See It: The Community being helped

High School Leadership Program

The Institute for Women's Leadership High School Leadership Certificate Program (HSLP) is a women’s leadership development program for underrepresented high school students in Jersey City, New Jersey. The purpose of the program, which was launched in 2005 as an outgrowth of the IWL Leadership Scholars Certificate Program for Rutgers students, is to provide high school young women opportunities to develop leadership skills through a structured after school curriculum which is created by and mentored by college women at Rutgers.
The four goals of the IWL High School Leadership Development program are: (1) to increase the educational and career awareness of young women from underrepresented backgrounds; (2) to develop young women’s leadership abilities through a structured skills development program that brings together high school students with undergraduate and professional role models; (3) to provide participants opportunities to learn about college life, be mentored and taught by college students; and (4) to develop a partnership between the university and an urban high school to increase understanding of pre-college women’s leadership development needs. As a result of the program we expect that the high school students will:
• understand and articulate their personal strengths and challenges;
• gain exposure to college life and increase awareness of the connection between education and career success;
• gain knowledge about mentoring and its benefits through a one-on-one mentoring relationship with Rutgers women students;
• consider college attendance as a serious option for themselves;
• develop a written resume;
• learn and practice communication and public speaking skills;
• build a supportive network to facilitate their success in high school, college and the workplace;
• conduct a school-based social action leadership project to help change the culture of their school; and
• use all the skills learned to plan and implement the program graduation ceremony at Snyder High School in order to share the program experience with other Snyder students and to identify themselves as school leaders.
• use the skills gained in the program to prepare and apply to college upon graduation from Snyder High School

Through modules created by Rutgers undergraduate Institute for Women's Leadership Scholars, the HSLP works to promote self-awareness, diversity, college preparation, and leadership skills in order to prepare visiting high school scholars for life after high school and promote the importance of continuing their education. By providing each scholar with an undergraduate mentor, the HSLP also promotes mentorship and allows for lasting relationships between college students and high school urban girls.

See It: The Community being helped

Volunteerism, Service-Learning Opportunities, and Americorps positions at Home, Inc. Home,Inc. has been active for over thirty years in the areas of media literacy and the promotion of technological and media production skills among Boston’s young people. We are currently recruiting for Fall semester frontline media lab aides to work in several Boston public high schools. This can be part of a service-learning project for which college credit can be arranged. Aides will be involved in teaching production and computer skills to students as well as in mentoring teen leaders. Scheduling of workdays and hours, as well as specific roles for volunteers will be determined through interviews with individual volunteers and Home Inc. staff. Volunteers will work closely with staff and on-site training will be provided to prepare volunteers for service. We are also in need of one Americorps volunteer for the coming school year. Americorps is a national program modeled after the internationally focused Peace Corps. Americorps Vistas are paid a salary of approximately $11,000 a year, a housing stipend and some relocation costs. Vistas also receive a post-service cash or educational scholarship award. Vista positions are full time and preclude all other educational or professional obligations. (See Americorps website for details.) Home Inc also conducts a summer intensive program in video production for teens. The program is run in conjunction with Boston Neighborhood Network through a grant from the Boston Youth Fund. We are currently fully staffed for this year’s program but we are always on the look-out for future staffers. We usually require two college-aged Boston residents to assist youth and staff involved with the BNN Teen TV Summer Program; Pay is $11.37/hour; 30 hours/week for 6-7 weeks from July-August. For more information on volunteering or working with Home, Inc. please contact Barbara Woloch, program manager, at [personal information edited out by DS staff]. Also, please visit our website, www.homeinc.org.