National Grid Foundation
Our Support Making a Difference
Mercy Works Changes Lives… DESTINY X Q1 2020
National Grid Foundation
National Grid Foundation
Board Member Moment
Michael Taunton Destiny: How did you first become interested/involved with the Foundation? MT: My involvement with the Foundation is primarily due to Bob Catell’s (former KeySpan CEO) belief that it’s important to give back to the community. The Foundation was a great opportunity for me to demonstrate that commitment. It was also the beginning of several other Boards that I became involved with such as the Boy Scouts, American Cancer Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am no longer involved in these organizations primarily because I retired. Destiny: How many years have you been a board member? MT: My overall time with the Foundation has been at least 15 years. I was still employed at KeySpan when I joined the Board of Directors and remained until I left to work at LIPA in 2012. After leaving LIPA, I was asked to rejoin the Board in 2014. Destiny: Why do you continue to be involved with the Foundation? What interests you most about National Grid Foundation and the organizations the Foundation supports? MT: With respect to the Foundation, I am a very strong believer in education. It is the reason I am currently an adjunct professor at Nassau Community College. For me, the opportunity to provide students at an early age additional training, particularly in the STEM areas, is vital. If we can help young people find a path that will guide them in their future, we will all benefit. Hopefully, they remember the Foundation and its support when they become adults and also give back to the community.
www.nationalgridfoundation.com
Destiny newsletter is a quarterly publication created to give you a glimpse into the stories of some of the organizations and programs National Grid Foundation supports.
DESTINY X Q1 2020
Editor Creative Director Executive Director
Christine Berardi Pamela Focá Edward H. White Jr.
Cover photo courtesy of Mercyworks
Photo courtesy of Mercyworks
Mercy Works Changes Lives One Internship at a Time By Christine Berardi
In the span of a 10-week paid internship, inner-city undergraduate students in upstate New York have an opportunity to change their lives.
The organization’s belief is that “vision changes everything.” Its mission: “We believe in empowering individuals to define their life’s vision and enable them to leverage opportunities.” The students are participants in a Mercy Works program that has helped hundreds of students since 2005. The organization’s belief is that “vision changes everything.” Its mission: “We believe in empowering individuals to define their life’s vision and enable them to leverage opportunities.” One Mercy Works program that has leveraged opportunities is the Synergy Leadership Training Program offered at Mercy Works’ Vision Center in Syracuse, New York. The program is Mercy Works “largest, most ambitious and most expensive programs” according to Joelle Harleston, Director of Development and Community Relations at Mercy Works. “It is focused on placing approximately 50 self-motivated college undergrads in paid internships at local companies across Syracuse. The participants see benefits ranging from real-world work experience to learning financial management concepts,” she said.
National Grid Foundation
The program’s features a four-pillar system of Professional Development, Community Service, Health and Well Being and Financial Stewardship. “Synergy Leadership Training Program’s four-pillar approach is what makes Mercy Works different from other organizations,” said Harleston. “We offer students a well-rounded program that includes internships, volunteerism, wellness and financial responsibility which will help in their success.” She explained the four pillars:
Professional Development assists students with resume writing, interviewing skills and networking
1
Community Service
Health and Well Being
Financial Stewardship
teaches students to pay it forward through volunteering and participating on a community project
workshops in stress management, time management and nutrition and exercise are available to students
information on debt management, savings and check management and establishing a financial portfolio is offered to participants
2
3
4
The 2018-2019 program placed 52 undergraduate students in paid internships in 22 local Syracuse businesses. During the internship, students are mentored and gained hands-on and real-world business experiences in their chosen field. These students represent 21 New York State colleges pursuing 26 majors. From the sponsor companies, 20 mentors provided professional insight at program workshops. Synergy Leadership provides a family environment where students feel comfortable in speaking with other participants or staff/mentors to working in the computer lab to enjoying a meal together. On Power Friday, a mentor is available to the students. In addition, Mercy Works continues to evaluate the students, assessing their needs and skill sets and keeps in touch with many graduates who return to speak with current participants. “Through the Synergy Leadership Training Program, we teach the students to dream big, that they can succeed, and we will support them every step of the way.” — Joelle Harleston ❧
National Grid Foundation
Meet Klay Kyaw Clarence Jordan Visionary Award Recipient Each year at the Mercy Works’ annual gala, the Clarence Jordan Visionary Award is presented to a deserving student. Klay Kyaw, a 2019 Synergy graduate, is the recipient of the most recent award. He said, “I was honored to be given the Clarence Jordan Visionary Award.” For Kyaw, the award represents overcoming his fears. He is surprised by his level of self-confidence. “At the Vision Center, you can build a level of self-confidence that helps develop individuals. I could have never have done what they had done when I was a kid. The Vision Center has its way of developing young individuals to reach beyond their mindset,” he said. Known for his excellent work ethic and ability to connect with others, he said of experience, “Mercy Works is a great organization that empowers young adults to find their purpose in life and help them reach their goal. After Synergy, I realized that I am not alone. I’ve learned a lot from everyone there.” “Mercy Works teaches young adults to learn about themselves and mature much more quickly. Photo courtesy of Mercyworks The program opened my eyes and helped me find my purpose in life.”
Klay Kyaw
Describing himself as an extreme introvert before his Synergy internship, Kyaw said, “I have changed many ways. Being able to socialize with people is an advantage every individual should learn.” Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety Chief Bobby Maldonado was Kyaw’s mentor during his Synergy internship who taught his what the future could hold. After graduating from college, he hopes to join the police force. They still keep in touch. “I believe the Synergy program helped me shape my future and goals.”
— Klay Kyaw
❧
National Grid Foundation
Photos courtesy of Northland — Tyshawn Jackson and instructor Guy Hughson
Northland Offers a Hand Up to Residents and City of Buffalo By Christine Berardi
For students like Tyshawn Jackson, Northland Workforce Training Center offers an opportunity of a lifetime. New York State’s second-largest city of Buffalo also benefits. Established in September 2018, Northland is an integral part of New York State’s Buffalo Billion plan which aims to broaden the economic well-being of Western New York. By growing and sustaining a highly skilled and diverse workforce, Northland will take Buffalo and the advanced manufacturing and energy industries into the future. Focusing on training, internships, apprenticeships and permanent employment to close the skills gap of local labor, Northland offers academic remedial support and specialized training to students. The Advanced Manufacturing Training Center and the
Utility of the Future & Clean Energy Training Center are the two state-of-the-art training facilities. Northland offers for-credit, certificate and degree programs at SUNY Alfred Stated College in Alfred, NY and SUNY Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY. According to Stephen Tucker, President and CEO, Northland Workforce Training Center, in the next 10 years, more than 20,000 advanced manufacturing jobs will be available in the region while nearly 50 percent of the energy workforce in New York is expected to retire. Northland’s goal is not to just fill a job opening but to provide people with advanced skills
National Grid Foundation
leading to long, successful careers building Buffalo’s future. “Our vision is to be the premiere model of a public/private partnership providing education, training and workforce development services that are industry driven and employment focused,” Tucker said. Working with schools, businesses, communities and local government, Northland recruits students who want to work but may need remedial help with their literacy and math studies. “We have an aggressive outreach and recruiting strategy that directly engages more than 5,000 prospective students annually,” he said. “Despite having a High School Diploma or High School Equivalency, only 30 percent of prospective students demonstrate 10th grade literacy and numeracy proficiency.”
To combat and improve those statistics, Northland developed and launched the Academic Advancement Support Program. The program addresses the academic shortfall and increases access to Northland’s technical training opportunities. National Grid Foundation supports the program where students receive additional educational assistance and tutoring while enrolled in technical programs at Northland. During its inaugural year, Northland Workforce Training Center offered training and classes to 175 prospective students who were accepted in the SUNY programs. Forty percent of that class were enrolled in the Academic Advancement Support Program. One of those students is Tyshawn Jackson who worked hard and became a certified welder preparing to graduate.
Tyshawn Jackson
“While in school, I had an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to assist me with my reading and writing. I was excited when I graduated from Maritime High School in 2018. Continuing he said, “Although I always wanted to go to college, I knew I needed extra support to increase my likelihood of success. That’s when I heard about Northland Workforce Training Center. After attending a Pre-Enrollment Session, I felt Northland would provide me with the support systems (Career Coaching/Job Placement) I needed to successfully complete my education and enter a career in advanced manufacturing. I was accepted into Northland in their Academic Advancement Support Program (AASP). I am now a senior in Alfred State’s Welding Program with a 3.6 grade point average.” Tyshawn thanks the National Grid Foundation for its support and investment in the people living in the communities it serves. He impressed CEO Stephen Tucker with his hard work. “Tyshawn had trouble reading and needed
assistance. Within a few months of receiving help from the Academic Advancement Support Program, Tyshawn made improvements. But what I saw most was that he had grit and determination. Now, he’s reading blueprints and other technical documents.” Northland Workforce Training Center is one company contributing to Buffalo’s success story one person and one job at a time. ❧
National Grid Foundation
A Friend in Need, Is a Friend Indeed By Deborah Drew
There’s much debate around the true meaning of the phrase “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” but at Friends of the Children, Boston, there’s no debate: Children born into poverty are at risk for dropping out of school, substance abuse, incarceration and teen parenting. This organization is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing a salaried, professional mentor, called a Friend, for a child’s entire childhood, from kindergarten through graduation — 12.5 years, no matter what. Now that’s a friend, indeed. The transformation process starts every spring when the organization begins a four-week observation process in kindergarten classrooms to identify those children who face an at-risk situation at home. Once selected, each student is matched with a longterm, full-time FRIEND who is a staff member of the Friends of the Children, Boston, and is trained in social work, education and youth development. To assure success, student ACHIEVERS receive years of comprehensive support. Based on the Friends of the Children model created in Oregon in 1993, Friends of the Children, Boston, was founded in 2014 as an independent chapter. Through its mentoring model, youth spend 14-16 hours per month with their professional mentor engaged in intentional and small group activities. Each child has an individualized strategic plan that is implemented relationally. Each Achiever has a RoadMap for Success that lays out short-term and long-term goals and the incremental steps it will take to reach them. The RoadMap is focused on School Success, Social & Emotional Development, Improved Health, Making Good Choices, and Plans & Skills for the Future.
National Grid Foundation
"The Friends of the Children's model is a unique one: We commit over 12 years of professional mentoring with youth facing the most challenging circumstances, no matter what,” said Yi-Chin Chen, Executive Director, Friends of the Children, Boston. “We rely on partners who are equally as committed to the educational success of our youth to build the web of support that makes it all possible. National Grid Foundation stands out as an instrumental partner that goes a step beyond -- from grants giving that critical programming support to volunteerism, we consider National Grid Foundation a part of our community where our Achievers thrive!" The National Grid Foundation has supported the Friends of the Children model for six years, and understands that working with the selected children through high school graduation -- in close partnership with their family, school, and community -- assures that each child receives appropriate services to stabilize their lives. Friends understands their unique needs, and pushes them to excel, while avoiding early parenting, involvement with the Juvenile Justice System, and other scenarios that hinder success. ❧
YP2 =
Math Literacy & Equity in Education for Hundreds Mathematics covers the study of quantity, structure, space and change. Simple, right? Not so simple when you add in math literacy that invests in young people – high school and college students – from low-income communities. The Young People’s Project (YPP) employs these students as knowledge workers – Math Literacy Workers -- and puts them to work teaching their younger peers math and STEM. YPP has developed original curriculum materials and fun, interactive math games for elementary students, and training materials and programs for high school and college students. In Boston, YPP runs an after-school math games league, called the Flagway™ League, where three teams of 3rd – 7th graders play and compete in interactive math games that build number sense. YPP also co-teaches a
9th -11th grade elective math and computer science course sequence at Excel High School in Boston for 50 students, that, in turn, engages the students in leading pop-up coding boot camps for hundreds of Boston middle and elementary school students. It also offers a Math and Computational Thinking Lab during school vacations that help build key math skills using math and computer science activities for 8th and 9th graders who are selected by local schools and districts. The Young People’s Project, founded in 1996, is a national organization with 11 locations and programs from New York to California. The National Grid Foundation has supported its program in the Greater Boston area for nearly four years. With near-peer learning at its core, YPP takes its math literacy workers and provides 6-8 weeks of training from YPP staff, spread out
National Grid Foundation
over the summer, fall, and winter. They provide instruction for younger students in 60-90 minute sessions, 2 days per week for up to 30 weeks from October - June, and for an additional 5-6 weeks in July and August. Young People’s Project Executive Director Maisha Moses says that ensuring all children receive a quality and equitable education, especially in STEM, is a big problem requiring significant resources. “I like to say that every community is rich in young people who have tremendous energy and talent,” she said. “I encourage schools and school districts to think differently about their students, especially those who are struggling, and to invest in them as resources who can help with the problem. I don’t think we are going to work our way out of the problem if we don’t include the students as part of the solution. YPP is one model for how that can happen.” Ms. Moses’ work focuses on broadening the participation of groups underrepresented
in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Ultimately, YPP uses math literacy work to develop the abilities of elementary and high school students to succeed in school and life. In doing so, YPP teaches young people the skills required to eliminate institutional obstacles that threaten their success. YPP envisions a day when every young person – regardless of ethnicity, gender, or class – has access to a high-quality education and the skills, attributes, and community support they need to succeed, and to overcome the challenges of their generation. Education, particularly equity in education, is one of the critical challenges for this generation and is a national/societal/cultural problem that affects everyone. The ripple effects of this inequity spread deep into society and raising national consciousness to understand the depth and importance of this issue is critical to addressing it. ❧
"Look Deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein