, especially when money and time is tight.  We simply are trying to bring awareness to the fact that respect and gratuity is essential for the students to get where we envision them.  Sam and I both remember our dear moms Margo and Cathy harping on us to say these please and thanks yous.  For Sam, it was firmly pushed that eye contact was essential in communicating with peers and adults.  In my family, writing thank you letters was simply expected, at minimum.  I hated doing them after every birthday and holiday, but understood it was imperative in building relationships beyond the gifts.

It is difficult teaching basic manners to students who are beyond the age when most kids learn these lessons.  This is not to say that they have zero understanding of this idea, but from what we see these forms of respect are not a part of their everyday habitual actions.  There are certainly some students among the group, who have these basics down, but without question every student at the Kelly Hall YMCA has room for improvement.  We too, have room for improvement.  At least when these students do say these simple words they mean them.  Often times in our busy hectic lives we say please and thank you losing sight of the true meaning behind the words. 

We intend to strongly promote these fundamental forms of respect, but also teach the meaning and the importance of them.  As we go about our own days we will try to say them with meaning to the students, and continuously make them apparent to the students and staff.  We have seen the respect they have given us over the years, and we strongly feel that if we model this, they will latch onto it, and make it their own.  We hope that one day these students will understand that for each kind action, there should be a positive reaction.  For example, if someone holds the door for you entering the YMCA, or anywhere for that matter, you do not just walk through, but you look them in the eyes and say thank you. 

We have talked about how strong the community is within the YMCA, but we feel that if we strengthen this aspect of respect, we will see the community strengthen in new ways.  As Sam, myself, and our crew go about our days showing these fundamental signs of respect, we ask all of you, are you practicing these simple actions? And if so, are you practicing them with the understanding of their true meaning? So tomorrow in your day do one of these actions (or all if you’re feeling up to it) hold a door, when you speak to someone look them in the eye, and say thank you even to the Starbucks barista who at 7 AM screwed up your drink. 

With love and hope,

Sam & Jackie

Put it in the books!

Hey everyone!

Last week's post was about the broader meaning of education and what it means to the children and us.  This week Jackie and I would like to break it down into specifically what we are doing to bring education out of the classroom and into real life. 

I work specifically with a fourth grade student named Trevon.  Trevon is an extremely smart, quick witted and overall responsible, nice kid.  Trevon, whom I refer to as typically Trey, shared his progress report with me last week.  According to his teachers, he has been doing exceptional in all of his classes which does not surprise me as he takes his homework very seriously.  The only suggestion his English teacher made is that he should begin to challenge himself by reading more difficult books. 

I took it upon myself to challenge him with new books that were personal favorites when I was his age.  Another one of our volunteers, Lizzie (who we will introduce next week) took a field trip with me to Barnes and Noble following our communications class.  We both felt that we needed to cover all the bases.  We chose one book about basketball because Trey loves basketball and we knew this would spark his interest. The other book we selected was Holes, which was a personal favorite of both of ours.  Lizzie and I both love the message of hope and opportunity in the Sachar chapter book. 

When we presented the books to Trey the next week, he was extremely excited.  Before he could even greet me with the typical, "What up Sam", he HAD to ask me, "Did you bring the books?" When I gave him "the nod" Trey's big bright smile lit up the room.  I explained both of the books, particularly concentrating on Holes; the basketball book didn't take much explaining.  Lizzie and I explained that although this book may be challenging, it's a great and fun read.  He quickly responded with, "Oh, I'll be reading that."  After I spoke with him alone, Trey went to thank Lizzie in private.  When Lizzie asked which book he was going to read first, he replied, "I think Holes." 

With love and hope,


Sam & Jackie