Families at the Heart of Carver: A Joyful Evening at Naramake’s After the Bell

At Carver, student success has never been a solo act. It is built on partnership — between students, teachers, and most importantly, families.

Across all 65+ Carver programs, parent engagement is not an add-on. It is foundational. From family literacy nights and student showcases to workshops, conferences, and informal gatherings, we intentionally work to ensure families feel informed, welcome, and connected to their child’s learning journey.

Recently, at Naramake Elementary School, that partnership was on full display.

The After the Bell program hosted a simple yet meaningful celebration: a pizza party that brought together students and their families for an evening of connection and conversation. The cafeteria buzzed with laughter as parents sat side by side with their children, meeting Carver staff, hearing about academic progress, and celebrating the growth happening each day after school.

For many families, Carver provides more than academic support. It offers consistency, extended learning time, and trusted relationships with caring adults. When parents engage in the program — whether through events like this or through daily communication — students feel it. Research consistently shows that students whose families are involved in their education demonstrate stronger attendance, improved academic performance, and greater confidence.

At Naramake, the evening reflected exactly what makes Carver special:

• Students proudly sharing their work

• Teachers and program leaders building relationships with parents

• Families connecting with one another

• A warm, welcoming school environment after hours

These moments matter. They strengthen trust. They reinforce shared expectations. They remind children that school and home are working together on their behalf.

Carver is proud to partner with families across Norwalk — in elementary, middle, and high school programs — because we know that sustainable impact requires more than strong programming. It requires community.

Thank you to the Naramake families who joined us, and to the dedicated Carver staff who continue to make every student and every parent feel seen, valued, and supported.

Together, we build success that lasts.

Carver Partners Spotlight: Building Girls’ Confidence, Leadership, and Community Through Inspire Basketball

For decades, Carver’s strongest partnerships have been built on trust, mentorship, and a shared belief in young people. Our partnership with The Justice Education Center is a powerful example—rooted in community, shaped by lived experience, and brought to life at the Carver Community Center through girls’ basketball.

At the heart of this partnership are two Carver champions from different generations: Doug Peoples, a lifelong advocate for Norwalk youth who helped make this collaboration possible, and Shannon Singleton-Bates, Carver’s Recreation Coordinator, who is leading the Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver program on the ground every day.

A Partnership Aligned Around Youth, Wellness, and Opportunity

The Justice Education Center’s mission to improve the lives of children, youth, and families through community safety, wellness, and opportunity aligns seamlessly with Carver’s holistic approach to youth development. Through Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver, that alignment becomes tangible: girls ages 9–17 building skills, confidence, resilience, and belonging through structured, supportive athletics.

Basketball is the entry point. But the outcomes go far beyond the court—strengthened teamwork, emotional regulation, leadership, and self-belief that carry into school, family, and community life.

Doug Peoples: The Connector Who Made It Happen

If you ask around Norwalk who has quietly shaped generations of young athletes and leaders, one name comes up again and again: Doug Peoples.

A Norwalk High School graduate (Class of 1971) and three-sport athlete—basketball, football, and track—Doug has spent more than four decades doing what he has always done best: seeing potential in young people and refusing to let it go to waste.

After college, Doug returned home and began officiating girls’ basketball, where he immediately recognized both the talent and the opportunity gaps facing local athletes. Since then, he has helped countless young people—across sports and across schools—navigate pathways to scholarships, college, and beyond. Even during the height of the pandemic, when opportunities seemed to vanish overnight, Doug stepped up. He worked remotely with student-athletes, helping both secure college scholarships and continuing to show up—literally—to cheer them on once they got there.

Doug’s impact extends well beyond basketball. For more than 40 years, he has been a driving force in Norwalk's martial arts community. After discovering karate while playing football at Central Connecticut State University, he returned home with an idea that would change lives: using karate tournaments at Carver to help young people earn scholarships. That vision eventually led to the founding of Norwalk Tang Soo Do, where Doug has taught discipline, confidence, and self-defense to generations of Norwalk youth—and, in many cases, their parents.

Through it all, Doug has asked for nothing in return. What he has given instead is mentorship, advocacy, and a bridge between institutions and the young people who need them most. His role in connecting Carver with The Justice Education Center is a natural extension of a lifetime spent opening doors.

Shannon Singleton-Bates: Leading Inspire Girls at Carver Today

Every lasting legacy needs leaders who carry it forward. At Carver, that leader is Shannon Singleton-Bates, our Recreation Coordinator and the driving force behind Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver.

A mentee of Doug Peoples, Shannon embodies the same values that shaped her own journey: discipline, encouragement, and belief in the power of structured recreation to change lives. Under her leadership, the Carver Community Center gym becomes a space where girls are coached—not just in basketball fundamentals, but in confidence, communication, and perseverance.

Shannon ensures that Inspire programming reflects its full mission: physical wellness paired with social-emotional growth. Practices and games are intentionally structured to foster empathy, teamwork, and leadership. Coaches model respect and accountability. Girls are encouraged to set goals, reflect on progress, and support one another—learning that success is built collectively.

Why This Partnership Matters

Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver is a shared investment in community safety, wellness, and opportunity—values that sit at the core of both Carver and and the program benefactor, The Justice Education Center.

Thanks to Doug Peoples’ vision and advocacy, and Shannon Singleton-Bates’ leadership and execution, this partnership is helping young women discover their strength, their voice, and their place in a supportive community.

This is what Carver partnerships look like at their best: rooted in relationships, guided by mentorship, and focused on long-term impact—one young person at a time.

Save the Dates: Two Signature Carver Events You Won’t Want to Miss in 2026

Carver’s most anticipated traditions are back in 2026, and we invite our entire community to save the dates for two events that make an outsized impact on the young people we serve.

First up is Carver’s signature celebration—the Child of America Gala—on Friday, May 1, 2026. Each year, this unforgettable evening brings together leaders, partners, and friends who share a commitment to Carver’s mission of expanding opportunity for our youth. The Gala not only honors extraordinary individuals who embody Carver’s values, but it also raises vital support for our year-round academic, enrichment, and workforce programs that reach nearly 3,000 students across Norwalk and Bridgeport. From inspiring student voices to community celebration, the Child of America Gala is a powerful reminder of what is possible when we come together for young people.

Then, on Monday, June 15, 2026, we look forward to welcoming supporters to the 12th Annual Carver Golf Classic. This beloved tournament has become a cornerstone of Carver’s calendar—bringing together corporate partners, donors, board members, alumni, and friends for a day of competition, connection, and camaraderie. More than just a great day on the course, the Golf Classic fuels scholarships, internships, and college- and career-readiness programs that help Carver students thrive long after they graduate.

Together, these two events reflect the heart of Carver: community, opportunity, and investment in the next generation.

Additional details—including honorees, locations, registration, and sponsorship opportunities—will be shared in the weeks ahead. For now, please mark your calendars and plan to join us as we celebrate, connect, and make a difference for Norwalk’s youth.

We can’t wait to see you there.

Different Generation, Same Dream: How Carver Youth Engage with Civics Today

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are invited to look back — to remember the courage, sacrifice, and moral clarity of the Civil Rights Movement. But we are also invited to look forward, and to consider how today’s young people understand justice, community, and their role in democracy.

As many observers have noted, the Civil Rights era is no longer the central reference point for how many young Americans think about race, power, and fairness. Most students today are several generations removed from the movement’s defining moments. They are less likely to encounter that history in nightly news broadcasts, and more likely to learn about it through social media, short videos, and conversations shaped by current events.

The result is not indifference — but difference.

For some, that shift has raised concern. Fewer than half of U.S. states require comprehensive teaching of the Civil Rights Movement. At the same time, political battles over how to teach race and history have made civic education uneven across the country.

Yet, even as the way history is taught and remembered evolves, young people remain deeply engaged with questions of fairness, belonging, and community. Their causes may look different, their methods may feel new, and their voices may be amplified through platforms their elders never used — but their desire for a more just world is unmistakable.

At Carver, we see this every day.

Our students are curious, outspoken, compassionate, and keenly aware of the world around them. They care about their communities, their peers, and issues that affect their lives — from local concerns in Norwalk to global events they witness online. They may express that concern through conversation, creativity, service, or simply by showing up for one another in meaningful ways.

Carver’s role is not to tell young people exactly how to think about civics, but to create an environment where they feel safe asking questions, sharing perspectives, and practicing being engaged members of their community. Whether through teamwork in the classroom, collaboration in programs, or participation in community life, our students are learning what it means to listen, to lead, and to care.

Today’s youth may not frame their civic stories the same way previous generations did, but that does not mean they are not “doing the work.” They are doing it in ways that reflect their lived experiences, their digital world, and their moment in history.

On this MLK Day, Carver honors that spirit. We honor Dr. King’s legacy not only by remembering his words, but by believing in the potential of the young people who will carry his dream forward — in their own voices, in their own ways, and in their own time.

Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy: Norwalk Comes Together for a Weekend of Reflection, Service, and Celebration

As the nation pauses to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Norwalk community will come together for a weekend of meaningful events that reflect Dr. King’s enduring call for justice, unity, and opportunity for all.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a moment to reflect on shared values and recommit to building a more inclusive and equitable future. In Norwalk, that commitment is expressed through worship, education, dialogue, and celebration, bringing residents of all ages together in remembrance and purpose.

At Carver, Dr. King’s belief in the transformative power of education deeply resonates with our mission. We see education not only as a pathway to academic achievement but also as a catalyst for personal growth, leadership, and lifelong opportunity, especially for students who may be furthest from access to and resources. Each day, our certified teachers and staff work to cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and confidence, empowering young people to envision themselves as learners, leaders, and change-makers.

This year’s Norwalk Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, detailed below, offer opportunities for reflection and collective engagement across the community, from an ecumenical worship service and community breakfast to student-centered programming and a citywide evening celebration. Together, these events honor Dr. King’s vision while uplifting the voices and aspirations of today’s youth.

As we commemorate Dr. King’s legacy, we are reminded that his dream lives on through action, through education that opens doors, communities that come together, and a shared commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. The Carver community is proud to stand alongside the City of Norwalk in honoring this legacy and continuing the work of building a more just and hopeful future for all.

Mad Science: Igniting Curiosity and Confidence Through Hands-On STEM at Carver

As part of our ongoing series profiling Carver programming partners, we are highlighting organizations that consistently deliver high-quality, mission-aligned enrichment to our students across Norwalk and beyond. Mad Science is one of those partners—trusted, time-tested, and endlessly engaging for the young people we serve.

For years, Mad Science has been a familiar and highly anticipated presence in Carver programs. Whether during the school year in after-school sites or as part of summer enrichment, Mad Science brings energy, structure, and real scientific inquiry into Carver classrooms—often becoming the highlight of a student’s day.

STEM That Feels Like Discovery, Not Homework

Mad Science is an international STEM enrichment organization known for turning science into an active, hands-on experience. Through live demonstrations and student-led experiments, Carver participants don’t just observe science—they test it, question it, and experience it firsthand.

Sessions are intentionally designed to spark curiosity. Students mix chemicals, build structures, explore physical forces, and test theories in ways that feel playful and exciting, while still reinforcing core STEM concepts. The result is learning that feels accessible, inclusive, and fun—especially for students who may not initially see themselves as “science kids.”

A Natural Fit for Carver’s Afterschool and Summer Model

Mad Science programs align seamlessly with Carver’s after-school structure. Typically offered in one-hour sessions across multi-week cycles, these programs function as STEM “clubs,” with each week introducing a new theme or challenge. This format mirrors Carver’s commitment to variety, student choice, and sustained engagement.

Mad Science instructors arrive fully prepared, bringing curriculum, materials, and supplies—allowing Carver site teams to focus on student support and relationship-building. Their facilitators are skilled not only in science instruction, but also in classroom management and inquiry-based learning, making the programs accessible to students across a wide range of learning styles and grade levels.

Programs Students Remember

From chemistry experiments like bubbling reactions and “elephant toothpaste,” to engineering challenges and space science explorations, Mad Science programs consistently leave a lasting impression. Many sessions include small take-home items, extending the learning beyond the classroom and prompting students to share their discoveries with family members at home.

For Carver students, these experiences reinforce an important message: science is not abstract or intimidating—it’s something they can explore, understand, and enjoy.

Supporting Carver’s Broader Goals

At Carver, STEM enrichment is not an add-on; it is a core strategy for building confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that students carry into the school day and beyond. Mad Science supports this vision by creating welcoming, high-energy environments where students are encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, and try again.

Importantly, Mad Science programming also supports working families by providing structured, high-quality enrichment during the critical after-school hours—another key pillar of Carver’s mission.

A Valued Programming Partner

Mad Science exemplifies the kind of partnership Carver values: reliable, engaging, educational, and responsive to the needs of the students and communities we serve. Their programs help turn after-school and summer hours into moments of discovery—where learning feels joyful and curiosity leads the way.

As we continue to profile Carver programming partners, Mad Science stands out as a powerful example of how strong collaborations can inspire students, support families, and make learning come alive.

From Long Island Sound to the Classroom: How Carver and The Maritime Aquarium Bring Marine STEM to Life

Butterflies are flowers that fly and all but sing for Carver campers visiting the Maritime Aquarium during a summer program.

For many Carver students, science doesn’t begin with a textbook — it begins with curiosity.

For many years, in addition to Carver students visiting the Maritime Aquarium in the summer (as seen in the accompanying images here), Carver has partnered with the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk to bring high-quality, hands-on marine science and STEM learning directly into our middle school after-school and summer programs.

Through this longstanding collaboration, Aquarium educators travel to Carver school sites to deliver engaging, standards-aligned STEM experiences that connect students to the natural world just beyond their community.

Science That Comes to Them

Carver engages The Maritime Aquarium through our program budgets, allowing Aquarium educators to come directly into schools and meet students where they are. This model removes barriers to access while ensuring that students receive consistent, expert-led instruction rooted in real science, real ecosystems, and real-world problem-solving.

Rather than one-off assemblies, these sessions are embedded in Carver’s after-school and summer enrichment schedules, reinforcing classroom learning while giving students the freedom to explore, ask questions, and experiment.

Marine STEM for Middle School Learners

In Carver’s middle school programs, Aquarium educators lead Marine STEM experiences for grades 5–8 that are both age-appropriate and intellectually rigorous. Students might:

• Examine the microscopic structures of plankton and learn why they matter to global ecosystems

• Explore engineering concepts by understanding how structures — from marine organisms to roller coasters — are designed to function

• Conduct hands-on experiments that show how science, technology, engineering, and math intersect in everyday life

Each session is interactive, inquiry-based, and designed to help students see STEM not as abstract subjects, but as tools for understanding and improving the world around them.

A visit to The Maritime Aquarium stirs the hearts and inspires the imaginations of Carver summer campers

Learning That Feels Alive

What makes this partnership especially powerful is how alive learning becomes. Aquarium educators bring biofacts, live animals, and real scientific tools into the classroom, transforming school spaces into temporary laboratories of discovery. Students aren’t just learning about marine life — they’re touching, observing, questioning, and thinking like scientists.

For many Carver students, these experiences spark a deeper interest in environmental stewardship, engineering, and science-based careers—pathways that may once have felt distant or inaccessible.

A Shared Commitment to Equity and Excellence

Carver’s mission is to provide equitable access to high-quality enrichment for students across Norwalk and beyond. Our partnership with The Maritime Aquarium reflects a shared belief that hands-on science education should not be a privilege, but a core part of every child’s learning experience.

Whether during the school year or the summer months, this collaboration continues to help Carver students build confidence, curiosity, and critical-thinking skills — one discovery at a time.

Carver students in our 5th Grade Scholars after-school program at Jefferson Elementary School spent two hours aboard the Maritime Aquarium’s revolutionary R/V Spirit of the Sound!

Fueling Creativity After School: Carver Partner The Norwalk Art Space Launches a New Student Meals & Study Club

At Carver, we know that great programs don’t happen in isolation—they happen through strong partnerships. That’s why we’re excited to begin a new series of blog posts spotlighting the remarkable organizations that help bring Carver’s before- and after-school and summer experiences to life, from hands-on science and marine exploration to arts, creativity, and wellness.

We’re pleased to start this series with one of Carver’s valued partners: The Norwalk Art Space, which is launching a brand new initiative designed to nourish both students’ minds and bodies.

Fueling Creativity: Student Afterschool Meals + Study Club

Hosted by The Art Space Café

Beginning January 29, 2026, The Norwalk Art Space Café will offer a complimentary after-school meal for students every Thursday during the spring semester. Prepared by the Café’s renowned culinary team, this welcoming gathering is more than a meal—it’s a space for connection, creativity, and learning.

Students will have the opportunity to enjoy thoughtfully prepared food while meeting fellow young artists and musicians, as well as learning directly from Chef Caitlin McGowan and Art Space Café Baker and Manager Kelly Clement, who will share insights into the culinary arts and creative careers.

After the meal, students are encouraged to remain in the café until 5:00 p.m. to work on homework, study, or finish an art project, making this a seamless extension of the after-school day.

Program Details at a Glance

• When: Thursdays, 3:30–4:00 p.m.

• Dates: January 29 – April 16, 2026
  (10 sessions; no program on February 19 or April 9)

• Who: Students ages 10–18 registered for any Spring semester Art and/or Music class at The Norwalk Art Space

• Capacity: 30 students per session

• Cost: Free

• Registration: Required for each meal through The Norwalk Art Space website to ensure minimal food waste

Carver students exhibit their work at The Norwalk Art Space

This initiative reflects what we value most in our partnerships: meeting students where they are, removing barriers to participation, and creating environments where learning, creativity, and well-being intersect.

We’re grateful to The Norwalk Art Space for their continued collaboration and commitment to Norwalk’s young people—and we look forward to highlighting more of Carver’s partners in the weeks ahead, including organizations like The Maritime Aquarium and Mad Science, who help make Carver’s after-school hours a time of discovery and growth.

Stay tuned for more stories celebrating the partners who make Carver’s programs possible—and the students who benefit every day.

A Place to Land: Mateo’s Story

Mateo was seven when he first walked into a Carver program.

He didn’t walk in confidently. He hovered. One hand clutched the strap of a backpack that was too big for him, the other holding a folded paper his mother had pressed into his palm—his name, her phone number, and a few careful instructions—already creased from being checked twice. The truth was, the paper wasn’t necessary; Carver already had all of that information, but the first days are hard on parents, too, and this was her way of letting go.

School had always felt loud to Mateo. Loud classrooms, loud hallways, loud expectations. He was bright—his teachers knew that—but he froze when asked to read aloud. He avoided eye contact. He rushed through math problems, not because he didn’t understand them, but because he was afraid of being wrong in front of everyone.

After school, Mateo usually went home to an empty apartment for an hour or two while his mother finished her shift. Homework happened—or didn’t—depending on how tired everyone was by dinner.

Carver changed that rhythm.

At Carver’s After the Bell program, Mateo found something small but mighty: consistency. The same welcoming faces. The same routine. A snack first. Homework with a teacher who noticed when he understood something before he believed it himself.

One afternoon, a staff member knelt beside him and said quietly, “You know this already. Take your time.”

No one had ever said that to him before.

By fourth grade, Mateo was still shy—but he was raising his hand. Not every time. Just enough.

In fifth grade, he joined Carver Scholars, and suddenly the world expanded. There were hands-on STEM projects where getting it wrong was part of the point. In group challenges, his quiet focus proved an asset. When his team built a bridge that actually held weight, Mateo smiled the whole way home.

Middle school brought new challenges—bigger buildings, more complex work, louder everything—but Carver stayed with him. Homework support turned into organizational skills. Enrichment turned into curiosity. Adults asked him what he liked and what he thought he might want to do someday.

By ninth grade, Mateo wasn’t just attending school—he was navigating it.

He joined a Carver summer transition program, learned how to advocate for himself, and learned that asking for help wasn’t a weakness. He discovered he liked technology. He was good at it, actually.

In high school, Mateo earned a paid internship through Carver’s Earn & Learn program. For the first time, he had a paycheck with his name on it. He learned to show up on time, to communicate professionally, and to imagine himself as someone with options.

When Mateo graduated, his mother cried—not just because he had a diploma, but because she could see the road ahead of him.

Today, Mateo is a college student studying information technology. He still gets nervous sometimes. He still prefers listening before speaking. But he knows how to persist. He knows how to ask questions. He knows he belongs in the room.

Carver didn’t change who Mateo was.

Carver gave him a place to land—again and again—until he learned how to stand on his own.

New Year, New Milestones: Let’s Build the Future Together

As we step into a new year, we pause with gratitude—and absolute momentum. New Year, New Milestones isn’t just a hopeful phrase; it’s a reflection of what our community accomplished together in 2025 and a promise of what’s ahead.

This past year was marked by growth with purpose. Thousands of young people showed up every day to learn, explore, and imagine what their futures could hold. Families trusted us with their children. Dedicated educators, staff, and partners brought energy, creativity, and care into classrooms, community spaces, and summer programs. Supporters and funders stood with us, believing in our mission and actively investing in it.

Together, we strengthened programs that help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We expanded opportunities that connect learning to real-world experiences, from STEAM enrichment and literacy to college and career readiness. We continued to remove barriers to participation because access matters, and potential lives everywhere.

Looking ahead, 2026 calls us to go further. To deepen impact. To keep listening to the needs of young people and families. To innovate with intention and scale what works. The future we are building is one where every child is seen, supported, and equipped to succeed.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your belief, partnership, and generosity make progress possible.

Here’s to a new year—and to building the future together.