communityofferings@bostonvineyard.org                                            August 2009
Vineyard Community Offerings Newsletter
Meet unlikely friends. See God. Change the World.

Change Is in the Air

Along with the approaching autumn, this is a season of change here at Vineyard Community Offerings. We recently added two new team members, increasing our staff size to seven. In addition, we are in the process of changing the name of our Passport program to REACH in order to better serve the needs of the participants and volunteers. Read on to meet Yolanda and Liz, and to hear some exciting news about Soccer Nights and REACH. Here's to a season of change!

Danny Tao
Executive Director
Meet the Staff Newbies!
 
                    Yolanda                     Liz Bowen
                 Yolanda "I speak Spanish" Darlington               Liz "I love free food" Bowen

What is your role at Vineyard Community Offerings?
Yolanda: I'm working as an AmeriCorps VISTA as the program manager for REACH. I co-facilitate REACH workshops, oversee mentors, foster career and REACH alumni networks, and plan program events.
Liz: I'm an AmeriCorps VISTA, meaning AmeriCorps is funding my assignment here at the Vineyard as Soccer Nights program manager and development associate. Here's to soccer and donations!

What led you to work at Vineyard Community Offerings?
Yolanda: I recently graduated with a degree in Social Work and my passions are to mentor, counsel, and encourage youth to fulfill their destiny. I believe education and providing resources are the best ways to assist youth in achieving their goals, and the REACH program does just that!
Liz: My background is in public relations and slowly over the past three years I've had a growing desire to serve and immerse myself in a greater capacity in the community. Strangely enough, it took an image of a kilt-clad Mel Gibson leading his fellow Scotsmen into battle to inspire me to make the leap.

What are your hopes and dreams for this year?
Yolanda: To be more in tune with my gifts and how I can use them to serve others.
Liz: To learn what it means to really love my neighbors.

What's your favorite non-work activity?
Yolanda: Playing piano, singing, and writing songs - I love to teach others about music.
Liz: Tough to pick, but anything involving friends and food. I'm also a sucker for bumper cars.

What's one thing people might not know about you?
Yolanda: I have an album out. Ask me and I'll tell you more about it!
Liz: I still tie my shoes with the two "bunny ears."
Soccer Nights 2009 By the Numbers
Kids at session 1&2 - 331
Volunteers at session 1&2 - 132
Soccer balls - 154
Soccer cones - 500
Days with rain - 6 (out of 10)
Whistles - 75
Police officers who doubled as coaches - 6
Collaborating organizations - 6
Ice cream cups - 288
Goldfish snacks - 15,840
Soccer Nights dance-off - priceless
Introducing... REACH REACH, seniors





















Vineyard Community Offerings is proud to announce the renaming of our two-year enrichment and college advising program, Passport, to REACH. Everything you know and love about Passport will still be offered in REACH, along with some exciting program expansions, including:
  • Monthly mentoring workshops
  • Student workbook
  • Curriculum-based community service activities
  • SAT reinforcement/ office hours
If you would like more information, or to apply to be a REACH mentor for the '09-'10 school year, please contact Yolanda at Yolanda@bostonvineyard.org or visit
www.bostonvineyard.org/REACH.
Want to Learn More?
For more information about Vineyard Community Offerings or to sign up to receive our newsletters via email, please visit us at www.bostonvineyard.org/communityofferings.