MPF Alumni Newsletter: Spring Quarter No Images? Click here MPF Alumni NewsletterSpring 2017
In This Issue:
Pass the Wagon!This year at Pass the Wagon former Fellows, families, and friends gathered to celebrate the many accomplishments of MPF and support the program for the future. The Red Wagon Award—MPF’s highest honor which recognizes an outstanding individual in the Fellowship community—was awarded to the Reverend Liz Steinhauser. Liz has been the Director of Youth Programs at St. Stephen’s for the past 14 years and the supervisor to nine different Fellows. During her inspiring keynote address, Liz encouraged everyone to keep fighting for the 5 Promises to be a basic right for all youth, and to continue working every day to create a safer and more just Boston for young people. Liz Steinhauser with the current Fellows serving at St. Stephen’s: Megan Doe (left) and Bella Vidaña (right). Thank you, Liz, for the continued work you do to improve the lives of young people and your staff! The evening was also filled with networking, bidding on silent auction items, and music. Old friends and new reconnected or met for the first time, with everyone sharing the bond of wanting to support young people. MPF raised over $14,000 through the silent auction and raffle tickets, and the funds will go towards supporting Fellows and transforming the lives of young people across the Commonwealth. Drawing the raffle winners! Youth members of DiverCity performing. Some of the young people impacted by MPF were also at the event! Amazing live music was provided by the youth band, DiverCity. All the members of DiverCity are local youth and are part of ZUMIX, a current MPF host site. Student Trent Jordan from MASSCOSH also spoke about his experiences and the impact his Fellow, Ky’ann Horton (Class 18) has had on him. A huge thank you to everyone who attended Pass the Wagon or has donated to the Fellowship in the past. Whether you are related to a Fellow, an MPF alum, or simply a fan of the program, your support allows MPF and Fellows to cultivate the potential of youth and empower them to change the world. Thank you! Class 17 (pictured above) won the competitive class challenge for most attendees from a single class—other classes, better start planning now to beat them next year! Making Connections: Andrine Pierresaint and Jenny WoodfordMPF alumni Jenny Woodford with Andrine Pierresaint at Andrine’s book launch. Andrine Pierresaint is a force to be reckoned with. At the beginning of her 8th grade school year, her first book of poetry was published. Since then she won the individual championships for the Louder Than A Bomb MA Poetry Slam Festival, and will be competing with a poetry slam team at the Brave New Voices Festival in California this summer. One day, Jenny pulled Andrine out of her 5th period English class to introduce her for the first time to Erich, the Programs Director for Books of Hope, which is a literacy empowerment program in Boston. Since that day, Andrine has gone on to compete in state and national poetry competitions, and is still with the Books of Hope program. Andrine states that “Erich is one of the closest people in my life...Ms. Woodford is one of the few people I always think about and talk about to people who ask me how I got into poetry.” This connection to an organization focused on poetry turned out to be a “great opportunity to help Andrine hone her skills as well as find amazing mentors in the poetry community,” says Jenny.
In September, Andrine launched a chapbook—a small collection of poems—titled “Even Pears Speak to Me.” A mixture of old and new work, she chose the pieces that were “very dear to my heart,” and were for “things or people like my mother who I feel like I owe everything to.” One of the reasons she writes is to be able to speak up without being talked over or silenced. “I’m afraid to address certain topics in conversation, but when I write poetry there’s something so freeing about having people listen to me without talking over me.” Andrine had another younger girl tell her she related to this feeling and was relieved to find someone like her. “That made me feel like sometimes what I go through isn't just the universe messing around with me but she’s giving me something that I could push through and share with other colored queer queens around me.” And share with other people Andrine does. She runs an open workshop in South Boston, and teaches a writing class to younger kids in Somerville. The past few years she’s served as a judge for Cambridge Sidewalk Poetry, and will continue to do it this year. All of this she does while also going to school and working part-time at the Cambridge Library. When asked how she got to where she is today, Andrine states that while growing up in Cambridge and Boston “I’ve met people who have really dedicated their lives to helping younger artists like me. The people I've surrounded myself with have been a huge part of me continuing poetry and feeling like I belong somewhere. Even when I don't even feel like I belong to myself.” Andrine’s story highlights the significance of the work Fellows and other youth workers in Boston do every day to support young people. Even a small thing that takes only a few minutes, such as making an introduction or a connection to a resource, can have a huge impact. Fellows bring these opportunities to young people in Massachusetts every day. Youth workers may never see or know about the impact they had, but the importance of what they do can help shape a life. When asked what Andrine will accomplish in the future, Jenny responded: “Andrine can be and do anything she sets her mind to and I cannot wait to see what she does next! I am sure she will go on to publish several more books and be a very well known artist. You heard it here first, she’s going places!” Andrine will be attending high school at the Boston Arts Academy this fall. You can read one of her poems here. Alumni Spotlight: Eli Pimentel It is no secret that MPF helps Fellows become not only great youth workers, but also fosters future leaders. MPF is honored in this edition to spotlight Eli Pimentel (Class 10, 11) for her work for Boston City Councillor, Andrea Campbell, and leadership regarding women in public office. Eli’s connection to MPF started in 2008, when she served for two years with the Youth Advocacy Department (YAD). At YAD she worked with court-involved youth, liaised with youth-serving agencies across the city, and trained youth on their legal rights. Regarding her experience, Eli says, “I’ve been committed to serving my community ever since.” When talking about how MPF helped her on the way to where she is now and shaped her path, Eli states “the Fellowship gave me training in youth work and provided me with a supportive community that lasts to this day. MPF also gave me mentors. Thank you, Colleen, and Kori, for everything you did for me as a Fellow and for all the ways you continue to support me.” MPF Alumni Eli Pimentel! Eli currently works for Boston City Councillor Andrea J. Campbell as her Director of Constituent Services and Engagement. In this role, she addresses community issues, develops and implements engagement strategies, and works on policy issues in the areas of public safety and education. She also oversees and supports members of the Constituent Services and Engagement Team. Over the last year working with the Council, Eli has been able to see the impact women have on what policies are brought to the forefront of conversations and how they shape policy discussions. “I have the rare opportunity to be surrounded by strong female leaders everyday...This experience, coupled with my passion for service, social justice, and human rights, helped me work through my fears and have the courage to participate in Emerge.” Emerge Massachusetts is a program dedicated to inspiring and training women to run for public office, with the goal of increasing the number of women leaders in government. Eli was accepted into one of the most competitive and diverse classes earlier this year. She states that “through the program, I’ve built relationships with progressive women from around the state—several of them are currently running for office! Emerge has taught me the tools to lead a successful campaign down the road.” In the next few months, Eli will start a new position as Councillor Campbell’s Chief of Staff. Regarding Eli’s future plans, she aspires “to be challenged, to be an agent of change, and to further racial equity for people of color and immigrants.” She may do this through public office, and will be exploring this option over the next few years. In the meantime, she’ll be helping “support and encourage other women leaders, whether in government or in a different sector. The more women we have in leadership positions the better!” Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished, Eli. We look forward to seeing what you go on to do in the future! Thank You and Shoutouts! MPF would not be able to do the work we do without the support of the following people volunteering their time and energy. Thank you to all community reviewers who helped review host site applications, including:
Special shout out again to all the Pass the Wagon Host Committee members who helped make the night a success: *Alumni in Bold
Finally, a big thank you to all alumni who are acting as FAM Mentors this year to current Fellows! FAM Mentors for 2016-2017: Caroline Doctor; Jenny Fernandez; Genea Foster; Yolanda Fraction; Katie Friedman; Stacey Funston; Emily Hogan; Rumsin Khoshaba: Mal Kirk; Simona Lang; Amanda Maddalone; Conny Morrison; Minh Nguyen; Lauren Peckler; Whitney Soensken; Catalina Tang; Cassandra Tavares; Gina Varamo; Katie Seastedt; and Roger Wong. FAM Mentors and Mentees who were able to attend the FAM Kickoff Event! Upcoming Dates and Reminders:
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