Saving Service Programs

This week the National Mentoring Partnership released a legislative alert regarding a potential bill that would drastically cut funding to government programs and would eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service. See the full story below and learn what you can do to save service programs:

Mentoring Legislative Alert
February 2011
Save Service Day


This past weekend, by a vote of 235-189, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, a continuing resolution that will cut government programs by $100 billion for the rest of this fiscal year. This bill eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and would zero out funding for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. We need your help now to ensure these harmful cuts to mentoring do not become law.

As you may know, Congress is in recess, and the Senate has not yet voted on this bill (and after they vote, the bill will still need to go to the President), so there is time to act. Therefore, Friday has been designated a "Save Service Day."
We are joining forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Voices for National Service and several additional service-related organizations in reaching out to our members. We ask you all to contact your Members of Congress this Friday, February 25, by phone or e-mail — or by scheduling a meeting — to explain the necessity of service programs.

We need your help in contacting your Senators right away and telling them to pass a Continuing Resolution that restores funding to CNCS and the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. You can find contact information at: www.senate.gov.
If you choose to reach out by phone, we encourage you to state the bill number (H.R. 1), the title of the legislation (Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011) and why restoring funding to Mentoring Children of Prisoners and CNCS is important to you.

We understand that this is a difficult time for our economy and a difficult time for funding all programs. We ask that you encourage your Senators to fund quality mentoring programs. We certainly do not want to see tax-payer dollars wasted on bad programs.

If you choose to reach out by e-mail, you can click here to write your Senators: (www.capwiz.com/mentor/issues/alert/?alertid=30007506&type=CO)
Then, on Friday, please call or e-mail your Senators again in honor of Save Service Day. With programs across the country reaching out en masse, we hope to make a major impact.

Thank you very much for your support and efforts. Together, we can save mentoring programs across the country.

What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

The Partnership would like to extend a special thanks to all of the local corporations that participated in the 2011 Partnership For Our Kids Career Fair. One hundred and fifty middle school students crowded the Teacher Administration Center (TAC) cafeteria on Wednesday afternoon to learn about the many career opportunities that Omaha has to offer. Professionals from more than 20 different career fields took time to answer student questions and demonstrate what it takes to succeed in their professions.

“It’s essential for students to start planning for a career at an early age because it allows them to set their life goals and plan accordingly,” says Partnership Bilingual Program Specialist, Alma Orellana. “When students have a plan in place, it keeps them on track and gives them the drive to continue working toward their dreams.”

Because of events like the Partnership Career Fair, students like eighth-grade Marrs student, Sabir, already have their future career paths planned. Sabir says that attending the career fair has helped him to discover the necessary requirements it will take for him to reach his dream of becoming a lawyer.

Thanks to a new $25,000 grant from Mutual of Omaha, The Partnership For Our Kids plans to spark inspiration among even more students with career preparation workshops and curriculum. Partnership Development Director, Nicole Everingham is hopeful that the career curriculum will continue to encourage more students to dream big. “We want student to recognize that they can dream of becoming anything they want to be and receive the appropriate education to support their career dreams.”

*To learn more about career exploration with The Partnership For Our Kids, visit CAREER EXPLORATION .

2011 Partnership Career Fair Corporations
Briley Homes
Clarkson College
Coventry Health Care
Creighton Athletics
Douglas County Corrections
First Data
First National Bank
Metropolitan Community College: Culinary Arts
Omaha County Attorney, Mike Jensen
Omaha Public Schools:
Fullerton Elementary School
Walnut Hill Elementary School
Methodist Hospital
Morgan Pet Clinic
Nebraska State Troopers
Omaha Fire Department
Omaha Police Department
OPPD
Omaha School of Massage
Omaha Storm Chasers
Qwest Communications
Radio Lobo
SAC Federal Credit Union
University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni and Recruitment
West Corporation

Committed To My Students

For Miller Park sixth-grade teacher, Ericka Boston, teaching is not simply her job, it’s who she is. With the countless hours spent creating new study aids and classroom projects, her work day rarely ends when the bell rings, and according to Boston, she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I love teaching and I love children,” she says. Boston adds that her passion for education has been something she has had for as long as she can remember. “Growing up, I loved playing school and I always had to be the teacher,” she recalls. In addition to playing school with her friends, Boston says that her experience as a student also contributed to her desire to teach. “I was a slow learner and I believe it has made me the effective, patient educator I am today,” she says.

Her classroom is dotted with signs of her pay-it-forward character, from the many gifts and cards made by former students, which decorate her desk, to the wall of “Praise Buckets”, which Boston designed to encourage her students to express random kindnesses and appreciation for their fellow classmates.

One thing that Boston says has been helpful in motivating her students in the classroom is the Partnership’s goal setting program. “It serves as a great way to build the bridge between school and home, expressing the importance of goal setting and communication between student, teacher and family,” explains Boston. She also says that the program serves as another layer of positive reinforcement for the students. “They realize that there are people out there besides family and school staff that genuinely
care for them.”

Not only is the program a wonderful means of inspiration for the students, but Boston says that it is also a great motivator for the teachers as well. Classrooms that have 80% of students earning their reading and math goals are awarded $50 checks from the program. For many teachers like Boston, who often pay for classroom extras out of their own pocket, this $50 check can be extremely beneficial. Of course, because the check is earned by the classroom as a whole, Boston ensures that her entire classroom votes on how the money should be spent. “I’ve had classes decide to donate these funds to charities, buy classroom supplies and even donate it as scholarship money to a very committed college student who served as our teaching assistant!”

Boston’s belief in the Partnership’s goal setting program and her love of teaching is obvious, but her commitment to education goes beyond her classroom. In addition to the many hours she dedicates to her students, the single mother of two is also working to earn a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, while simultaneously studying to achieve certification through the National Board For Professional Teaching Standards. Although her hectic load may seem nearly impossible for most, Boston makes it look effortless with her positive personality and infectious smile that spread to her students, co-workers and everyone she comes in contact with.

*To see the complete list of schools served by The Partnership For Our Kids programs, visit STUDENTS.

Hungry To Help?

Are you hungry to help The Partnership For Our Kids? Stop by Julio's West,2820 South 123rd Court on February 8th, between 5-10p.m. and Julio's will donate 10 percent of your purchase back to the Partnership! Click here to check out Julio's extensive menu of tasty south-of-the-border treats.