June /July 2015 eNewsletter
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Recent Happenings
Graduation season is always a joyous time at the Foundation.  There is nothing like looking into the crowd at our annual Scholarship Awards Reception and seeing the promise staring back at us.  Knowing so many in the audience are embarking on a journey away from Cape Cod, this month we're focusing on the people who have chosen to come back to this place to raise the next generation of Cape Codders.
Feeling Stuck?

2012 CCYP Career Connect Winners

Stephanie Ellis, Toni Rubino, Matt Kemp, Carl Monroe

 Most people can look back at their childhood and remember one special teacher who impacted their world view.  For Matt Kemp, it was a teacher he had while a student at Nauset Middle School.  After the teacher's passing a few years ago, Matt found himself reexamining his career path.  A potter and sculpture who grew up in a family of artists, Matt often taught within the confines of museums, but realized teaching his craft full time in the public school system would allow him to impart his knowledge on a much wider scale.

 

Like many careers, teaching is not something one can just jump into.  In the state of Massachusetts, one must first be certified and in pursuit of a Master's Degree.  Married with two young daughters, Matt knew he would need support to advance his career and looked to CCYP for guidance.  "I remember attending the Young Professional meetings in the beginning when Gary Sheehan was spearheading the group and trying to gauge interest."  Raising a young family, it became harder for Matt and his wife to attend events, but he remembered the organization had a scholarship fund with The Cape Cod Foundation designed to help people in similar circumstances.

 

The CCYP Career Connect Scholarship is for adult students who wish to return to school, train in a new profession, or take courses to develop their professional life on Cape Cod.  Matt received the scholarship in the fall of 2012, to help him pursue his teaching certification and Master's degree.  "The money was nice," said Matt, "but the acknowledgement from an organization in the community supporting people in the pursuit of success, was far more meaningful." 

 

Matt now heads up the Fine Arts Department at Barnstable High School, a role vacated by Carl Lopes after over three decades in the Barnstable School System.  He acknowledges the role that teachers play in their students' lives may be tiny, but can also be impactful.  Teaching has also provided a structured career path and provided a stable income and benefits which helps to overcome the many challenges families face on Cape Cod.

 

When asked what advice he would give to other people considering going back to school to advance or change career paths, Matt said, "Having faith in yourself is important, but you must also recognize that it will be difficult work.  Identify the steps that it will take to reach your goal and then tackle them one step at a time."  Matt also stressed the importance of networking and surrounding yourself with people who support you, stating, "Success doesn't happen in a vacuum." 

 

At a time when our region is struggling to retain young families, Matt's story is a great example that these challenges can be overcome when we work as a community to solve them.

 

CCYP Career Connect

 

 

 

2015 Cape Cod Foundation Scholarship Recipients  Photo: Jennifer Lynch
Celebrating the Future
A crowd of more than 250 filled the lawn of the Dennis Inn on Thursday, June 18th for the Foundation's annual Scholarship Awards Reception.  Students and their families were able to meet and thank the many donors who make these awards possible.  The Foundation is thrilled to announce that together with our partner organization, The Cape Cod Association, this year's scholarship awards top $877,000!

This event continues to be extremely rewarding for the Foundation's board and staff, as well as the many scholarship committee members who tirelessly review applications, and of course, our wonderful donors. They say it takes a village to raise a child - the same is true when it comes to processing scholarships!

For a full listing of our 2015 Scholarship Recipients, please refer to our website!

Dative founder Chris OBrien at the Foundation's Scholarship Awards Reception  Photo: Jennifer Lynch 
Home is Where the Heart Is

As high school seniors don their cap and gown this month, the experience is often bittersweet. About to embark on their next adventure, many accept that their days as Cape Codders are over.

CCYP has done extensive work in their Shape the Cape initiative to determine what is hindering the Cape's ability to attract and retain young people. With a relatively high cost of living, in addition to a largely service based economy, the lack of high paying skilled jobs is often at the crux of the issue. When contemplating speakers for the Foundation's June 18th scholarship reception, it was our desire to find someone who had successfully returned to the Cape.

Chris OBrien is just another kid from Falmouth. He returned to the Cape after attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and took up residence in his parents basement, admittedly feeling like a failure.  But as he found his footing, his feelings about the Cape evolved.

"I started to see the Cape differently.  I saw opportunity.  Opportunity to make a career and a life, in a place that I loved.  So I started a company.  A few years later, I started another one.  I'm actually about to launch a third company," Chris told the crowd.

 A talented designer and digital strategist, Chris works in a field where you are constantly under the gun to keep pace with quickly evolving technology. He recognizes the important role of mentoring in career development and touted the CCYP's Mentor Exchange program which he participated in this past year.  In the spirit of mentorship, he imparted three bits of advice on the gathered recipients that had helped him on his journey.

Chris urged students to take that first step, "Successful people start." Once you start, remember to show up every day for everything in life you commit to.  And lastly, he reminded those assembled to be nice. 

Chris is Vice Chairman of the CCYP Board of Directors, where he also volunteers on the marketing committee. He is a 2013 winner of Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine's 40 Under 40 award. He also runs Build Guild Cape Cod, a local networking group for designers and web developers. Chris lives in Bourne with his wife and two children.


Barnstable County Courthouse  Photo: Alyssa Chase
Civics in Action

There are many different styles of learning. Some of us retain information better seeing it written on a page. Others remember things best after hearing it spoken. But many would agree, most often we learn best by doing. Where better to embrace this idea of involved learning, than in Civics education? The League of Women Voters in the Cape Cod Area, together with The Cape Cod Foundation, has unveiled the LWV Civic Education Fund to support Action Civics for middle and high school students of Cape Cod.

The Action Civics movement encourages students to become participants in the learning process. The Fund will support middle and high school teachers in initiating, or expanding, civic education opportunities for their students. The goal is to foster an engaged citizenry capable of effective participation in the civic process, in their communities and in society.

Examples of fundable activities include:   civic-related field trips, entrance fees for students to special events, consultant fees for leadership development for students, fees to cover a special program for students, or a professional development experience for teachers that will help them offer action civics curriculum. The goal is to fund at least one activity in each school district on Cape Cod annually.

The focus on Action Civics is a great reminder that our education should not stop when we leave the classroom. With all but one town on Cape Cod using the traditional town meeting form of government, we are all given a front row seat into the demographic process, if we should choose to partake. As the League of Women Voters likes to say, "Democracy is not a spectator sport!"


From Volunteer to Operations Officer

Nancy Coyle started her relationship with the Foundation as a volunteer.  With extensive non-profit experience, her knowledge quickly translated to increased operational efficiencies within our office.  Recognizing the immense value she brought to the Foundation, Nancy transitioned from volunteer to employee.  "There was no pay, and then there was," was Nancy's coy response to how the transition came about.

Originally drawn to the Foundation due to its work in the community, Nancy found she loved interacting with the people both within the office and the non-profit community on Cape Cod.
When asked what people may not know about her, Nancy laughed, "What you see is what you get!"  Behind the scenes, though, you will find that Nancy is a driving force behind keeping the office a welcoming place.  You'll often see her tending to the numerous plants - always knowing what needs a little more light.  She has a flair for reinvention, knowing how to rearrange a bouquet or add a coat of paint to bring just about anything back to life. 

No longer a volunteer, Nancy hasn't lost the energy she has for her work.  We're lucky to have her!
GALE Fund logo
GALE Fund is Calling All Brainstormers!
Remember that old commercial - "Times change, tastes change and I've changed too!"?  Changing times and changing attitudes sometimes mean that traditional ways of doing things are not as effective as they once were. So the GALE Fund has determined that it's time to re-examine our approach and try something new.  But what?

Our most recent study says that the work of supporting the groups and agencies that support the LGBT community is just as important today as when the Fund started over 15 years ago, so we need to keep going!

If you believe, as we do, that this work is important and are willing to spare a little time, please join us in a Brainstorming session being planned for  July to help us set a new course. Please contact the Foundation office at 508-790-3040 to be added to our Brainstormer list and we will be in touch once the plans are set!