The Coalition of Concerned Citizens sponsored its annual Christmas party for local residents on December 16th. Approximately 300 children enjoyed the celebration and received gifts. This was the 23rd year of the event! Cecelia and John DaRosa are the community leaders who make this a special time for the children.
Families Enjoying the Celebration Cecilia and John DaRosa
On December 17th, the newest graduates from the Earn-a-Computer program were presented a certificate for completing the class, and then took their computers home! Bob King, Yerwood Center President, spoke to the students at graduation. Kit Murdock, Yerwood Center Program Director, said the students really enjoyed learning more about computers.
Bob King, Kit Murdock, and two of the members of the December class.
On November 15th a reception was held to celebrate the events of the past year and recognize major contributors to the Yerwood Center. The growth in programs at the Center was highlighted. Currently over 250 children are participating in programs at the Center daily. Youth from elementary through high school are active in the Yerwood Scholars and L.E.A.D. programs. Adult computer literacy programs continue to expand, and student mentoring programs sponsored by LINKS and the 100 Black Men of Stamford are providing active support for students.
Gordon Myers, Chairman of the Board welcomed guests and highlighted the significant expansion during the past 12 month revitalization activity. Allision Sam, Center Executive, described current programs in detail. Valarie Rene, a senior in the L.E.A.D. program, discussed the significant impact the L.E.A.D. program has had on his life, and Bob King, President, thanked the community for their support.
The following organizations were recognized for contributing to the Center:
City of Stamford
Fairfield County Community Foundation
First County Bank
Garden Home Fund
GE Capital Corporation
IBM Corporation
LINKS
UBS Warburg
United Way of Stamford
The William H. Pitt Foundation
XEROX Corporation
Employees from UBS Warburg recently conducted a "Internet Scavenger Hunt" with students at the Center. The idea was to give the challenge of finding information about a topic they were interested in using the Internet. A great time was had by all!
With the beginning of the school year, the new Yerwood Scholars Afterschool program for elementary school students began operations on Tuesday, September 4th. Over thirty students are enrolled in the program, which features a major focus on academic support. The daily program schedule is --
3:00-4:00 Arrival, Homework and Free Play
4:00-4:30 Snack
4:30-5:00 K-2 students - Homework/Gym
Grades 3-5 students - Homework/Art/Group activities
5:00-5:30 K-2 students - Homework/Art/Group activities
Grades 3-5 students - Homework/Gym
5:30-6:00 Prepare for Parent Pick-up
Board Games/Computers
Latasha Herring is the Program Director.
This program is made possible in part through a grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
The new Yerwood Scholars After School Program for elementary school students has begun registration for the 2001-2002 school year. The program is targeted for elementary school children. It will focus on helping students do better both at school and in day-to-day life. It will include tutoring, computer literacy training, and recreation. Transportation from Stillmeadow, Hart, and Westover Elementary schools each day after school is planned.
Parents wishing to enroll their children should contact Kit Murdock at the Yerwood Center at (203)-327-2790.
This program is made possible in part through a grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
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The Yerwood Educational Summer (YES) Camp is well underway. Two days a week the students are enjoying spending time at the Center using the computer center, the gymnasium, and pool in drama, writing, and recreational activities. The other three days a week are spent at local parks, at the beach, and on field trips. The camp is being run jointly with the Stamford YMCA camp, and over 80 students having a great summer!
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Three brothers have donated 1.5 acres of lakeside property in North Stamford to the Yerwood Center. The donation will enable children from the Center to enjoy fishing and boating. It will be used this summer as part of the Yerwood Center Summer Camp program. The three brothers - Chris Miller of Stamford, Peter Miller of Norwalk, and Doug Miller of Portland, Oregon grew up in the house adjacent to the property and learned to fish and boat on the pond.
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On April 18 nine students graduated from our most recent Earn A Computer Class. Students met twice a week for six weeks learning basic computer skills. Volunteer tutors worked with the students teaching writing and grammar skills in addition to computer usage. UBS Warburg and the City of Stamford are primary supporters of this program.
Brenice Duroseau Edyne Celenese Ruth Dorissaint Kennisha Coker
Jasmine Ferrar Sabrina Henri Rose Samedi Mark Exantus
Shirley Faustin
Kit Murdock, Instructor and Yerwood Program Director
UBS Warburg has awarded the Yerwood Center a $20,000 grant to continue and expand the Earn a Computer Program. This program, which began over six years ago, teaches 4th-8th graders computer basics including word processing. The six week class meets twice a week, and at the end of the class, the students take their computers home! Volunteers at Yerwood upgrade donated computers for the students. Over 550 students have earned computers in this program. Its founder, Yerwood Center's Program Director Kit Murdock, has received awards from the Point of Light Foundation and 100 Black Men of Stamford for her leadership creating and running this program.
Gordon Myers, Yerwood Treasurer, Robert E. King, Yerwood President, Robert Mills, UBS Warburg Chief Operating Officer, and Kit Murdock, Yerwood Program Director at Presentation Meeting on March 7, 2001
On February 26th, the YMCA L.E.A.D. Program began operating at the Yerwood
Center. Over one hundred middle and high school students arrived after school at the
Yerwood Center. L.E.A.D. stands for Leadership, Enrichment, Acceptance and
Development. The program develops young adult's self-esteem, sense of civic
responsibility, physical and mental capabilities, and motivation.
Full Story
L.E.A.D. Students First Day at Yerwood Center
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On February 15, Bill Henning began teaching his second computer literacy class for Seniors at the Yerwood Center. Below, three of his five students in the second class are shown learning more about computers and the world on the Internet.
On Wednesday, January 31st the Stamford YMCA and Yerwood Center announced a new joint strategy to expand programs for the local community. Allison Sam, Senior Program Director at the YMCA, will be a loaned executive to the Yerwood Center providing professional management to Yerwood operations. The highly successful and recognized L.E.A.D. program will migrate to the Yerwood Center. This program, for middle school and high school students, currently has over 100 students each day and focuses on leadership and scholastic achievement. The space provided by the Yerwood Center will enable significant expansion of the program.
Stuart Adelberg, President and CEO of the United Way of Stamford, brought the YMCA and Yerwood Center together last Fall encouraging the organizations to work together. Both organizations realized there could be significant benefit to students and adults who use their existing programs, and that programs could be expanded by building on each organizations strengths. The Yerwood and YMCA Board of Directors each approved the collaboration strategy last month and additional future program activities are anticipated.
Stamford YMCA and Yerwood Center Personnel at Announcement
Left to Right: Vincent Ferraro, Stamford YMCA Vice-President; Veronica Carter-Rozier, Stamford YMCA Vice-President; Robert E. King, Yerwood Center President; Gordon Myers, Yerwood Center Board Member and Treasurer; Allison Sam, Stamford YMCA Senior Program Director; Charles Shepard, Yerwood Center Board Member; John Kalamarides, Stamford YMCA President; Thomas J.Steen, Stamford YMCA Chief Executive Officer
With the opening of the new computer laboratory and hiring of additional staff, the computer programs at Yerwood are expanding. New courses are being held -
Seniors Classes
Computer Literacy Thursday 10-11 AM
Internet for Seniors *
Thursday 11:30-12:30 AM
Adult Classes
Computer Literacy * Wednesday 10-11 AM
Microsoft Word * Wednesday 11:30-12:30 AM
Earn a Computer (6 week session)
Monday and Wednesday, 3:30-5:00 PM
Hot Shots (Earn a Computer) Saturday 10-12 AM
Web Design Saturday
Java Programming Saturday
If interested, contact Kit Murdock at 327-2790.
( * The asterisk indicates there is a small fee for this class.)
Supervised Open Computer Laboratory
Come use our new computer laboratory with high speed Internet connections for
free!
Adults 9AM - 3PM Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Students 3:30 - 5 PM Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
On January 15, 2000 approximately 500 individuals marched from Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church to the Yerwood Center to celebrate Martin Luther King day. Breakfast was held at the center. Youth presentations commemorated his life. A panel discussion had youth asking adults questions about the impact Dr. King had on their lives. The adults commented on how his focus on education and non-violence had changed their attitudes and the direction of their live
Attendees Enjoying
Breakfast
Students Commemorating
Dr. King