COMMUNITY LEARNING INITIATIVE AT LHCC
In 2008, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, with Boston Centers for Youth Families (BCYF) as the lead agency, formed the Community Learning Initiative (CLI), a multi-departmental effort between BCYF, Boston Public Schools, and the Boston Public Library to support youth in reaching their full potential. In Fall 2009, Mayor
Menino announced that the Leahy-Holloran Community Center, Richard J. Murphy Elementary and the Adams Street Branch of the Boston Public Library as a Greater Neponset CLI sites.
CLI seeks to address key factors for healthy development in youth aligning City departments and community organizations to coordinate services and programming. Our goal is to provide a holistic approach to supporting youth and engaging families, therefore ensuring that all youth have access to enriching opportu-
nities that nurture their development. CLI focuses on four areas of programming to support of child development: Arts, Community & Civic Engagement and Leadership, Education, and Sports/
Fitness/Recreation/Health (ACES). The idea is that out-of-school-time programs will supplement school-day learning through enriching and engaging activities.
CLI seeks to develop full-service neighborhoods in Boston by creating collaborative coalitions with schools, community centers, and libraries serving as the anchor institutions. With additional city agencies and departments, community- and faith-based organizations, health services, businesses, residents and other key community stakeholders, these collaborative coalitions work to integrate resources and increase access to programs and services to better serve children, youth, adults and families. Creating this level of structured partnership, support and communication will give families multiple entry points within each neighborhood to gain access to all services, resources and programs offered.
With this structure, families can learn about services and resources offered by the school, health center, library, local food bank and the City all by visiting the community center, or visa versa. The CLI Neighborhood Coalition itself becomes the hub for the neighborhood versus one individual institution.
For the Spring of 2010, the Greater Neponset CLI will focus programs and activities around family literacy and healthy family development. All activities listed below are “Pilot Programs” and are filled on a first come, first served basis.
FAMILY BOOK CLUB - CLI
Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 6:30 PM
The second set of books for the LHCC/CLI Family Book Club are in and are available for pick up at the Community Center Office Monday - Friday 3 -8 :30 PM and Saturday 9:30 AM- 4:30 PM. This month's books are:
Grades 3 - 5: The Fog Mound Series- Travels of Thelonious by Susan Schade and Jon Buller
Grades 6-8: Quantum Prophecy- Book 1, The Awakening by Michael Carroll
This free program is open to any LHCC member family. Parents and Children will receive books to read together, there will be monthly meetings with refreshments and discussion about books. This program provides a great opportunity for young readers to share their interests with their parents as well as peers. Parents will also learn tips to help promote literacey development at home and how to better support their young readers. Books and supplies are provided FREE to all participants. There are still openings in this club, and books are available on a first come, first served basis.
To register for this program please contact Kate Hennigan at the LHCC at 617-635-5150 or Guy Harris at the Adams Street Library at 617-436-6900.
PARENT WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2010 - 6:30 PM
PARENT WORKSHOP: Topic- Understanding Risky Beahviors and When to Become Concerned.
COST: FREE
As part of the ongoing Parent Workshop Series at the LHCC in partnership with the Greater Neponset Community Learning Initiative, the LHCC will be hosting a Parent Workshop on Wednesday, May 25, 2010. As we move closer to the summer months with teens and tweens spending more time out with friends, this workshop will be dedicated to helping parents identify risky behaviors of teens and tweens , who just want to "hang" with their friends. Parents will learn to recognize the difference between normal, healthy risk taking behavior and risky behavior that may be dangerous to the health and well being of their children. Parents will develop strategies to help with communication and how to respond to difficult questions related to risky behaviors. It also gives parents strategies and practice for helping teens make good decisions for themselves.
This program is made possible through the generous support of Families First. To register, please contact the staff at the LHCC at 617-635-5150 or email: leahyhollorancc@gmail.com.