Maybe Teaching as a Career - Who Knows!?

The CREATE program is often most known for its Robotics component, but it is in fact geared towards introducing students to the entirety of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). Create Academy, a five-week summer program, differentiates itself from other learning programs by its focus on exposing students to the kinds of possibilities and experiences in STEAM careers that they would otherwise not get. Students learn about scientific concepts through fun and creative activities alongside more familiar academic work in the mornings. In addition to STEAM exposure, students also grow in confidence and envision a brighter future for themselves as they are taught and mentored by young leaders from the community.

Waniya Bryant, Create Program Manager, is especially appreciative of the wholistic aspect of Create Academy. The most exciting part of the program, both for Waniya and the kids, is the showcase at the end of the five weeks. During this showcase, students get to display everything they did during the summer, which can include projects and talents as varied as dances and piano pieces.

Waniya has been a long time resident of East Palo Alto, and attended BCM’s programs herself when she was younger. She speaks of the conviction that this kind of experience and legacy has given her (while she keeps an eagle’s eye out for her little niece, who was barreling head first across the parking lot whilst rapidly consuming Cheetos):

“There’s one kid who was in the 5th grade when he started coming to CREATE, and is now going into 8th grade. Recently, an aquatics director at the YMCA (one of our partner organizations) told me about him passing his swim test, and his growth over the years. He was so tiny, and now he is our oldest kid! It’s amazing to watch their growth in many areas, and I’m so glad to share that some of them are now more enthusiastic about STEAM.”

Growing up attending BCM activities is a common experience for other leaders in the CREATE program. Yoyo, an intern with BCM, grew up attending Kidsmart and Streetworkz. She was also a Create Academy student, and found it so fun that she wants to now replicate the experience that she had for the next cohort of kids:

“I had a lot of fun here and I want them to enjoy it, enjoying it to the point that they're sad that it’s over. The teachers make learning really fun and interesting, and they have a different teaching style than at school. They're more creative in how they teach.”

Yoyo’s experience with CREATE motivated her to consider careers involving math, or even teaching: “I was a kid who shied away from math, but I found it useful and did the little quizzes and I remember wanting to keep learning math, and want to try better next time. I also want to come back as a teacher, and I want to create my own way of teaching. I might try out teaching as a career, who knows!”

Two other summer staff with CREATE, Ana and Sofia, lent some of their lunch time to speak about the creative teaching they received when they were participants. They particularly remember the “poop workshop”, which was a class about the digestive system where the kids took full advantage of asking questions about the mystical processes behind poop and pee. Besides these funny moments, they also recall overhearing the kids encouraging one another in their work and to do the right thing, exhibiting values BCM teaches.

As a classroom leader with CREATE, Sofia actually found the skills she learned from another BCM program, LiT, to come in handy:

“BCM helped me with my independence and my self identity, and helped me to step into a leadership role. I’m in charge of watching children and giving them instructions, and I can now put my foot down. I didn't know how to set boundaries before, or even acknowledge the need to set boundaries.”

These four leaders in this summer’s CREATE program are a testament to the value of CREATE—either as participants themselves when they were students, or as staff who are continuing to grow and invest in the next generation of community leaders. .

Meet a 2021 Scholarship Recipient: Kimberly

I have been involved in BCM’s programs since the 4th grade. I first got involved with Bible Club and after I was old enough, I went to StreetWorkz. In high school I became a part of LiT and have grown tremendously and was even the banquet speaker in 2018. With the help of BCM, I was able to obtain my first job as a high school intern for CREATE Academy. I also volunteered at events like Serve Day with Menlo Church.

With BCM’s support, I have been able to develop my leadership skills to positively impact my community. At a BCM retreat, my leadership encouraged peers to share their hardships. I showed vulnerability by sharing my story first and this helped others feel comfortable. My commitment to the program, even when there have been changes in program management, reflects my ability to adjust and continue to lead younger members of the group.

At BCM’s annual banquet, I spoke to over 300 people about how BCM helped me during difficult times. When I was onstage, I became emotional from past hardships. The support I received was unexplainable, and in that moment, I felt true joy and hope for my future. I also talked about my personal aspirations and was overwhelmed with encouragement. BCM has helped me with countless situations and especially helped my family during COVID-19 when my mom tested positive for COVID. Leadership is difficult to cultivate as a minority student, but my eight years at BCM helped me become the supportive leader I'm proud to be today.

As a daughter of immigrants, I feel compassionate toward people of color and immigrants who endure discrimination because of their identity. My sister is in prison, and my eyes have been opened to the injustice people face in the criminal justice system. I felt helpless watching my sister and my family. I realized that if I work hard to become a lawyer, I can help my family and help others needing a voice.

After research and reflection, I decided to become a criminal justice lawyer. This would enable me to speak for people who, like my family, have little formal education and are powerless in the justice system.

Women like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who have similar backgrounds as mine, give me hope and strength to work hard inside and outside of school. At home, I strive to be a role model for my younger brother. Regardless of my circumstances I have learned to embrace my identity and chase my goals.

Like many minority students who have fewer educational opportunities, I have struggled with self-confidence and my academic potential. Yet, despite not having the same educational background as many of my peers, I have pushed myself to take and maintain an A in my AP classes my senior year. I am taking AP English Literature and AP Spanish Language and Culture because both classes will help my career as a lawyer. I have also been in AVID since sophomore year. I take advantage of opportunities at my school: meeting with teachers regularly, attending the tutoring center, and reaching out for help.

I’m part of a low-income family, and that part of my identity can be stressful. One example is helping my mom with my brother. Sometimes I have to interrupt my own work, but helping him has also made me more organized. I know how to manage my time while also prioritizing family bonding. My younger brother has no role model who has gone to college, and I want to help him realize he does not need to go down the same unhealthy path as my older siblings. My future in college will change our family because they will see that our past does not determine our future.

My challenges as a first-generation Latina American who’s dealt with poverty and a sister in the prison system could have kept me down. Instead, they pushed me to step up as a leader, go above and beyond to get good grades, and maintain my goal to help others. My ability to dream big despite my circumstance motivates my fight for justice. I want to change the system, so that it does not treat prisoners as less than human and gives people opportunities to succeed. As a lawyer, I will fight for underrepresented people, give voice to the powerless, and give back to my community.

Overall BCM has been my support system over the past several years and has helped me change my life around. Without BCM I could have ended up in the same path as my older siblings. I am extremely grateful that even with this new chapter in my life that my community at BCM will be able to support me.

Oreos and Gummies in the Summer Classroom

Have elementary school students forgotten how to go to school in person? Will they have the discipline? The self-control to remain seated? Respect for teachers?

Well, yes, if they are among the 37 fortunate East-of-Bayshore students to join Bayshore Christian Ministries’ KidSmart Bridge summer program!

As many schools prepare for a transition back to in-person classes, the staff and volunteers in KidSmart Bridge see an opportunity to serve kids that have undergone almost a year of online learning. For many 1st to 4th grade children that attend KidSmart Bridge, they have been learning at home and away from other kids for long enough that skills such as socializing with other students and extended focus in classrooms need refreshing.

KidSmart Bridge, an all day, in-person academic program which runs for six weeks from June 8th to August 5th, is a great way to prepare students to re-enter the classroom environment and to reinsert themselves at their grade level after a year of interrupted schooling.

KidSmart Bridge divides its programming into morning and afternoon components: the morning is reserved for academic review of the past year and review of the upcoming year’s curriculum. The afternoon is designed to offer hands-on fun like interactive science activities and arts and crafts.

This year, with the help of Innoverge Workshops, students learned about marine engineering and materials sustainability, physics concepts, propulsion, fuel, and the ethics of space exploration. They created models of the moon phases using Oreo cookies, and built a weight-loading bridge using toothpicks and gummies. Besides understanding and applying physics concepts they’ve learnt in their morning academic classrooms they’re also reinforcing good collaborative and social skills with other kids through group work.

"If they can resist consuming too many of their building blocks -- bite shaped Oreo-moons or gummies disproportionately missing a kid’s favorite flavor—then they can build something together to win prizes," laughs a volunteer.

Besides new partners like Innoverge, KidSmart Bridge is also comprised of mainstays — staff and volunteers that have dedicated many years to serving kids in East Palo Alto and deriving joy every year as they lift up new groups of children. Diana Liggs, for example, has been a staff member with KidSmart for 15 years. For her, the ability to impart self-esteem and confidence to do well in school has motivated her to innovate every year:

“Based on the needs that I see in the children I add new components to Bridge every year. For example, we found out that the reason some of the kids were unable to finish their tests online this year was because they didn’t know how to use the keyboard. This simple knowledge gap was really impacting the students’ learning and their self-esteem. I added a typing component to address that issue.

“Last year, there was a fifth grader who was writing an essay to get into a school but did not know how to formulate her ideas. So, I added a writing component to the program.”

Diana is able to shape the program flexibly around the students’ most immediate needs because she has kept in close contact with their teachers in schools. “I want to reinforce what teachers are teaching; I send them emails to introduce myself and communicate that their student attends my after school or summer program. I say, ‘if there’s anything I need to work on with them, please let me know. We have the time and the volunteers.’”

Diana is especially and continuously thankful for the volunteers that have been working with her in KidSmart Bridge for many years. She emphasizes that the volunteers she works with have been amazing and she waits with bated breath every year for them to say ‘yes.’ Some are relatively new, but a few have been with KidSmart Bridge for 8-9 years.

One such volunteer is Roland, who found out about Bayshore Christian Ministries and KidSmart through Menlo Church’s website. He describes his constancy and dedication to the kids in a matter-of-fact way: “When I started serving in this ministry, it just seemed to work out.”

Roland is attentive to the new learning difficulties that this past year has presented to the kids: “A lot of the kids lost ground from being at home during the pandemic. It is satisfying to see them figure it out. I love that moment when it comes back to them and it clicks.”

Both Diana and Roland display the spirit of KidSmart Bridge as a program that aims to develop children’s academics wholistically; by always seeking out the particular needs and gaps in each student’s life and accommodating specific areas of need. The propensity to be on the lookout is apparent in other volunteers too, as they move from table to table during the bridge-building afternoon component to offer advice, answer questions, and mediate disagreements whenever they come up. With their help, KidSmart Bridge’s students will be better equipped to move past turbulent times and to return to a new year of learning.