Worcester Academy is an awesome neighbor!! Little did I know when they invited me to be on their Board of Visitors that they were going to showcase Girls Inc's partnership with the Girls Varsity LaCrosse Team as part of the day! When I asked why we were chosen for a dialogue with members Zoe Eth and Mary Claire Pelletier and Coach Erin Flynn, Carolyn Reich, Stewardship and Constituent Relations Officer told me that it was because so many of the girls had identified their work in this very new partnership as the most important and special service project they had done! All I could say was WOW!!! WOW!
The 150-plus Visitors were divided into 8 workgroups for an immersion into 21st century experiential learning during the afternoon. The Excellence in Urban Education Group (including myself) was split into three small groups - one group was given the opportunity to discuss the strategies, strengths and challenges of an urban educational environment with Headmaster Dexter Morse, Board President Jim Pietro. They told us that they know that what is good for the neighborhood is good for Worcester Academy and vice versa - the true definition and embodiment of WIN-WIN!!
Another sub-group met with Robyn Thompson to talk about the Photography project with the Oak Hill CDC. The third met with one of the girls about her service project through Big Brothers/Big Sisters with a "spit-fire" 9 year old named Anthony at Union Hill School.
We came back together to meet with Zoe, Mary Claire and Erin about their experiences this spring at Girls Inc. The girls said over and over that they got as much as they gave while participating in the program with our 4th/5th/6th graders last spring - and Zoe came back and spent volunteer time with the girls this summer as a volunteer at our In Town program. WOW!!!
It is a true gift and honor to be a member of the WA Board of Visitors. We have lots to learn from them and many great moments of partnership in the neighborhood yet to come! Thanks to everyone for a memorable day!