WAKEFIELD’S Youth Action Team Leaders beam with pride after being awarded a check to begin an English Language Learner mentoring program.
WAKEFIELD — On Saturday, April 1 four of Wakefield’s Youth Action Team Leaders attended the Social Capital Inc. Grant Pitch Contest at Microsoft in Cambridge.
The SCI Grant Pitch Contest has the goal of empowering youth identify and address pressing problems and needs within their communities.
At the presentation, Sienna Catizone led the group in presenting their proposal for funding for a mentorship program between ELL (English Language Learner) students at Galvin Middle School and Wakefield Memorial High School. The goal of the mentorship program is to help students who are new to the country feel more connected to the Wakefield community. High School mentors would not only be a role model for their middle school mentee, but would also help the ELL students get to know what resources and programs are available to them in Wakefield.
For the past six weeks, Youth Action Team leaders Trevor Veilleux, Alannah Schuster and Sienna Catizone have been working with an adult advisor provided by Social Capital Inc. to create a grant proposal to present to a panel of judges.
On April 1, the group presented in front of 4 judges who gave great feedback. After review the judges presented the leaders with their checks.
The Youth Action Team received a check for $1,000 which will go towards the mentoring program that is now being created!