I received an email from the Simmons College Alumni association a few months back asking if I wanted to be involved with Promising Pals. Basically I get partnered up with a middle school student at the Timilty Middle School in Roxbury, MA and we write letters back and forth. Here is a press release about the program.The Scott/Ross Center for Community Service is currently recruiting
volunteers from the Simmons community for this year's Promising Pals
program, a writing initiative with student from the James P. Timilty
School in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. Through a series of letters
exchanged over a six month period (December - May), the program
fosters relationships between middle school students and adults in the
Greater Boston area.
Promising Pals is collaboration between the James P. Timilty Middle School
and the Greater Boston community. Started in 1986, the program highlights
literacy and mentoring by giving students exposure to the outside
professional world through an exciting writing initiative with an area
adult.
Simmons College is one of the largest participants involved in the program.
Last year over 160 Simmons faculty and staff members, graduate
students, and alumni joined over 600 professionals from greater Boston
to be a part of this program. By establishing a correspondence
relationship between Timilty students and professionals in the Greater
Boston area, the Promising Pals Program encourages self-expression,
role modeling, and skill development. Through the program, adults and
students correspond regularly by writing letters at intervals
throughout the second semester of the school year.
I got my first Promising Pal letter a few days ago in the mail. My Pal wrote a lengthy letter telling me about herself, as well as asking all sorts of great questions. I plan on answering her letter over the weekend, and look forward to hearing back from her.
Enjoy ~SJ
