ADULT CONNECTIONS

Through signature projects, students work with adults from the community, workplace, or postsecondary and industry partnerships who serve as the coach, advisor or mentor. These connections provide students with the opportunity to work with and/or observe adults at work and to develop a broader understanding of the project.

Signature Projects are academically rigorous applied learning projects that are a hallmark of School to Career practice in Boston. Signature Projects are characterized by six A's:
   Authenticity
   Academic Rigor
   Applied Learning
   Active Exploration
Adult Connections
   Assessment

Examples of Adult Connections

Web Site Project
O'Bryant

Students work with consultants from the law firm of Peabody and Arnold and other consultants from NFTE: Charles Blackburn, Kenneth Elmore, Jonathan Winnick, Tim Egan, Kristen Kraeger, Adam Curry, Christine Filosa, Jason Duncan, and Eve Waterfall. The students also work with clients of the TechBoston Consulting Group.

School to Career Pathway Video Project
Brighton

Mass Interaction staff schedule regular skills training and support - technical, set design and talent development. Students shadow professional technicians on shoots and in the studio and interview school administrators and internship supervisors.

Westie Water Wars Project
West Roxbury

WHDH and WCVB partnerships offer regular program support. Professionals offer technical and creative expertise and inspiration for students to aim for high standards. Students meet with and visit professionals as shadows and see an expert in action. Students interact with teachers from the elementary school.

Business Plan (NFTE) Project
East Boston

Business plan coaches meet with students on a regular business to assist students in developing their plans. Individuals will also be used from the community to act as judges for the business plan competition.

One in a Million Class Fund Project
Charlestown

Research analysts who worked for Salomon Brothers and now work for Bain & Co, a Charlestown High business partner, along with speakers from PIC, Boston Partners, and small investment clubs lend support. The students also interact regularly with adults in the community who have invested in their fund.

ETA / City Build
Mary Baker Eddy Entryway Structural Design Project
Dorchester

The students meet weekly with a team of project managers. Students may meet adults from the Shawmut Design & Construction; Ann Beha Associates; AHA Consulting Engineers; Mary Baker Eddy Library; The First Church of Christ, Scientist. Throughout this project the students and the project managers develop a collaborative work plan.

From pH to Parkland Project
Charlestown

Ivey St. John, Director, Charlestown Waterfront Coalition ♦ Ann Silva, Newtown community activist ♦ Lynn Morgenstern, Teacher Resource Center staff, New England Aquarium ♦ Mentor from Boston Bar Association's Law Day in the Schools Program ♦ Shanna Small, VISTA volunteer, Urban Ecology Institute

Books and Bookings Project
East Boston

Chamber of Commerce ♦ Main Streets Program ♦ Children's Museum ♦ Private Industry Council ♦ Colleges with whom we have articulation agreements.

Children's Books - Read Them! Share Them! Write Them!
Boston High and West Roxbury

Students interview teachers, parents, or librarians with questions they create about the importance of teaching. They complete research on the Internet about the importance of reading at a young age. Students write tips on how to become better readers for parents of younger children and create "refrigerator art" with those tips using graphics from the computer. Students ask their own parents about how they learned how to read in their own home and how their parents learned how to read. College students enrolled in education courses become email mentors to give TEACHBoston students ideas about how to improve their writing and what it is like to major in education at the postsecondary level.

Codman Square Lead Contamination Initiative
Dorchester

A guest speaker provides students insight into organizing communities into action around issues of environmental concern. ♦ Students develop action plan for a case study with the guidance of guest speaker. ♦ Student teams gather and map samples from assigned sites around the school. ♦ Students research different levels of government and analyze the impact that each has on lead issues. ♦ Students read and analyze and determine the impact of proposed legislation. ♦ Students work in small groups to collect and organize information to present to the public about lead, through brochures, posters, and presentations.

Narrowing the Digital Divide by Building Computers Project
J.E. Burke

Students will shadow professionals at Computer Warehouse, Dorchester, MA. Computer Warehouse employees also serve as guest speakers to help students prepare to upgrade and build personal computers from recycled parts. Students also work with professionals at Deli Video Productions to produce a video that documents the process. Used equipment is received from adults at the Enabling Center (Recycle Center). In addition, students display the computers and present the video to school staff and community members.

TechAssist - Helping Schools Help Themselves
Madison Park

Boston Housing Authority ♦ Boston Public School Administration ♦ TechBoston ♦ Boston Community Centers