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.

Congratulations Kutak Rock, Advocate of the Year!

The Partnership For Our Kids is so proud to congratulate Kutak Rock, LLP, winner of the 2011 Midlands Mentoring Partnership Advocate of the Year award!

For nearly two decades, Kutak Rock has generously supported The Partnership For Our Kids not only through pledges and sponsorships, but through the time and talents of their staff. Kutak Rock attorney, David Jacobson, Esq. has served on the Partnership’s board of directors since 1993, helping to steer the organization through almost twenty years of growth, development and change.

For the past three years , five additional Kutak Rock attorneys have dedicated themselves as volunteer mentors to a group of Partnership students. These devoted individuals have gone above and beyond the typical group mentor responsibilities, supporting their students and watching them grow from rambunctious sixth-graders to maturing young men and women. The Kutak Rock mentor team has worked extremely hard to open their students’ eyes to new opportunities, from career exploration to better understanding the laws of the justice system.

Kutak Rock was presented with the Advocate Award on Wednesday at the Midlands Mentoring Partnership Annual Mentor of the Year Recognition Luncheon, held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 3321 S. 72nd St. Partnership volunteer mentor, Kasey Cappellano accepted the award on behalf of the firm and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to share in the honor.

In addition to the presentation of the Advocate of the Year Award, the MMP Mentor of the Year award was presented to TeamMates mentor, Elaine Bankey. Bankey has been mentoring for more than 20 years and currently mentors ten students. When presented with the award, Bankey gratefully accepted and assured the crowd that anyone can become a mentor. “If you can breath and walk, you can love a kid, and you will be well loved in return.”

*To find out how your corporation can become a supporter of The Partnership For Our Kids, visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org or call 402-930-3000.

Beyond Law and Order

Mentoring program alum and scholarship recipient, Shantel Thompson, has always had an interest in the law, but “studying criminal minds and discovering why they act the way they do,” is what she says is the real reason she decided to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Thompson recently landed an extremely competitive internship with the Federal Probation Office. “They only hire two new interns per semester,” Thompson says. She feels that the international criminal law program she participated in really helped to give her an edge over her competition. Thompson believes that her persistence was also a key factor.

As part of her internship, Thompson is mentored by an on-duty probation officer and receives a combination of field and office training. “We follow an offender from the time they commit the offense through sentencing, treatment and probation,” she says. So far, Thompson has really enjoyed seeing the process in action and feels right at home with her co-workers. “They are easy to talk to,” she says. “From the chief probation officer to the janitor, everyone really makes me feel like I am part of the team.”

Thompson plans to go on to obtain a Master’s degree in Psychology as well as a degree in law. Thompson advises younger students to go after what they love and work hard to get there. “You don’t want to go to a job everyday that you don’t like,” Thompson says. “Do what you want to do, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.”

Get Out And About With The Partnership!

If cabin fever has got you down, The Partnership For Our Kids has just the cure!

The Partnership For Our Kids Charity Bowl, Saturday, January 15th, 1-3p.m.
Bowl those winter blues away and support a good cause at the same time! On Saturday, January 15th from 1-3 p.m., the Partnership will host a charity bowling event at Maplewood Lanes 3030 N. 101st St.

Enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition, raffle give-aways and player awards. Participants can pre-register as individuals or as teams of up to six for $20 per player . The cost covers two hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza and soda.

To register, contact Latavia Adams at 557-6379 or email ladams@thepartnershipforourkids.org
* Lanes are limited so be sure to call and reserve your team’s spot right away!

The Partnership For Our Kids Restaurant Night At Julio’s West, Tuesday, February 8th, 5-10 p.m.


Eat tacos for the Partnership!?

On Tueday, February 8th from 5-10 p.m., The Partnership For Our Kids will host a restaurant night at Julio’s Tex Mex Grill, 2820 S 123rd Ct. Julio’s will donate 10 percent of the profits made that evening directly to The Partnership For Our Kids, so be sure to bring your appetite!

Julio’s is Omaha’s premier Tex Mex restaurant, serving more mouth-watering south of the border combinations than you can handle! For the gringos, Julio’s also serves a wide variety of burgers, sandwiches and soups.

For more information on The Partnership For Our Kids Restaurant Night, contact Nick or Yolanda at 930-3000 or email nsasada@thepartnershipforourkids.org and ywilliams@thepartnershipforourkids.org

President Obama Recognizes The Power of Mentoring

Earlier this week, President Obama issued a proclamation deeming January as National Mentoring Month. This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Mentoring Month and according to Obama, the support and encouragement mentors provide for today’s youth is in demand now more than ever.

“Across our nation, mentors steer our youth through challenging times and support their journey into adulthood. During National Mentoring Month, we honor these important individuals who unlock the potential and nurture the talent of our country, and we encourage more Americans to reach out and mentor young people in community,” he stated.

The theme of the 2011 Mentor Month Campaign is “Help Them Get There. Become a Mentor.” The campaign’s primary focus is viewing mentoring as a strategy for improving academic achievement. As part of the campaign a National Mentoring Summit will be held on January 25th at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The Summit’s purpose is to shine a light on how mentoring helps keep kids in school and out of trouble.

Locally, the Midlands Mentoring Partnership has many events and seminars planned for National Mentoring Month. Visit MMPOMAHA for more details.
*For more information about becoming a mentor with The Partnership For Our Kids, visit:VOLUNTEER.