Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York is pleased to offer these ten elective courses to its scholars for the 2011-2012 academic year. Please click on a course offering to learn more.
BHGH Makers Program/STEM Center Proposal
The BHGHNY Makers Program/STEM Center will engage BHGH students in a year-long exploration of science, technology, engineering and math through student-driven, hands-on projects led by an experienced instructor. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and creates the next generation of innovators. Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy. This innovation and science literacy depends on a solid knowledge base in the core STEM areas. Makers is a movement representing a technology-based extension of Do-It-Yourself culture. In this makers program, students will explore engineering-oriented pursuits including possibly electronics, robotics, 3-D printing, and the use of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) tools, as well as more traditional activities such as metal and woodworking and traditional arts and crafts. Through these projects, students explore and expand their knowledge of core STEM competencies. The program’s design will be, in part, driven by and adapted to students’ interests and talents.
From Saturday mornings Tom & Jerry Cartoons, to Dick Tracy Detective Comics of yesteryear, images once used to entertain children and adults alike, have evolved into complex vehicles of commentary on social, historical, and political issues. From first person experiences of war, to the lives of great revolutionaries, thinkers, movers and shakers, these tales are told in a readily available and consumable medium – the humble comic book. Comics & Culture is a yearlong workshop intending to take scholars on a journey across the globe through several animated films and comics books to introduce them to different point of views regarding important historical moments and figures.
The workshop aims to foster critical thinking of communities and cultures known and foreign to scholars including perspectives, understanding, and appreciation of cultures, histories, and stories from distant lands. Scholars will be split into groups during the duration of the workshop and given various roles to complete an end of year project, on a social, historical or political issue of their choosing.
Drawing from BHGHNY’s Executive Director’s experience with boys along with his work on The Ascension Project, an online publication with a boy specific focus, The Saturday Series will guide our male scholars through five discussions-discussions that will illustrate, underscore and emphasize the importance of security and stability. By gathering a group of men who have distinguished themselves as school and business leaders, as community activists, successful fathers and loving partners, The Saturday Series will build a community of men and boys who together will explore independence as a first right of passage to understanding the value of restraint and responsibility. The men and boys who gather will build fellowship. Our principle aim is for the boys to emerge more mentor-ready and more predisposed to identifying and responding to the right advice, to the sound example and to the appropriate plan.
The discussions that will define The Saturday Series will be fluid. We expect that they will lead to territory and areas that we have yet to consider. The Saturday Series will be responsive-the content anchored in the needs of our boys and in the experiences of those men who join us. We will chronicle these efforts through film and living narrative. The voices from this year’s series will shape the work we take on in the future. Second year scholars and series participants will assume greater leadership, share insights from the previous year’s discussions and help weave a sustaining and unifying thread through the lives of our boys--a trend that we believe will make a meaningful difference.
The Public Service Announcement Project
BHGHNY recognizes that its scholars are growing up in a complex and often dangerous world. While their immediate surroundings at school and in their dorms are safe, secure and well- maintained, they are often much more aware of these dangers than they are given credit for. More importantly, they are rarely asked to comment on their surroundings, or to provide solutions to many of the conditions and circumstances that may be threatening their well-being and over-all development. The PSA PROJECT’s principle aim is to provide BHGHNY scholars with a voice and platform to express their concerns and to offer alternatives, action-plans, warnings and advice directed to other youth their age and to the adults that are charged with their care. BHGHNY scholars work with a trained film-maker and educator to identify content and subject matter. This material is then structured into short (15 to 30 second) public service announcements broadcast over social media. BHGHNY scholars serve as writers, actors, editors, directors and producers, and as such, gain valuable experience as catalysts for positive change and stronger communities.
The Urban Gardening Project
The Urban Gardening Project elective will be offered in the Spring Semester at McAuley Hall. Sessions will be designed to expose scholars to planting and growing their own herbs and vegetables for consumption at McAuley Hall. Scholars will learn about creating healthy soil –the foundation for a productive vegetable garden—; maintaining soil fertility; planting strategies such as direct seeding and transplanting; and caring for specific plants. Scholars will also be taught the germination and growth process of herbs and vegetables and the various aspects of weeding and garden maintenance. The emphasis of the workshop will be on sustainable, healthy, and affordable approaches to gardening. Participants will each write a report on their experiences at the end of the workshop.
Wealth of Health Initiative
The “Wealth of Health” initiative will be an eight-week elective offered to the young women of BHGH in partnership with Jaha International—a New York City-based global wellness ministry founded by Salam and Trevor Jaha. The initiative will present lifestyle and health enhancing workshops featuring professionally tried and tested concepts and strategies designed to guide the scholars to holistic experiences of empowered living. Participants will be engaged in activities such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Yoga, and high intensity aerobics, scarf dancing. Additionally, they will engage in exercises and discussions on Developing Healthy Relationships, Positive Self Images, Nutrition, Self-Healing, Emotional Balancing and Journeys to Advancement.
This elective will utilize a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the social status and societal contributions of women and the relationship between power and gender. The scholars enrolled in this workshop will research articles and current events to discuss; learn about the roles of women in sociology, history, literature, and psychology as they relate to both American society and internationally. Scholars will be encouraged to think critically and creatively and to explore their own backgrounds and their understanding of gender dynamics within their own lives. They will also be expected to present projects on today’s gender issues and reflect on their place as young women in society.
Girl Talk is a twelve week psycho-education program offered to McAuley Hall freshmen to provide them with support for a variety of personal or group issues that may arise as they transition to BHGHNY and high school. The girls are provided valuable information on psychological issues, educated on their strengths, and they participate in weekly discussions and workshops that show them how to cope with the challenges and demands they might face in this new environment. The program aims to help them manage their emotions and to develop healthier behaviors.
Created in 1999, iMentor “envisions a nation in which all youth are connected to college-educated mentors who can provide the support and guidance they need to graduate from high school and succeed in college”. Its mission is “to improve the lives of high school students from underserved communities through evidence-based, technology enabled mentoring”. All Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors at McAuley Hall participate in the program. Each scholar is paired with a mentor who makes a commitment to mentor the student until she completes high school. Each week a program facilitator from the iMentor office runs a workshop to provide the mentor and mentee topics to write about and life skills to think about such as resume writing and interviewing skills. Each month an event is held either at the iMentor office or in McAuley Hall and the mentors and mentees are able to spend 2 hours of quality face to face time together. With parental consent mentors and mentees may also spend time together on the weekends. If a mentor is unable to make one of the scheduled events, they are able to make up the visit by attending a McAuley Hall dinner with their mentee.
Impact is a peer leadership program that is hosted by St. Francis Xavier church in Park Slope. The youth meet every Thursday to discuss various topics such as conflict resolution and community service. The program also facilitates community service projects such as community cleanup, feeding the homeless, food drives, community beautification and reading books to school children at the church.
Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York is pleased to offer these ten elective courses to its scholars for the 2011-2012 academic year. Please click on a course offering to learn more.
BHGH Makers Program/STEM Center Proposal
The BHGHNY Makers Program/STEM Center will engage BHGH students in a year-long exploration of science, technology, engineering and math through student-driven, hands-on projects led by an experienced instructor. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and creates the next generation of innovators. Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy. This innovation and science literacy depends on a solid knowledge base in the core STEM areas. Makers is a movement representing a technology-based extension of Do-It-Yourself culture. In this makers program, students will explore engineering-oriented pursuits including possibly electronics, robotics, 3-D printing, and the use of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) tools, as well as more traditional activities such as metal and woodworking and traditional arts and crafts. Through these projects, students explore and expand their knowledge of core STEM competencies. The program’s design will be, in part, driven by and adapted to students’ interests and talents.
From Saturday mornings Tom & Jerry Cartoons, to Dick Tracy Detective Comics of yesteryear, images once used to entertain children and adults alike, have evolved into complex vehicles of commentary on social, historical, and political issues. From first person experiences of war, to the lives of great revolutionaries, thinkers, movers and shakers, these tales are told in a readily available and consumable medium – the humble comic book. Comics & Culture is a yearlong workshop intending to take scholars on a journey across the globe through several animated films and comics books to introduce them to different point of views regarding important historical moments and figures.
The workshop aims to foster critical thinking of communities and cultures known and foreign to scholars including perspectives, understanding, and appreciation of cultures, histories, and stories from distant lands. Scholars will be split into groups during the duration of the workshop and given various roles to complete an end of year project, on a social, historical or political issue of their choosing.
Drawing from BHGHNY’s Executive Director’s experience with boys along with his work on The Ascension Project, an online publication with a boy specific focus, The Saturday Series will guide our male scholars through five discussions-discussions that will illustrate, underscore and emphasize the importance of security and stability. By gathering a group of men who have distinguished themselves as school and business leaders, as community activists, successful fathers and loving partners, The Saturday Series will build a community of men and boys who together will explore independence as a first right of passage to understanding the value of restraint and responsibility. The men and boys who gather will build fellowship. Our principle aim is for the boys to emerge more mentor-ready and more predisposed to identifying and responding to the right advice, to the sound example and to the appropriate plan.
The discussions that will define The Saturday Series will be fluid. We expect that they will lead to territory and areas that we have yet to consider. The Saturday Series will be responsive-the content anchored in the needs of our boys and in the experiences of those men who join us. We will chronicle these efforts through film and living narrative. The voices from this year’s series will shape the work we take on in the future. Second year scholars and series participants will assume greater leadership, share insights from the previous year’s discussions and help weave a sustaining and unifying thread through the lives of our boys--a trend that we believe will make a meaningful difference.
The Public Service Announcement Project
BHGHNY recognizes that its scholars are growing up in a complex and often dangerous world. While their immediate surroundings at school and in their dorms are safe, secure and well- maintained, they are often much more aware of these dangers than they are given credit for. More importantly, they are rarely asked to comment on their surroundings, or to provide solutions to many of the conditions and circumstances that may be threatening their well-being and over-all development. The PSA PROJECT’s principle aim is to provide BHGHNY scholars with a voice and platform to express their concerns and to offer alternatives, action-plans, warnings and advice directed to other youth their age and to the adults that are charged with their care. BHGHNY scholars work with a trained film-maker and educator to identify content and subject matter. This material is then structured into short (15 to 30 second) public service announcements broadcast over social media. BHGHNY scholars serve as writers, actors, editors, directors and producers, and as such, gain valuable experience as catalysts for positive change and stronger communities.
The Urban Gardening Project
The Urban Gardening Project elective will be offered in the Spring Semester at McAuley Hall. Sessions will be designed to expose scholars to planting and growing their own herbs and vegetables for consumption at McAuley Hall. Scholars will learn about creating healthy soil –the foundation for a productive vegetable garden—; maintaining soil fertility; planting strategies such as direct seeding and transplanting; and caring for specific plants. Scholars will also be taught the germination and growth process of herbs and vegetables and the various aspects of weeding and garden maintenance. The emphasis of the workshop will be on sustainable, healthy, and affordable approaches to gardening. Participants will each write a report on their experiences at the end of the workshop.
Wealth of Health Initiative
The “Wealth of Health” initiative will be an eight-week elective offered to the young women of BHGH in partnership with Jaha International—a New York City-based global wellness ministry founded by Salam and Trevor Jaha. The initiative will present lifestyle and health enhancing workshops featuring professionally tried and tested concepts and strategies designed to guide the scholars to holistic experiences of empowered living. Participants will be engaged in activities such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Yoga, and high intensity aerobics, scarf dancing. Additionally, they will engage in exercises and discussions on Developing Healthy Relationships, Positive Self Images, Nutrition, Self-Healing, Emotional Balancing and Journeys to Advancement.
This elective will utilize a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the social status and societal contributions of women and the relationship between power and gender. The scholars enrolled in this workshop will research articles and current events to discuss; learn about the roles of women in sociology, history, literature, and psychology as they relate to both American society and internationally. Scholars will be encouraged to think critically and creatively and to explore their own backgrounds and their understanding of gender dynamics within their own lives. They will also be expected to present projects on today’s gender issues and reflect on their place as young women in society.
Girl Talk is a twelve week psycho-education program offered to McAuley Hall freshmen to provide them with support for a variety of personal or group issues that may arise as they transition to BHGHNY and high school. The girls are provided valuable information on psychological issues, educated on their strengths, and they participate in weekly discussions and workshops that show them how to cope with the challenges and demands they might face in this new environment. The program aims to help them manage their emotions and to develop healthier behaviors.
Created in 1999, iMentor “envisions a nation in which all youth are connected to college-educated mentors who can provide the support and guidance they need to graduate from high school and succeed in college”. Its mission is “to improve the lives of high school students from underserved communities through evidence-based, technology enabled mentoring”. All Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors at McAuley Hall participate in the program. Each scholar is paired with a mentor who makes a commitment to mentor the student until she completes high school. Each week a program facilitator from the iMentor office runs a workshop to provide the mentor and mentee topics to write about and life skills to think about such as resume writing and interviewing skills. Each month an event is held either at the iMentor office or in McAuley Hall and the mentors and mentees are able to spend 2 hours of quality face to face time together. With parental consent mentors and mentees may also spend time together on the weekends. If a mentor is unable to make one of the scheduled events, they are able to make up the visit by attending a McAuley Hall dinner with their mentee.
Impact is a peer leadership program that is hosted by St. Francis Xavier church in Park Slope. The youth meet every Thursday to discuss various topics such as conflict resolution and community service. The program also facilitates community service projects such as community cleanup, feeding the homeless, food drives, community beautification and reading books to school children at the church.