Carver meets its summer adventure crowdfunding campaign on The Impact Vine!

See our campaign at The Impact Vine crowdfunding site to send 40 Carver summer campers on the schooner SoundWaters for a scientific adventure: today we we raised the final gifts to reach our $1,095 goal!

See this May 11th news article that describes The Impact Vine and Carver's role in its overall success.

Summer programming at the Carver Community Center and at Columbus Magnet School is among the most affordable and high-quality programs available to Norwalk students ages 5 through 13 years old.

The summer literacy program, facilitated by certified teachers, uses the Lexia Reading Core 5 software to provide personalized learning. Certified teachers also teach math sessions. Summer camp program partners include Girl Scouts, The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk Grassroots Tennis and The Norwalk Seaport Association. Field trips reinforce learning, e.g., Peabody Museum, CT Science Center, Discovery Museum, NBC Studio Tour, Stamford Nature Center, Beardsley Zoo, Bishop Orchards, New York Botanical Gardens and Maritime Aquarium.

And now with the support of The Impact Vine we can add  the schooner SoundWaters to our field trips this summer!

From their web site, “The Schooner SoundWaters is The Teaching Vessel of Long Island Sound. A representation of a 19th century sharpie schooner, the SoundWaters is an ideal platform for learning and experience for both students and adults.

For students, this three-masted, 80’ ship, typically serving forty students, is a teaching platform for the Science of the Sound, a hands-on, science-infused learning experience aboard the Schooner SoundWaters.”

Carver kids will experience the Long Island Sound, and schooner SoundWaters educators will lead students through grade-appropriate on-board labs focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.) data-collection activities. Carver summer campers will learn science by using real scientific equipment to perform experiments while connecting to the natural world.

The Hour reports about Carver's Sarah St. Surin winning the Chelsea Cohen Memorial Scholarship

By John Nash    See the article at The Hour here. 

NORWALK - The legacy of Chelsea Cohen lives on strongly, even nearly a dozen years after her tragic death to cancer in 2006.

Two city athletes very familiar with Cohen now find going to college just a little bit easier because of that legacy.

Norwalk High basketball standout Sarah St. Surin and Brien McMahon soccer and lacrosse player Bella Bean have been named the first recipients of the Chelsea Cohen Memorial Scholarship.

Photo: John Nash / Hearst Connecticut Media

Each student-athlete will receive $2,500 for use toward college expenses. In the future, a single $5,000 scholarship will be awarded from candidates from both schools.

The scholarship is awarded to the candidate that best exemplifies the spirit and qualities of the late Chelsea Cohen, according to the Fairfield County Sports Commission, which oversees the awarding of the scholarship.

Criteria for nomination included academic honors, participation in one or more varsity level sports, community service and displaying high levels of sportsmanship, leadership and character. 

"There have been many tributes to Chelsea over the years, but this scholarship is exceptionally meaningful, " said Barbara Rittner, Chelsea's mother. "To recognize someone who most exemplifies Chelsea, her spirit, her drive, her accomplishments, this not only rewards the recipients but reminds us of Chelsea and why her story stays alive. The scholarship winners this year, Sarah and Bella, are remarkable young women who in addition to all their academic, civic and athletic accomplishments have that special spark like Chelsea had.”

Both athletes are very familiar with the Cheslea Cohen story and what the scholarship means.

St. Surin, a 6-foot-3 center from the Norwalk High basketball team, has played in the shadow of Cohen’s retired number, which hangs in the Scarso Gym, while Bean is a soccer player who took part in the annual inner-city game against the Bears. Each team receives an MVP honor from that game named after Cohen.

“It’s definitely a big honor,” St. Surin said. “I was like there is no chance I’m going to get this. How could it possibly be me that receives it? I didn’t know what my chances were, but when I got the call I was so shocked to get it. When I talked to Barbara she said, ‘When I saw you, you reminded immediately of Chelsea,’ and that touched me. It means a lot.”

Bean also said that having a scholarship devoted meant to just a female athlete in the city is something that means a lot to her and would mean a lot to future athletes, as well.

“A lot of my friends are student-athletes, too, so I was nervous going after it,” Bean said. “Winning a scholarship for a girl athlete means a lot because there are so many up-and-coming (girls) sports in Norwalk right now.”

Bean, who will be attending the University of Virginia, is a four-year high honor roll student and was a two-year captain of the lacrosse team as a four-year starter and captained the soccer side her senior year. She worked at Horizons in New Canaan the last two years as a second grade tutor for the summer program there.

St. Surin, who is headed for UMass Boston, was a four-year player for the Bears basketball team and captain as a senior. She is also a high honors student as well as a talented musician and serves as a volunteer coach and summer counselor at the Carver Center in Norwalk.

The award is the latest in a long line of efforts to keep Cohen’s memory alive.

“We believe that in taking this next step to keep Chelsea's legacy vibrant and relevant the scholarship will have a strong impact for young women in Norwalk striving to succeed in college both in the classroom and on the field of play,” said FCSC Executive Director Tom Chiappetta. “Providing significant financial support to that end is another key role the Commission can play in meeting our mission and goals.”

In addition to hosting the Chelsea Cohen Fitness Academy at the Carver Center in Norwalk, the Fairfield County Sports Commission also hands out the Chelsea Cohen Courage Award at its yearly Hall of Fame banquet.

Carver's Sarah St. Surin is awarded the Chelsea Cohen Memorial Scholarship

Photo: John Nash / Hearst Connecticut Media.  Sarah St. Surin, left, of Norwalk High, and Bella Bean of Brien McMahon are the first two recipients of the $2,500 Chelsea Cohen Scholarship Award. Starting next year, the scholarship will be worth $5,000 and given to a female athlete from either Norwalk or McMahon who best exhibits the character and flair that Cohen did before her death 12 years ago. See The Hour article here.

The Fairfield County Sports Commission announced today the first recipients of its Chelsea Cohen Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes a female scholar/athlete who is a graduating senior from Norwalk high schools with a financial award toward higher education.

Norwalk High's Sarah St. Surin and Brien McMahon's Isabella Bean were named as the two winners and each will receive a $2,500 grant as support for their college freshman year this fall.

The scholarship is awarded to the candidate that best exemplifies the spirit and qualities of the late Chelsea Cohen, a graduate of NHS who passed away in 2006 and whose name is memorialized through FCSC's annual Courage Award. Criteria for nomination included academic honors, participation in one or more varsity level sports,  community service and displaying high levels of sportsmanship, leadership and character.

"There have been many tributes to Chelsea over the years, but this scholarship is exceptionally meaningful, " said Chelsea's mother Barbara Rittner. "To recognize someone who most exemplifies Chelsea, her spirit, her drive, her accomplishments, this not only rewards the recipients but reminds us of Chelsea and why her story stays alive. The scholarship winners this year, Sarah and Bella, are remarkable young women who in addition to all their academic, civic and athletic accomplishments have that "special spark" like Chelsea had. "

For the first year the Commission felt it was important to recognize a winner from both schools to have each fully engaged at the start. Going forward the scholarship amount will be raised to $5,000 for one student/athlete from either NHS or BMHS.

"We believe that in taking this next step to keep Chelsea's legacy vibrant and relevant the scholarship will have a strong impact for young women in Norwalk striving to succeed in college both in the classroom and on the field of play," remarked FCSC Executive Director Tom Chiappetta. "Providing significant financial support to that end is another key role the Commission can play in meeting our mission and goals."

Bean, who will be attending the University of Virginia, is a four-year high honor roll student and was a two-year captain of the lacrosse team as a four-year starter and captained the soccer side her senior year. She worked at Horizons in New Canaan the last two years as a second grade tutor for the summer program there.

St. Surin, who is headed for UMass Boston, was a four-year starter for the basketball team and captain as a senior. She is also a high honors student as well as a talented musician and serves as a volunteer coach and summer counselor at the Carver Community Center in Norwalk.

See the latest newsletter here from the Fairfield County Sports Commission. 

Carver's Annual Testimonial Dinner, Friday, June 9, 6-8PM

Each year the Carver Foundation of Norwalk awards Carver students, including current college students, with scholarships and recognition. We also recognized our Volunteer of the Year, High School Volunteer of the Year, and our College Graduate of the Year. was Jalessa Davis. We honor all our college graduates, high school graduates, most improved students of the year, and many other levels of graduation and achievement. Dozens of young people and their proud parents came together for our Annual Testimonial Dinner.

Please join us at the Carver Community Center, 7 Academy Street, Norwalk, on Friday, June 9, 6-8PM!

Juneteenth Celebration at Carver on Saturday, June 10th, 6PM

WNLK 1350 AM and JEH-Productions are presenting the “The Sound of Freedom” event to commemorate Juneteenth at the Carver Community Center on Saturday, June 10, 2017, 6 PM. The celebration is under the direction of James E. Hinton, founder of JEH-Productions. Fairfield County radio DJ “Big T” of WNLK Radio 1350AM will join Mr. Hinton in producing the Juneteenth event that will offer an evening of music, dance, skits, and Gospel Quartet Singing for all ages. The Northern Gates, Vizion Muzik, The Gospel Luzins, and the Grace Baptist Men’s Chorus will be among the performances at “The Sound of Freedom” Juneteenth celebration. The term Gospel Quartet refers to 4-point harmonizing voices, singing spiritual and switching parts simultaneously. Tickets in advance or at the door are $15 per person. For reservations and tickets call: 203-873-0446 / 203-504-2189 / 203-923-6864 / or 917-348-9930. 

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is a national holiday that commemorates the June 19,1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Officially celebrated on June 19, the word is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth".  Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in 45 of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Hometown Love 2!

Senator Bob Duff standing with Carver board member Kimberly Gaddy

Music recording artist and Carver alumnus Kenneth Shuler (FNX) and his Norwalk-based recording studio Factory Underground brought FNX's song "Hometown Love" and his many allies and fans together for a day of basketball, good food, and fun on Saturday, May 20th, at the Carver Community Center. See The Hour article about Hometown Love 2 on Wednesday, May 16th, here. 

FNX and Factory Underground recently helped Carver succeed in Fairfield County's Giving Day (front page story in The Hour here and Carver blog post here). 

Saturday's community event included a ten-team “5 on 5” full-court basketball tournament drawing players from New York and from across Connecticut. Guests enjoyed games and a grand barbecue cookout. 

We are grateful to Willis Towers Watson and Darien Rowayton Bank for helping to sponsor the event!

A photo album of Hometown Love 2 will be available in several days by Factory Underground

FNX's original inspiration to launch Hometown Love at Carver in June 2016, (and here for another feature in The Hour) was to create a fun, interactive community-pride event, and to feed as many people as possible with a canned-food drive. Love of community is certainly reflected in the title of the event, named for one of his more personal songs. 

FNX’s inspiration for this event arises from his personal story that The Hour and other media have written about in the feature articles referenced above. Carver played a significant role in FNX’s academic and professional music and business success. 

The Hour: Hometown Love 2

FNX hosts Hometown Love food drive, barbecue

By Kaitlyn Krasselt, Wednesday, May 17, 2017      See the article here at The Hour

NORWALK — Growing up, Kenneth Shuler — better known by his stage name FNX — didn’t always know where his next meal would come from.

Now, despite the fact that he no longer lives in Norwalk, Shuler is hosting the second annual Hometown Love event in conjunction with the Gorge Washington Carver Center and Factory Underground.

“The sad fact is that I grew up in poverty, and from a broken home,” Shuler said. “We didn’t always know where our next meal was coming from. Ever since then I wanted to give back, to help others in need.”

Shuler’s goal for the event — which includes a 10-team basketball tournament and barbecue cookout — is to collect more than 1,000 nonperishable or canned food items to be distributed to families by the Norwalk-based food pantry Person-to-Person, as well as raise at least $10,000 for Carver summer camp scholarships.

The entrance fee for the event, which takes place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Carver Center on Academy Street in Norwalk, is two non-perishible items per person. Financial donations can be made directly to the Carver Center or to the GoFundMe page Shuler set up to fund the event as well as collect money for scholarships.

Shuler first launched Hometown Love, named after a song on his debut album, in June 2016, with the goal create a fun, interactive community-pride event, and to feed as many people as possible with a canned-food drive. He also wanted to partner with the Carver Center as he attributes much of his success to the center’s guidance during his formative years in Norwalk.

“It’s all about the children,” Shuler said. “I believe that to support the Carver is to invest in the future of Norwalk and this the least that I can do for my hometown.”

Shuler is returning to Norwalk to host the event after a tour in Canada where he was able to perform his music alongside similar artists, and several speaking engagements at area schools where Shuler was invited to share his story.

Though he’s never been shy about sharing it, Shuler said he’s been shocked and humbled by the number of people who claim they were inspired by his story and subsequent success.

“I never thought I’d be talking to kids about my life,” Shuler said. “I’m still taken back by the appreciation. I think about growing up and those instances that someone impacted me and they probably didn’t even know it. That means a lot to the youth, and to think maybe I’ve done that ... it’s just crazy. I never thought I could do that.”

Hometown Love is sponsored by FNX Music, the Carver Foundation, Factory Underground, Darien Rowayton Bank, Willis-Towers Watson Insurance, AIM for a Better Tomorrow, Phi Beta Sigma, Norwalk 2.0, local author Kamichi Jackson and the Greater Norwalk Arts Council.

Marc Alan, marketing director for Factory Underground, has helped Shuler since the beginning to support and market Hometown Love — both the album and the event — and said the success of the event is not only important for FNX and the Carver Center, but for the arts community of central Norwalk.

“Being involved in the Norwalk community overall is really important to Factory Underground, but especially the downtown Arts District which we are proud to call home, for us and all the local business here,” Alan said.

kkrasselt@scni.com; 203-354-1021; @kaitlynkrasselt

Join us for our next MEETING OF THE MINDS open forum tomorrow on the subject of Addiction

Trust & Collaboration

Carver students win big at two robotics competitions this past Saturday!

Here is our first report about Carver students performing well in the initial FIRST Lego competition this year at Greenwich Academy. Carver fielded robotics teams from Nathan Hale, Ponus, Roton, and West Rocks Middle Schools, as well as Side by Side Charter School.

In coordination with the CAIS commitment to enhancing STEM initiatives, Greenwich Academy, along with FTC 5017 RoboEpic, hosted its eighth annual ROBOnanza! event on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

The theme was Forensics Frenzy! This CSI-themed robotics exposition was open to students of all ages (target age is lower and middle school students ages 7-12) who share an interest in robotics. At this exposition, students showcased their skills and expressed their creativity in a variety of ways. There were three levels of friendly competition, as well as a showcase opportunity where students showed off their unique robotic creations. Doug Rendell & Gail Sestito are the Co-Directors of Robotics at Greenwich Academy.

Carver’s Ponus middle school students won a first place in senior division for the "Bowling for Burglars" challenge, as well as completing all four obstacles in "Follow the Line", including "Getting out of the box" activities. Side by Side Charter School students also performed well!

Carver students also just returned from the New Haven Athletic Center this past Saturday from the annual CPEP STEM Education expo with a few awards!

The Side by Side Charter School students from the Carver program won third for battery powered car and first for roller coaster design. The Ponus middle school team won the award for most creative designs!

At ROBOanaza, the Follow the Line competition included “Chalk-Outline,” “Fingerprint,” and “Magnifying Glass” assignments. Students had to have their robots follow outside of the shape/line using a light sensor. The JailBreak! (Get out of the Box) assignment required the robot to leave the box after being randomly placed inside the box. 

And back by popular demand, “Bowling for Burgers” involved the robot being the ball! The robot must travel down the lane and knock over as many burglar (pins) it can in a 5-frame game. Each robot hade two chances per frame (just like in regular bowling) to obtain the highest score. Depending on the number of participants and time, one to two rounds may occur. The robot with the highest score for 5 frames won!