While fall signifies endings, the end of the year, the end of summer; it also signifies new beginnings.
At Enroot, we are celebrating a return to full in-person programming after two long years. Through various engagement opportunities (Volunteer Committee, Run with Rose, Coffee Hour) we have found each other again as a community, committed to a unified mission. Perhaps, you may feel a weariness, or time has been unkind to some of us, and yet we are still standing in community. We recommit to strengthening relationships, partnerships and once again creating joy around the word belonging.
Keep an eye out for some insightful updates in upcoming communications. We will be highlighting our students’ new beginnings through their sheer persistence and shared commitment to creating community. I invite you to reach out to other members of the Enroot community, reconnect, and affirm our collective belief that together we are stronger.
I will continue to reach out to you all, our amazing community, whether to grab a cup of coffee, to share an update or to hear your story. It is with gratitude that I thank you for your being a part of our community.
Sincerely,
Rose Francois
Executive Director
#GIVINGTUESDAY IS NOVEMBER 29, 2022
It’s hard to believe we’re already close to the end of the year! This time of year is the most critical for fundraising for organizations like Enroot.
JOIN US for #GivingTuesday! After the #BlackFriday deals and #SmallBusinessSaturday has all of us shopping local, #GivingTuesday is a welcome change of pace for us to support organizations and causes we value most. #GivingTuesday is a global day for giving and an occasion to join the global generosity movement.
Check with your employer to see if they participate in a 1:1, 2:1, or even a 3:1 match especially on Giving Tuesday! Don’t let the opportunity to DOUBLE or TRIPLE the impact of your donation to the causes you cherish most.See the tool on our website to check if your employer provides matches -HERE.Stay tuned for more information especially on our social media on Nov 29th!
If your employer doesn’t provide a match, you can donate early.
Photo Caption: Enroot Team Retreat activities; Enroot’s Vania Loredo, at the finish line of the
BMW Berlin Marathon in September.
Enroot’s team is a dedicated and fun bunch! Team members work tirelessly, while maintaining their enthusiasm, keeping their senses of humor intact, and sustaining one another! Amidst the hectic preparation and beginning of the academic year, staff gathered in Somerville for a day to have a mini Team Retreat, concluding with a session for everyone at the Muse Paint Bar Somerville. Spending time together, enjoying the beautiful weather, and building community between team members is vital to preserving motivation and mental health for all.
Managing the work-life balance at Enroot is a core value of the organization and for team members. It is reflected in our team’s activities in and out of the office. Vania Loredo, Senior Director of Program, personifies these tenets and here she is at the finish line of the BMW Berlin Marathon in September. We’re so proud of her and all of the Enroot team for honoring these beliefs by taking care of themselves and each other.
Enroot at Life Science Cares’ Boston Event
Mini Golf for Good
Pictured: Enroot’s Rose Francois, Executive Director; Lesley Bunnell, Development Manager
Enroot was privileged to be an invited organization sponsored by the Life Science Cares (LSC) Boston “Mini Golf for Good” event. Life Science Cares is an organization that provides a platform for companies and their employees to make a difference on issues of poverty. By partnering with local nonprofits with proven records of impact in their communities, Life Science Cares directs financial resources, donated goods, and thousands of volunteer hours to address both immediate and long term needs of our neighbors living in poverty.
The event was absolutely full of fun, great food, and most importantly, positive impacts for the community. With a sellout crowd of over 600 guests and the generous event sponsors, over $150,000 was raised — creating access to basic needs, education, and opportunity. A very special thank you to Bridge Bank for sponsoring Enroot on hole 9! Enroot is so grateful to Life Science Cares for their continued advocacy for and support of our organization’s work.
BACK TO SCHOOL
College Success and Post-Secondary
Program Update
Photo Caption: (L pic): College Success (CS) team and students gather for Pizza in the Park;
(R pic): CS & Post Secondary FAFSA Workshops that were held
The College Success and Post Secondary Program are off to an incredible start! The program’s first annual Pizza in the Park was a resounding success! Director of College Success and Alumni Engagement, Bralyn Beathea, hosted a pizza party for all program students and mentors, new and/or returning, to gather and chat. It was a great way to celebrate the beginning of the school year for everyone.
Post-secondary Associate, Regina Carey, hosted a FAFSA workshop in October; one at Cambridge Rindge and Latin and the other at Somerville High School. Anyone who needed a refresher or was brand new to college financial aid applications was given a detailed how-to about applying for and completing the Federal FAFSA forms, which is the first step in the process. There will be more financial aid workshops offered to students throughout the year.
College Success Update
We are thrilled that two (2) College Success program students have recently received their full U.S. citizenship! This is so exciting and opens up new opportunities for these students. We can’t wait to see what next steps they have planned for themselves. In addition, one of our sophomores in the College Success program has landed their dream internship, designing and making robotic medical devices. This is such an impressive opportunity and we look forward to seeing their progress.
Photo caption: College Success team and program students at Art Night
September 28th was Art Night for College Success students and everyone had a blast creating and connecting with one another. Ellie Villa-Wilson, Enroot’s College Success Program Associate, organized a lively evening of art projects. Now that we are back to in-person programming and events, the enthusiasm of the students is lovely to see. Our College Success program has been supporting students since 2018, and the opportunities to meet in person have been limited during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We are happy to see students in person this year and continue to provide high quality and meaningful programming.
Cambridge Program Update
Photo Caption: (L) Cambridge Mentoring Night - Enroot Cambridge students building the tallest balloon tower; (R) Cambridge Mentoring Night introductions
Enroot’s programming at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School is in full-swing. We have welcomed Jessica Sidhu-Vasquez as the new Cambridge Program Director, who has hit the ground running. Jess has quickly become a part of the Enroot team as she has fully immersed herself in fall programming for students. Kalena Wang, a new Massachusetts Promise Fellow, assists Jess in the program’s day to day operations. Jess brings extensive knowledge of the work as a former teacher and understands the ins and outs of curriculum building. We are very lucky to have Jess and Kalena as part of our team!
Jess and Kalena are meeting students and collaborating with the school's administration to organize all Enroot programming for Cambridge students. On November 9th, they held Lunch & Learn for students to mix and mingle. Lunch and Learn’s return to in-person meet-ups is significant; the last time we held an in-person Lunch & Learn session was February 2020. We are so pleased that the sessions were well attended and received by students.
Somerville Program Update
Photo Caption: Somerville High School Enroot students attending
a career coaching workshop earlier this month.
Photo Caption: Announcement of internships available for Somerville Enroot students.
We are having a ball in Somerville! Students have fully immersed in their weekly mentoring nights, and we are feeling all the energy. First, Enroot’s team of Somerville Program Director Teresa Martinez, along with Somerville Program Associates Laura Montoya and Tucker Donelan just hosted a career coaching workshop for students last week. They enlisted Rigobert (Rig) Noel, who is the founder of Next Level Career Coach, a program designed to help young people with self-promotion for career success. Rig brings over 20 years of experience in career and life skills coaching to his interactive sessions with young people, which prepares folks to best advocate for themselves now and in the future for their journey following graduation.
In addition to career coaching, everyone has had fun playing some very serious games of Jenga and Bingo! We are working closely with mentors this year to make sure that students have all the resources available to them. Our Explore cohort students will start mentoring this month while Leadership and Emerge cohorts will dive into a curriculum that kick-starts their post-secondary plans in the upcoming weeks.
Enroot Team Updates
Photo Caption: Team pics of Jessioca Sidhu-Vasquez (top);
Kalena Wang (bottom L) Tucker Donelan (bottom R)
In addition to welcoming new and returning students, Enroot has new members on the team! Paola Pelletier-Ozuna, our dear Cambridge Program Director, has transitioned from Enroot for new opportunities, and we are thrilled to announce Jessica Sidhu-Vasquez has joined our team as new our Cambridge Program Director just in time for the new academic year. Jess hails from the West Coast and for the past 8 years, worked as an educator in California and Texas. As the daughter of Mexican and Indian immigrants, she knows firsthand the importance of advocating for and supporting immigrant students and their families. We are so excited to have her directing the Cambridge program!
Kalena Wang is a Massachusetts Promise Fellow and has joined Enroot to serve students at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School. She is a 2020 graduate of Harvard University and has a BA in Environmental Engineering and Education. She brings her knowledge and experience with mentorship programming and education, lending a unique and insightful point of view to direct service and enhancing Enroot’s program.
Finally, a huge shout-out to Tucker Donelan, Enroot’s new Somerville Program Associate. Tucker was born in Japan and split his time between his birth country and the U.S., eventually settling in the States beginning in high school. His passion for education and program coordination is contagious and in his short time here, he’s already a big hit with the students, and his fun spirit and positive vibes are invaluable to the entire Enroot team.
JOIN OUR TEAM! We are seeking a Director of Operations. Enroot’s mission is to empower immigrant youth to achieve academic, career, and personal success through inspiring out of school experiences. Whether you're seeking a new position or want to pivot to work with dynamic high school and post-secondary young folks, this is your chance! Click the button or scan the QR code for the job description and more information that will be posted on our website shortly!
Be a Mentor!
We are currently looking for more mentors! As our programs are expanding, we are seeing the need for more mentors in the community, especially in Somerville. If you know someone who is interested in volunteering 1.5hrs/week to support an immigrant student, encourage them to apply!
Summertime in New England is filled with sunsoaked moments that coalesce into memories, and outdoor excursions that allow for spending extra time with friends and family. At Enroot, we have enjoyed recharging our batteries after the delightful student end of the year celebrations in May, savoring every student accomplishment.
We have returned home. Last week 99 Bishop Allen Drive, “Non-profit Row” officially reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority. It was an exhilarating moment for the entire Enroot team to be able to return to offices that have been shut due to COVID and construction. Change is a constant and as we embrace the transitions of leadership and programmatic activities, it also means exciting opportunities and growth on many fronts. One thing that has stayed constant is our core value of ‘Students First’.
We continue to operate through the ongoing pandemic, delivering programming in a hybrid model and remaining committed to providing students with quality supports both in-person and virtually. This year we have extended our College Success Program to support third-year college students and are seeing college students make amazing strides towards their goals. To better support our workforce students, we are conducting more research in non-traditional alternative post-high school pathways with changing national trends and shifts in student needs.
In this newsletter, we are thrilled to share more about our 2022 Career Fair Week happening this week! And share clips of my interview with Dachenie, an incredible student in our program.
We look forward to welcoming you all to visit the remodeled Enroot space very soon! Thank you for being a part of the Enroot family, and for making an impact on the lives of immigrant students.
With deep gratitude,
Rose Francois
Interim Executive Director
Dachenie Ganthier
Enroot is so proud of one of our phenomenal students, Dachenie Ganthier who expressed enthusiasm and a desire to speak about her experience at Enroot through an interview. We are excited to launch this interview series with more video clips to come in the coming days.
Dachenie’s journey reflects that of many immigrant youths, having to navigate a new country with the responsibilities of an adult. The impact of Enroot can not be overstated. In this interview, Dachenie and I reflect on our lives as Haitian immigrants.
Stay tuned and don’t forget to check out our social media for the videos!
This Week: Career Fair Week April 4-8, 2022
Enroot is once again hosting a career fair in 2022! This year, Enroot is expanding the career fair from a virtual one-day event to a hybrid event with a full week of career pathways programming. Our primary goal is to provide students with exposure, knowledge, and networking in various career pathways. Unlike traditional walk-through career fairs, Enroot’s Career Week will include a slate of hands-on programming including panels on STEM careers; entrepreneurship; trades; workshops on developing a brand and being confident during interviews; and providing 1:1 resume and interview support.
Speakers will be from Cambridge, Somerville, and Greater Boston, bringing a wealth of knowledge and exposure to students from the biotechnology world, medical sector, finance and banking, higher education, local government, and much more! Students will learn from and network with representatives from Amgen, Google, Cambridge Savings Bank, City of Cambridge, City of Somerville, and more.
The week’s programming includes Career Tip of the Week Videos, Google Panel, Cambridge Savings Bank Panel, Amgen Panel, Be Your Own Boss Panel, Internships Panel, Jobs That Change the World Panel, Landing Your Dream Job in the Pandemic Panel, and a Career Fashion Show!
Career Fair Week will help immigrant students and recent graduates see themselves as the diverse workforce of the future. Compared to native U.S. born students, our students often do not have vast family connections into different workforces nor exposure or an entry point into networks required to navigate and succeed in the academic and career pathways in the United States. This event will provide immigrant youth with access to local leaders in a variety of fields so that they can make connections, identify potential career options, and participate in panels and workshops that will provide hands-on advice on how to move toward achieving their career goals.
Your financial gift will make it possible for Enroot to support Dachenie and students just like her, immigrant youth with big dreams and capable of endless possibilities.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!
Our Primary Sponsor:
Other Sponsors Include:
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Microsoft, William Blair, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and RepHAIRations
How Can You Support Us?
Spring is here and soon it will be time to wrap-up the academic year. Help us finish the academic year strong by supporting our:
Career Fair Week
End of Year Celebrations
Soccer Game for students
Continued weekly 1-1 mentoring and tutoring
Post-secondary preparedness workshops for high school seniors and juniors
1-1 coaching for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year college students
Continued social-emotional and wellbeing support
I hope you’ll consider supporting Enroot students by making a financial contribution as part of our Spring Giving Campaign. You may be able to double your donation by checking if your employer will match your gift! See if your employer matches at www.enrooteducation.org/donate.
The 99 Bishop Allen Building in Central Square has been a home for non-profits for decades! The building was bought by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, renovated, and officially now back open. It is now home to at least 11 non-profits, including Enroot. The building ribbon cutting took place last week on March 30th! We are so excited to be back in the office!
CLICK HERE to read more about it!
CLICKHEREto see some photos and videos!
Program Activities
Enroot has been successful in continuing to provide quality programming to students amidst the continued uncertainty we experienced around re-opening and in-person programming at the beginning of the academic year. The key for us was to remain flexible. We have been successfully providing hybrid programming this academic year.
Programming provided included workshops and sessions on post-secondary planning, Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity (DBIE), STEM activities, self-confidence, and self-advocacy. Specific activities that have taken place include: DBIE trauma-informed workshops, mentoring nights for Cambridge and Somerville, self-care and stress management workshops, student financial aid workshops, identity and authenticity workshop, communication skills workshops, seminar with the student immigrant movement (SIM), finance and personal credit workshop, college success panels, time management workshops, Black History Month program activities, personality and character assessment workshops, and mock interview and resume writing workshops. Other fun activities, field trips, and celebrations have also taken place including bowling, ice skating, and Uno game night.
Volunteer Recruitment - Spread the Word!
Our new mentor application for Fall 2022 is now open! If you or someone you know is interested in being part of an amazing group of volunteers and connecting with immigrant youth in the Cambridge and Somerville area, this is a great way to learn and partner with the community.
Mentoring will be in person for the next academic year. Mentors and students will be meeting either in Somerville High School or Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
As we celebrated National Mentor Month in January, Enroot highlighted the work of our Volunteer Committee.
Ava, the Committee's Co-Chair, spoke about her experience mentoring with us. She described her mentorship journey at Enroot and the connections she formed with her mentees. She also told us a bit more about the purpose of Enroot's Volunteer Committee.
Benjamin Rosado shared reflections on what he has learned while at Enroot and his connection with his mentees. Over the years, Benjamin has created close relationships that have opened up students' attitudes towards sharing more. It is definitely a process, Benjamin says, but one that he has truly leaned in towards being open and showing up for them as much as his students need him to be.
As many of you know, in the coming months I will be transitioning out of my role and Enroot will welcome a fantastic new leader. Periods of transition are challenging but bring the promise of fresh perspectives, new opportunities, and growth. Enroot’s transition also provides an exciting opportunity for the organization to be led by a person who shares lived experiences and core aspects of their identity with our students. During my time at Enroot, I have had the privilege of witnessing incredible growth take place in the lives of our students. I have watched individuals I met as teenagers move on from high school to college, from college to careers, from adolescence to adulthood. Each of them have persevered through countless roadblocks and found a way to make important contributions to their community. These victories are 100% their own. And yet they often humbly reflect on the important role that their Enroot family played in positioning them for success. They reference their mentors, their tutors, their internship hosts, their fellow Enroot students and alumni, Enroot staff, their teachers, and guidance counselors. This is the power of Enroot. This is the power of a collective commitment to equity for immigrant students and of a shared journey.
I am incredibly proud of all that our Enroot community of students, staff, Board members, volunteers, partners, and funders have accomplished together in recent years and of the strong foundation we have built for future success.
Thank you for being a part of our family and of the shared success we celebrate together.
With deep gratitude,
Ben Clark
Executive Director
End of Year Celebrations
This summer marked our second Virtual End of the Year Celebration for students! Our Leadership and Emerge Cohorts came together to celebrate all that they have accomplished over the past academic year. Mentors shared all the reasons why they were proud of their students while students took the opportunity to reflect on all the strength they exhibited over this difficult year. It’s moments like these where Enroot is so thankful for the close community we’ve fostered.
We also use this time of year to gather student and mentor feedback on our program. The following are some quotes students and mentors anonymously shared with each other:
“I didn’t know there was a program that was dedicated for immigrant students and for their growth. I remember my friend talking to me about this program and it sounded really cool to be part of it and try it out. At that time I didn’t have the knowledge I knew and didn’t know the language that well, so it helped me a lot for my personal growth.”
“Enroot has supported mostly for learning new skills, opening my mind a little more and gaining more knowledge. It has helped me get me volunteer opportunities for my professional growth and give a lot of resources to my future education.”
“It’s a really good program and I feel it has helped me a lot to socialize with other students that share something in common.”
Celebrating Our Graduates!
Enroot is thrilled that several students who joined our College Success program as college sophomores during its pilot year in 2018 have recently graduated from college!
A HUGE congratulations to Alessandra, Asif, Emma, and Giovanna on graduating this Spring in 2021! We can’t wait to see all that you go on to accomplish and cannot be more sure of all the amazing work you will do.
Asif, who graduated from Boston University and is now going on to work at Constant Contact, wrote to us:
“I would also like to thank the rest of the Enroot staff who are continuously working hard to help the immigrant students who are new to this country. I will forever be grateful to Enroot and the way in which Enroot was a strong pillar of support for me during my most difficult time in high school. Without a doubt I can say the resources and mentors I got helped me to get where I am today. And, yes I will definitely reach out if I need help with something.” - Asif
Enroot is Hiring!
Enroot is expanding our small but mighty team with passionate individuals devoted to helping immigrant students realize their full potential.
We are looking for a Development Manager – a motivated fundraising professional to join a team that’s passionate about helping immigrant students realize their full potential. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Development Manager is a full-time position that will execute all grant activities required to secure and steward institutional funders, manage Enroot’s fundraising database, manage donor communications, and provide additional support in development operations. Check out the job description here.
Featuring Our Remnant Brewery Event
Last month Enroot collaborated with Remnant Brewery to host a recruitment information event for community members who may be interested in volunteering as mentors and tutors. During the event, folx had the opportunity to learn more about what being a volunteer entails, discuss Enroot’s programming structure, learn how to get involved in supporting and empowering local immigrant youth, and get a chance to meet Enroot staff and current volunteers - all while enjoying delicious food and drink provided by Remnant!
Big thank you to Remnant for helping us put on this event. Passionate community members like you make it possible for Enroot to keep expanding our volunteer base.
Volunteer Recruitment - Spread the Word!
Our two amazing summer interns, Sophia and Johnny, worked hard on volunteer recruitment all summer. Here they are at the Medford Farmers Market spreading the word!
Enroot is still recruiting volunteers for the fall! We are looking for people in the community who are invested in empowering immigrant youth to reach their full potential. Read more about what it is like to be a mentor here. Our volunteers commit to 1.5 hrs of meeting time with their students weekly, create a safe and trusting environment, and provide guidance as students pursue their goals. Apply now!
Join Our Volunteer Committee!
We're so excited to welcome all Enroot volunteers, returning and new, for another academic year, and we 're thrilled to announce that Enroot's Volunteer Committee is currently looking for new members. The Volunteer Committee is a group of active Enroot volunteers working together to create a stronger, more engaged and connected volunteer community. From fostering wellness through events like volunteer yoga with the amazing organization You Good Sis, to showcasing the impressive talents of our fellow volunteers in the "Enroot's Got Talent" contest, the Committee is dedicated to improving the volunteer experience at Enroot.
If you are interested in joining the Volunteer Committee, please apply here. We have 6 spots available, and we will welcome new members on a rolling basis.
Thank You to Our Students!
As we approach the new school year and all the potential it brings with returning to hybrid mentoring, we want to thank our students again for being so considerate, patient, and empathetic this past year. Amid the many changes that COVID-19 has brought, we are also saying goodbye to some members of our incredible team and welcoming brand new members to our Enroot family. While transitions can be difficult, we want to reiterate that the Enroot family is forever. The relationships we have fostered are real, and the connections we’ve made are permanent. We are always here to support you, now just a Zoom call away.
I hope this letter finds you healthy and feeling a renewed sense of optimism about the future. Although the ongoing pandemic and near-constant racialized violence continue to make this a uniquely challenging time, the last few months have also brought countless opportunities for learning, growth and fresh hope to our community. As you’ll see below, Enroot students contributed to public discourse on equity in STEM, explored careers across all sectors alongside several dozen professionals in our Virtual Career Fair, and shared their visions of success in a must-watch ‘What Does Success Mean to You’ video project. Our Alumni gathered for a heartwarming mini-reunion, filled with equal parts laughter and tears. Our Volunteers leaned into challenging conversations during Parts 3 and 4 of our year-long Unconscious Bias trainings, and shared their hidden talents in the first ever “Enroot’s Got Talent” talent show. Enroot’s staff and Board continue to push their own boundaries as antiracist leaders through trainings, action-oriented conversations, and the creation of our Strategic Plan for advancing equity at Enroot. As our high school seniors continue to get good news from colleges and other post-high school opportunities, we focus on our shared future, which is brighter than ever before.
Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Enroot family, and of the movement to advance educational equity for immigrant students!
Ben Clark
Executive Director
Ben Clark
Executive Director
Honoring Women’s History Beyond March
As we celebrated the beginning of spring in March, we also had the space and time to reflect on the importance of women in not only our culture and society, but also in breaking down boundaries and constraints that have been unjustly projected onto women. As an organization dedicated to equity, we believe it is important to recognize the bravery and resiliency of women not only during Women’s History Month, but throughout our lives, and remain committed to fighting for women’s empowerment by addressing the wage gap and underrepresentation in so many areas.
The Enroot team honored Women’s History Month by using our time together as a team to watch videos and have discussions on women voices and empowerment. We explored the United Nations’ video highlighting International Women's Day, which discusses the history of women’s rights and march for a more equal future. We also spent time exploring Oprah Magazine US's video that focuses on uplifting the voices and perspectives of women of color. Last but not least, we celebrated the important accomplishments and values of the incredible women on our Enroot team. We deeply value Enroot's mostly female-led staff and their work advancing our organization's important mission.
STEM Partnerships
A Virtual STEM Panel with Broad Institute
This spring, we partnered with Broad Institute to host an informative virtual STEM panel for our students. The Broad Institute panelists talked to our students about crafting a path in the STEM field. It was amazing to listen to a group of professionals that represented our students’ backgrounds, languages and ethnicities share their experiences in the STEM field with our students!
Our students were thoroughly engaged throughout and after the panel. We are so grateful for our partnership and time with Broad Institute and we believe we have some future scientists in our group after this thoughtful panel.
Boston Globe Panel Discussion with Biogen
Our amazing Enroot Somerville High School student Emily, and Executive Director Ben Clark, participated in a panel hosted by The Boston Globe and Biogen that addressed racial inequality in STEM education.
In an era where STEM education and opportunities aren’t accessible for so many individuals of marginalized backgrounds, we are thankful that conversations like this one are being held so we can push the envelope to include immigrant student voices in STEM education! We are incredibly proud of Emily for sharing her experiences and being a voice for her peers. We are honored to have partners like Biogen who are committed to advancing racial equity in STEM education.
Virtual Career Fair
We had the incredible opportunity to host a Virtual Career fair featuring Enroot partners Amgen, Google, First Republic Bank, Bunker Hill Community College, Boys and Girls Club of Boston, Mathematica, City of Somerville Summer Programs, Boston Museum of Science, Cambridge Mayor’s Program, and the Rian Immigrant Center! Our students interacted with a panel of professionals who shared their experiences and advice related to the fields of technology, medicine, financial services, sciences and the nonprofit sector.
A few important quotes from the Career Fair include:
“Don’t stop applying to get the position you want! A lot of it is luck and timing. I applied to my position several times before getting the role!”
“The policy world needs people with different views. Policies impact people’s lives and there is so much value in bringing your voice and experience into those settings and speaking for people who may not be able to speak on their own behalf.”
The Virtual Career Fair was a huge success with very active participation from our students. We hope that some of our students will be able to trace their future career decisions to the exposure that this Virtual Career Fair provided.
We LOVE our Alumni!
Moments like THESE remind us why we work so hard and stay committed to the passionate work we do on a daily basis.
We recently hosted an Enroot Alumni happy hour to reconnect, reminisce on past memories, and have some fun together! Let’s just say our alumni did NOT disappoint. We played fun icebreakers, reflected on the importance of Enroot in our lives, and went down memory lane dating all the way back to 1993. We are so grateful for our alumni network and their dedicated passion to remain engaged with Enroot in the capacity that they can. We can’t wait for our next alumni reunion!
What Does Success Mean To You?
Our wonderful Tufts University Tisch Scholar, Shariqa Rahman, created a heartwarming video titled “What Does Success Mean To You?” Over the past few months, Shariqa spent time interviewing our students on their own versions of “success”, and our students gave incredibly thoughtful responses that embody their own personal experiences as well as Enroot's mission. Please take a few minutes to check out the video!
Enroot’s Got Talent
If you read our last newsletter, you probably saw that we were looking forward to an exciting event planned by our Volunteer Committee. Our Volunteer Committee organized an Enroot’s Got Talent event and it was a huge success! In an hour-long spectacular headed by two MCs and a wonderful judge panel, our volunteers showcased their talents ranging from origami to poetry reading to singing and much more! We had a lot of fun and we hope you all stay tuned for our next Enroot’s Got Talent!
Unconscious Bias Trainings
For our Unconscious Bias Trainings 3 and 4, that happened in March and May, we focused on Trauma Informed care and how Enroot mentors and tutors can best apply trauma informed practices to their student support.. Our volunteers were very engaged and were so brave in absorbing information while self-reflecting and advancing the conversation. In training #4 we utilized Racial Affinity Groups to deepen the conversation and reduce the incidence of harm that can be an unintended by product of this type of learning in a multi-racial setting. Through sharing and hearing our stories, we hope to continue working actively against the implicit, explicit, institutional and internalized racism that affects BIPOC/immigrant communities.
Join Enroot as a Volunteer!
We are currently recruiting mentors and tutors to work with our students inside and outside the classroom for the upcoming academic year! If you are interested in providing academic and leadership support, college preparation support, English practice, and partnering with high school immigrant youth to maximize their potential, please consider applying!
Over the past year, we have focused on expanding and advancing our work in the areas of Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity across our entire Enroot community. Out of a group of hundreds of applicants, Enroot was selected as one of the three organizations to participate in the “Essential Community Practices for Racial Equity Cohort” which will be led by Trinity Boston Connects over the next 6 months. We are excited for this multi-month learning opportunity and consulting engagement, which will include deep exploration and action planning around Racial Equity, Trauma Inclusion, and Restorative Practices. These sessions are coming at a critical time for Enroot and we are so thankful to be in a position to make this important work a priority.
Contribute to our Spring Giving Campaign
Advancing educational equity with and for immigrant students is more important than ever before. In an unprecedented year of obstacles and adversity, our students not only persisted but handled this year with incredible grace in a mostly virtual school year. Additionally, we are excited to announce that several of the college sophomores who enrolled in our first College Success Program Cohort in 2018 are graduating right now!
Your generous support is making a difference and we hope you can contribute to the brighter days ahead! We could not have accomplished so much over the past year without generous contributions from individuals like you. We hope you continue to invest in our students’ success by contributing to our Spring Giving Campaign.
