May Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Council
issue
NEWSLETTER
16/ 2019
Our Mission is to foster and support an environment of inclusion, respect, fairness, and transparency, where differences are celebrated and all opinions are valued.
2019–2020 Mentorship Program Draws Nearly 40 Participants
The Council was excited to welcome its largest ever cohort of mentors and mentees to the Mentorship Program. Nearly 40 staff from across the organization are tapping into this employee resource.
The program requires mentors and mentees to meet at least one hour monthly, in person or by teleconference, for a period of nine months. Mentors and mentees agree on specific goals the mentees want to achieve. They develop an action plan and work towards attaining the set goals. Over the course of monthly meetings, the pairs continue to review and evaluate goals, measure progress, and discuss ways to help the mentees stay on track. The Mentorship Program supports the Council’s mission of helping to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Research shows that mentoring offers developmental opportunities, and leads to increased retention, job satisfaction, and promotion.
provides a holistic approach to education by supporting and supplementing the education received by the girls at local public schools. The program provides leadership training, social education, and extra-curricular activities that range from capoeira to dramatic arts. The girls This outreach project is the fifth in the Council’s consistently receive transportation to school, school “Helping Hands, Open Arms” Campaign, an employeeuniforms and supplies, two daily meals, and healthcare. led and funded initiative which seeks to support Free university entrance exam preparation classes for national and international projects that are of interest high school-aged girls and older women are also to our colleagues. available. The local community benefits both indirectly Founded in 1996, Bahia Street aims to “break cycles of and directly: parents, caregivers, and other partner poverty and organizations violence through receive educaWHAT YOUR HELP CAN DO! quality educational and tion for resource support. $1,000 WILL FUND impoverished one (1) Prior to receiving TO SERVE girls and young educator the funds raised women.” 16 girls by May Institute The Council employees, Bahia EACH GIRL RECEIVES chose Bahia Street was Street from providing among a number services to 30 FOR 5 months of projects and girls, even though organizations its capacity is 80. nominated by Attendance has May employees. been limited due BRAZIL “While in Brazil, to a lack of I saw firsthand funding. One the work that thousand dollars Bahia Street is of the money doing and was amazed at its ability to help girls flourish raised is now funding one additional educator trainee despite disadvantaged circumstances,” said Roba position for five months. This allows Bahia Street to Hrisseh, serve an additional 16 girls for this time period. With the M.Ed., Education Technology Teacher at the May Center additional funds raised, services will also be extended. School in Randolph, and nominator of the project. “My Special thanks to Kristen Daisy, M.S., CLS, Family heart is so full knowing that my colleagues took the Services Coordinator at the May Center School in time, energy, and their financial resources to help Bahia Randolph; Kristen Molinski, M.Ed., Director of Street. I am truly humbled and proud.” Education at the May Center School in Brockton; and Led by educators and staff who themselves come from Darrell Heon, Director of Facilities Operations, for economically impoverished backgrounds, Bahia Street spearheading this year’s outreach project. Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from May staff, the Council exceeded its $1,000 goal and raised $1,439 to support Bahia Street Brazil, an organization in Salvador, Brazil.
TRANSPORTATION
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
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The Mentorship Program enables employees to explore professional and educational interests and gain one-on-one advice from experienced colleagues. It is sponsored by the Council and is open to employees at all levels and in all roles who have been employed at May one year or more.
Brazil Outreach Initiative Surpasses Goal
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
UNIFORMS
HEALTHCARE
DAILY MEALS
UNIVERSITY EXAM PREP
With poverty and violence a major problem for many women in the city of
Salvador in Brazil, Bahia Street aims to “break the cycle of poverty” by supporting and supplementing education for impoverished girls and young women.
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Cooking Up a Celebration Employees at the May Center for Adult Services in Revere know how to throw a celebration! Quarterly breakfasts and an annual potluck lunch feature a smorgasbord of delectable dishes from across the world — Bangeldesh’s vegetable biryani, Gambia’s fish pie, Russia’s take on paella, Nigeria’s jellof rice, and Jamaica’s curry goat, just to name a few. “It’s a great way to celebrate our diversity and build camaraderie,” said Minto Kamruzzaman, Director of Day Habilitation Services in Revere, and coordinator of these events. “Staff are excited and proud to show off their heritage. Some wear clothing that represents their culture, others teach us which food accompanies a particular meal or how certain foods are eaten. We learn from and about each other all while enjoying these delicious foods.” Staff at the Day Hab program hail from nearly 20 countries across the globe.
HURRICANE & STORM RELIEF:
For information on donating to the relief efforts underway in the Bahamas, please contact the Embassy Consular Annex of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at 202-734-6578 or info@consulateofthebahamasdc.com. To learn about relief efforts for Texas, contact American Red Cross at 800-733-2767 or visit redcross.org.