Carver's CASPER 5th graders visit Altieri

Carver programming emphasizes STEAM education. One component of the opportunities we provide our students is to arrange visits to leading STEAM related companies in the area such as DATTO, King Industries, PDC International and many others. 

Yesterday, a group of 5th graders from the K-5 CASPER program at the Carver Community Center visited Altieri (Altieri Sebor Wieber LLC Consulting Engineers).

Altieri provides leading edge engineering systems for museums, educational institutions, libraries, theatres, residences, and research facilities. Established by John L. Altieri in 1959, the firm evolved from residential and small commercial projects to working with architects such as Paul Rudolf, Dean of the Yale School of Architecture. Subsequent relationships with Eero Saarinen and Saarinen’s successor firm of Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo continue to this day, notably with Kevin Roche’s 40-year master plan for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Altieri’s extensive portfolio also includes engineering support for iconic office buildings, luxury residences, and many landmark buildings and campuses. The company’s vast experience and exceptional track record with high-visibility projects, such as the Getty Center in Brentwood, CA and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, consistently draw internationally recognized architects to retain the firm, including ten recipients of the Pritzker Prize to date.

From its base of operations in Norwalk, Connecticut, Altieri’s 60-member team is known for its collective expertise in assessment and master planning of mechanical and electrical systems specifically for education and cultural institutions. Directed by principals Andrew J. Sebor, J. Kenny Wieber, Philip C. Steiner, Kari A. Nystrom, Michael A. Freliech, Adam J. Trojanowski, and J. Kenny Wieber, Jr., the firm looks beyond individual buildings to evaluate context and presence, available resources, and opportunities to synthesize multiple systems to achieve energy economies.

Altieri’s principals and staff remain grounded by the original principles set by John Altieri to achieve excellence in the design of responsible energy distribution and the control systems that manage them. The firm conceives and executes highly innovative mechanical and electrical solutions that support the architecture and contribute to the quality of the built environment.

Carver alum and current students creating a new song and music video

It's meant to be a surprise for Sean Combs when receives Carver's Child of America award at our 80th Anniversary Gala on May 11th at Shorehaven Golf Club. But we can't keep the this a secret for you any longer! Yesterday, a few of Carver's students went to Factory Underground to sing part of the song for the recording. The moving hip-hop song, "We Are Carver", written by Carver alum FNX, evokes Carver's namesake, George Washington Carver, and goes on to tell present day stories. Factory Underground's Kenny Cash wrote the music and is producing the record. Following the gala, this new song will have a positive emotional impact on the Carver children, and inspire community pride with its positive message.

The Hour: Carver Foundation to honor Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs at 80th anniversary gala

Carver's 80th Anniversary website is here

By Stephanie Kim, Monday, April 16, 2018      See the entire news article here

NORWALK — Sean “Diddy” Combs will be visiting Norwalk to accept the 2018 Child of America Award at the Carver Foundation’s 80th anniversary gala in May.

Novelette Peterkin, Carver’s executive director, said Combs felt honored to be named this year’s recipient once he learned more about what the foundation is doing for urban youth in Norwalk.

Carver is the city’s largest provider of after-school and summer programs for middle and high school students.

“That’s near and dear to him. He does a lot of philanthropic investment in programs like Carver,” Peterkin said. “And we’re honored that he accepted our invitation.”

...“We try to honor exceptional role models for Carver youth and it’s called Child for America for a reason, because we look to honor someone who’s national,” Peterkin said. “He inspired my generation and he continues to inspire the younger generation now.”

...Ray Dalio, founder of the investment firm Bridgewater Associates and a supporter of Carver since 2009, will present Combs with the award at this year’s gala on May 11 at the Shorehaven Golf Club, 14 Canfield Ave. in Norwalk. A tribute music video will also be shown at the gala created by Norwalk’s Factory Underground and Carver alum and Norwalk rapper FNX.

See The Hour article in its entirety here.

Click here to go to the Carver 80th Anniversary Gala website.

Melissa & Doug donate art supplies to Carver kids!

Melissa & Doug of the company that goes by the same name just donated art supplies to Carver, generously supporting Carver's STEAM education programs!

Melissa & Doug is an American manufacturer and purveyor of children's toys. The company was founded by Melissa and Doug Bernstein in their basement and in Doug's parents' garage in 1988. It is headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut. It is especially noted for wooden puzzles, arts & crafts products, plush toys and other types of educational toys. All products are designed in-house in Wilton, Connecticut, by a team of designers led by Melissa. The company has manufacturing sites in both the U.S. and abroad.

In a 2016 Good Morning America profile, Melissa Bernstein shared her belief that through imaginary play, kids explore, create, take risks, and discover who they really are. The same profile noted that the Melissa & Doug philosophy matches the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that parents limit screen time for young children.

Thank you, Melissa and Doug, for thinking of and giving so generously to Carver kids!

Today is Jackie Robinson Day and it is being celebrated in new ways

On Sunday, April, 15th, MLB will commemorate the annual league-wide Jackie Robinson Day with even more ways to celebrate the Hall of Famer who made history on April 15, 1947, as the first African-American player in the Major Leagues when he suited up for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

As has been customary since 2009, all on-field personnel, including players, managers, coaches and umpires, will wear Robinson's No. 42. This year, a commemorative patch on all team caps and jersey sleeves and socks with the No. 42 on them have been added. There's also a new lightweight hooded fleece for batting practice and dugout wear, also featuring the 42 logo.

All proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, an organization that provides four years of financial assistance and direct program services annually to 225 students attending 100 colleges and universities across the country. The JRF has developed a mentoring curriculum called JRF Scholars, and some of those scholars will be honored during the special on-field, pregame celebrations on home fields across the league Sunday.

Rachel Robinson, Jackie's wife and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and their daughter, Sharon Robinson, are scheduled to attend the Jackie Robinson Day ceremonies at Citi Field, the home of the Mets, who will host the Brewers.

In conjunction with Jackie Robinson Day weekend, MLB will also host the second annual Trailblazer Series at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., for approximately 100 girls, ages 13 and under, representing 21 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada. The three-day tournament that starts Thursday will feature players from AAU, Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Baseball, Little League International, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), PONY and USSSA, and other leagues along with top coaches and players, including members of USA Baseball's Women's National Team.

These dates and figures also are important as MLB celebrates the league's growing diversity on Jackie Robinson Day. African-American/African-Canadian/Black players made up 8.4 percent of Major League rosters on Opening Day this year, the highest percentage on Opening Day active rosters in the past six seasons.

Overall, 41 percent of players on 2018 active, Opening Day rosters are of African-American/African-Canadian/Black, Latino, Asian or Pacific Island descent. Also, the first round of the MLB Draft has featured 41 African-American players out of 204 total selections since 2012, a total of 20.1 percent.

On April 16, MLB and Scholastic will announce all 10 winners of the Breaking Barriers: In Sport, In Life essay contest, which honors the legacy of Robinson. The contest recognizes students who have overcome barriers in their own lives using the example set forth by Robinson. The grand-prize winners from each category will win a trip to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game and World Series, respectively.

Carver's 48th annual spring break college tour concludes at Six Flags Great Adventure!

Each spring break, chaperoned Carver students board their chartered bus at the Carver Community Center for a life-changing, road trip to the schools they aspire to attend. The 48th (2018) Annual Spring College Tour just introduced middle and high school students to the rigors and joys of a college education. School administrators, admissions and financial aid officers, college students including many former Carver YDP students, and others gave the tours, made presentations and interacted with the visiting Carver students. Whether asking questions, touring the campuses, or sharing meals with former Carver peers now excelling at these excellent schools, the goal is to motivate each visiting Carver student to envision their futures as a successful college student.

On their way home from this life changing experience, the college-bound Carver students visited Six Flags Adventure in New Jersey. Featuring hundreds of roller coasters, thrill rides and family attractions, Six Flags is one the biggest regional theme parks in the world! 

We're grateful they all survived the death defying rides at the park and are now back in Norwalk and more motivated than ever to be "lifetime achievers!" 

11th grader Dejanah Lorthe reports from Howard University on the spring break college tour

Howard University is an HBCU filled with many opportunities and is one of the most diverse colleges in the United States. Founded in 1867, by Oliver Otis Howard, the predominantly African American school has six schools that comprise various majors like biology, communications, Afro-American studies, and chemical engineering. To get into this prestigious university, you must have a weighted GPA of a 3.2 or higher and have at least a score of 1080 on the SATs and a 24 on the ACT. Tuition for Howard is $40,000 a year. This fee includes boom, board, and most of the other expenses on campus. When applying to Howard University, you are entered into a scholarship pool to determine if you're qualified for receive funds to go the school. Howard University believes cultivating community is important and they want individuals who are willing to give back. It's best to start getting involved within your community and in your high school.

Campus life at Howard is usually live with music, step shows, parties, and special events as well. "The Yard" is the hangout spot for all students where most of the fun happens. One fun fact about Howard University is the rapper, and entrepreneur P. Diddy attended Howard but did not graduate. Howard University is a school where \ you can find who you really are, and it's also a place that I can call home within the next year. Visiting this particular school made me fall deeper in love with it, and it motivated me to continue to push harder in high school and to strive only for greatness and never settle for average.

Dejanah Lorthe
11th Grade Brien McMahon

Carver students on the spring break College Tour visit Georgetown and Howard Universities today!

11th graders Sky Simmons & Areyona Patterson write about the college tour of Georgetown!

Georgetown University is a private university located in Washington DC and was founded in 1789. There are 4,523 students enrolled in the university. Georgetown is considered an Ivy League college which means they have high academics and high prestige. The mascot is “Jack The Bulldog” who has the colors of grey and blue. Their mascot is a bulldog, but not any normal mascot as you would imagine. Jack, the bulldog, is an actual living bulldog! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see him and pet him, but it’s quite fascinating that that’s their mascot. There are many exciting things might grab your attention around campus. There's a seal in the middle of a walkway that you are not allowed to step on, and if you're superstitious, you'll believe that its bad luck for anyone who does so. We made sure we walked passed it though.

The school has a religious affiliation with Catholic which would be an attraction for anyone who is Catholic. Over 50% of these students study abroad which is excellent because it opens students’ minds to different cultures so they will be able to compare to the United States of America. There are more than 150 different study abroad programs in different countries. Those who decide to pick the Global Health major are required to pick a country and study abroad. 

The general requirements for admission to the school is a GPA of 3.9-4.4, an average SAT score of 1590, and an average ACT score of 30-35. The university offers scholarships and mentorship as well. The average GPA at Georgetown is 4.03; this makes it a very competitive university. The acceptance rate is 17%, and the graduation rate is 94% within six years. This school offers more than 200 co-curricular clubs and activities on campus. All students are required to take general education courses. 90% of students do internships, and there are many around campus jobs available to the students. 

Students are allowed to live in loft-style apartments which include kitchens and single bathrooms. They offer single rooms, doubles, and even triples! Not all schools have study rooms that you can reserve, so the fact that Georgetown does is a huge plus! I recommend this school to anyone who takes an interest in the things we've reported for you! 

Sky Simmons & Areyona Patterson
11th Grade Norwalk High School

10th graders Ashanti Washington & Summer Hall write about the college tour visit to Coppin State University

Coppin State University is a HBCU looking for hardworking, dedicated students. The university has a very diverse student population who come from various states such as New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The average requirement for acceptance into the school is a 2.5 GPA, 930 SAT score and an 18 ACT score. Coppin State also provides the Coppins Honors Program which allows students to obtain a bachelors degree in 3 years rather than 4. They require a 3.0 GPA, 1080 SAT score, and a 22 ACT score for acceptance. 

Coppin State recommends that its students live on campus to build relationships with teachers and other students, especially their freshman year. Coppin State is not interested in becoming a big school; they would instead remain on the smaller side of the school population. A plus about CSU is that they are an NCAA division 1 school for sports. Men sports include basketball, football, tennis, track and field, etc. The women sports that the school provides is basketball, bowling, tennis, and softball. They also have clubs that are less competitive and do not compete with NCAA divisions which included soccer, lacrosse, and powderpuff. 

Overall, Coppin State University is a beautiful school and everyone on campus was friendly. If you're looking for a medium sized HBCU, this is a great choice!

Ashanti Washington & Summer Hall
10th Graders @ Brien McMahon High School