Bankwell provides crucial support to extend the school year for Carver students

Lucy French, Vice President and Marketing Manager at Bankwell, and Brian Allert, Carver’s Chief Program Officer at the Carver Community Center.

Read the article in the New Canaan Advertiser here, and at NewCanaanite here.

Carver’s longtime benefactor, Bankwell, renewed their support with a generous grant of $10,000 to help us extend the school year for Carver students. The donation gave students virtual access to Carver teachers and staff to receive the extra support they needed to not fall behind academically. The structured time with the students also benefited parents who continue to juggle multiple priorities during this time.

“Carver is profoundly grateful for Bankwell’s amazing support through the years, and especially for this year’s $10,000 investment in our students,” said Novelette Peterkin, CEO of the Carver Foundation of Norwalk. “This support helps us close opportunity gaps for our nearly 2,500 students and prepare them for success in school and life. We cannot thank everyone at Bankwell enough for joining us in our important work.”

Carver summer campers visit the Maritime Aquarium

The Maritime Aquarium inspires people of all ages to appreciate and protect the Long Island Sound ecosystem and the global environment through living exhibits, marine science, and environmental education. And no one enjoys this magical and inspiring place more than Carver students!

The Maritime Aquarium’s exhibits offer entertaining, educational and emotional experiences with animals in order to instill a sense of wonder in the diversity of nature and a sense of responsibility for conservation.

The Maritime Aquarium is the only aquarium focused on Long Island Sound. From this core, it explores related animals and conservation issues from around the world. Its exhibits, admired for their quality and dramatic elegance, are carefully designed to give people of all ages entertaining, educational, and emotional experiences with animals in order to instill a sense of wonder in the diversity of nature.

A constantly evolving facility, The Maritime Aquarium offers visitors personal interactions with animals and interpretation by knowledgeable staff and volunteers.

August is Black Philanthropy Month - Foresight 2020

Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), observed each August, is a global celebration and concerted campaign to elevate African-descent giving. Created by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women's Philanthropy Network (PAWPNet), BPM launched in 2011 to commemorate the United Nations Year and Decade of People of African Descent.

In 2013, Valaida Fullwood and Tracey Webb, both chroniclers of Black philanthropy, joined Copeland as co-architects, collaborating to scale up the annual campaign and invite widespread public participation. Expanding and evolving each year, BPM is characterized by a wave of high-impact events, media stories, proclamations and service projects online and in communities throughout August, with local and global dimensions.

Since it was established, BPM has reached roughly 17 million people and become an increasingly year-round, diasporic initiative that illuminates the ingenuity and transformative impact of generosity in Black communities. Primary aims of BPM are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms, for the benefit of our planet, our communities, our organizations and our lives. A new organizing concept frames the BPM campaign each year. The theme for 2020 is: FORESIGHT 20/20.

New Canaan Community Foundation provides crucial COVID-19 support to Carver and fellow area nonprofit organizations

New Canaan Community Foundation announced the fourth round of grants awarded through their COVID- 19 Response Fund and related efforts. Grants this week invest specifically in child care and summer options for youth.

New Canaan Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund was launched on March 18th, and mobilizes private resources to: support the emergency financial needs of New Canaan families and workers; help nonprofit organizations adapt to changing client needs, as well as shifts in operations; and support critical services in lower Fairfield County. Since its launch, the fund has rapidly invested over $440,000 in community partners.

With the country experiencing its greatest level of unemployment in years, it was pertinent for the New Canaan Community Foundation to invest dollars in helping parents and families return to work, by providing funding to organizations who are focusing on child care needs and summer camp options for many essential workers and working families. Notably, women have experienced job loss and unemployment and disproportionately higher rates. In addition to support for New Canaan youth and families, targeted support is also ensuring child care options for our neighbors in Norwalk and Stamford.

The fourth round of grants awarded include:

• A.B.C. of New Canaan: $2,500 to support summer online classes for rising freshmen and

  sophomore ABC students.

• All Our Kin: $20,000 to support the most urgent and evolving needs of family child care providers in

  Stamford and Norwalk during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Carver Foundation of Norwalk: $5,000 to support PPE and other equipment and supplies for

  children of Norwalk and staff at Carver Summer Camps at the Carver Community Center and

  Columbus Magnet School.

• Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County: $20,000 to support early childhood education

  programs, enabling families to return to work as the State re-opens.

• Family Centers: $2,500 to support the Bettering Opportunities and Outcomes in Stamford (BOOST)

  summer program, which provides campers with fun and academics to reduce the summer slide, and keep the campers engaged, while promoting healthy socialization opportunities.

• INTEMPO: $5,000 to support the INTEMPO Summer Music Camp, which will teach children from Stamford and Norwalk in grades K-12 how to play various musical instruments as well as provide math and reading tutoring to students.

• LiveGirl: $1,500 to support Camp LiveGirl @ Home activity books that take girls on a fun leadership development adventure to live brave, live kind, live her true self, and live her power.

• New Canaan Community YMCA: $5,000 to support Camp Y-Ki, the Y’s traditional full-day summer camp program held each summer at Kiwanis Park for ages 5-15. The program provides a nurturing, caring, and inclusive environment for our community's children, while also making available a fun and engaging childcare option for working parents.

• Women's Mentoring Network: $5,000 to support the First Generation Achievement Program, which provides workshops and one-on-one services to students of all different ages.

NPS Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella shares the latest updates to the reopening plan during a virtual Town Hall Forum

Carver scholars receive $130,000 at our annual college scholarship awards ceremony

Yesterday evening, 34 Carver high school graduates and current college students received $130,000 in Carver scholarship awards.

Our students, scholarship donors, scholarship essay readers, and Carver staff celebrated the awards ceremony via Zoom, with Carver’s board chair, Phil Butterfield, and Carver CEO, Novelette Peterkin, presiding.

One of the highlights of the event was when we announced there would be two winners of the annual DeAndre Parks $5,000 scholarship, which is traditionally given the single student with the highest GPA. And then we doubled again the amount awarded! DeAndre Parks joined everyone for the ZOOM event and announced that he was matching Carver’s financial commitment this year, making the award $10,000 for each of the two students. Mr. Parks is a Senior Analyst at Western Asset Management Co. LLC in California. Mr. Parks was previously an Analyst at Citigroup Asset Management when he served on the Carver Board of Directors. This year, Trinity McFadden (a third year college student and past award recipient) was joined by high school graduate Louis Guaillas as earning the highest GPAs for the year.

Carver’s Scholarship Categories

SERENBETZ SCHOLARSHIP

Cindi Serenbetz brought greetings to Carver students on behalf of the Serenbetz family. Awards presented to 11 Carver students ranged from $2,500 to $4,000. The Serenbetz family generously supports Carver, for many years, and is especially committed to the Carver scholarship program. Thelma Serenbetz, matriarch of the family, was one of the readers of the scholarship essays each year. Her first job after college was as an editor, but more importantly, she knew the inestimable value of a college education. Thelma and her family went on to support many organizations and schools through the years to help young people thrive and achieve their goals.

When we learned of Thelma’s passing in August of last year, we wanted to honor her memory and legacy, particularly her commitment to our students. We are very pleased to be awarding the Thelma Serenbetz Scholarship to Carver students who earn a GPA of 2.0 to 2.5. This scholarship honors Thelma’s life and all that she gave to and made possible for Carver students through the years.

FULLER SCHOLARSHIP

The Fuller Scholarship was presented to six Carver students ranging from $3,000 to $4,000. The Fuller Scholarship was created to honor Carver’s longtime Executive Director, Richard N. Fuller Sr., upon his retirement. Mr. Fuller served Carver families for 26 years. He was an educator, trusted community leader and strong advocate for Norwalk families. The City of Norwalk renamed Academy Street, where the Carver Community Center is located, Richard Fuller Way. Countless Carver alumni credit Mr. Fuller for giving them the example, inspiration and motivation to succeed in life.

Diane Peters gave compelling remarks about how proud Mr. Fuller would be of today’s Carver students, of their determination and ability to succeed in school and in life, and of Carver’s significant and effective reach into Norwalk’s schools. Diane has herself been a longtime Carver volunteer and advocate.

WHITCOMB SCHOLARSHIP

The Whitcomb Scholarship was awarded to nine Carver students this year. The award ranged from $3,000 to $4,000 and was established in 2018, in honor of Dick Whitcomb, who is one of the most influential individuals in the life and growth of the Carver community since its founding in 1938. Mr. Whitcomb was involved in Carver since the 1960’s, when he’d bring St. Luke’s School students to volunteer at the Carver Community Center.

Novelette joined the Carver community in 2004. She met Dick in 2006, and invited him to join the Carver board. Dick was already over-committed and promised to reconsider when he could. Dick contacted Novelette in 2008 and offered to get involved, and that’s when Carver’s expansion began in earnest. Dick believed in Novelette’s vision for Carver, he eventually joined the board, and together they set out on the bold journey to expand the after school and summer programs to almost every school in Norwalk.

Dick was given Carver’s Lifetime Achievement Award on the occasion of Carver’s 75th anniversary. Since serving about 100 youth at the Carver Community Center in 2004, Carver is serving more than 2,500 students today in 17 Norwalk Public Schools, at Side by Side Charter School, at the Carver Community Center, and at the Classical Studies Magnet Academy in Bridgeport.

The Whitcomb Scholarship is awarded to Carver students who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement of a GPA of 3.3 or higher.

DARIEN ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP

Mark Nowotarski presented the Darien Rotary Scholarship to two Carver students. This $4,000 award was established in 2018, and is presented to a graduating senior who will be attending Norwalk Community College. This student is highly engaged in the Carver community, demonstrates grit and determination, and demonstrates an exemplary willingness to succeed. The second recipient of the Darien Rotary Scholarship received a $1,000 scholarship for the 2nd year of college.

DEANDRE PARKS

The DeAndre Parks Scholarship was established to honor the profound contributions of this former Carver board member. Mr. Parks was one of the founders of Carver’s annual Child of America Gala, Carver’s largest event that consistently brings national prestige to our local organization. Mr. Parks remains a major Carver donor and champion even after all these years. He recognized Carver’s potential, fought for community recognition, and inspired so many others to give their support to Carver. The DeAndre Parks Scholarship is awarded to the Carver high school graduate or continuing college student with the Highest GPA.

See more details above about his surprise announcement at scholarship ceremony yesterday evening.

ATHENA SCHOLARSHIP

An anonymous donor established the Athena Scholarship in 2017. This scholarship supports a Carver student who demonstrates a diligent work ethic, resilience in the face of challenges, and a strong commitment to graduate from a four-year college within four years. This scholarship awards $10,000 per year for each of the student’s four years at college. This is a very competitive process to select the awardee. We hope to expand this significant award to more students in the years to come. The awardee must maintain strong academic performance and provide yearly updates to receive the yearly scholarship renewal.

Two students (including a continuing college student Athena Scholarship awardee) received this $10,000 scholarship this year.

The Case for Carver’s Scholarship Program

However difficult getting into college may be, that may be the easiest part of the transition to college life. That is why we support our students during their college years. Staying in college is becoming increasingly challenging for Carver’s first-generation college students as they confront steep hurdles, including financial hardships and the debt from student loans that can eventually undermine the promise of economic stability after they graduate.

Since 2005, 100% of Carver seniors have graduated on time; typically at least 95% of Carver seniors enroll in college immediately following graduation each year. 85% of Carver college students graduate from four-year colleges and universities within six years, while just 11 percent of students nationally from the lowest-income quartile earn bachelor’s degrees within six years.

Carver infuses high expectations, academic rigor, and healthy relationships into its youth development approach to instruction and support. Carver donors provide crucial support that recognizes and honors our students’ strengths, needs, hard work, and potential.

Celebrating the life of Joe Joe Scott

The Carver community mourns the loss and celebrates the life of beloved Joseph “Joe Joe” Scott III.

Joe Joe was a Carver student since his middle school years. His patient, thoughtful and kind ways made Joe Joe a friend of anyone fortunate enough to know him. But there is a group of Carver young men who formed an especially strong and close bond over the years with Joe Joe and each other, kindred spirits, friends forever.

Joe Joe was an involved Carver student who enthusiastically participated in all our activities, including our annual 10-day spring College Tour. Upon visiting Delaware State University, Joe Joe knew where he wanted to go to college — and he did, right there. He went on to become an outstanding Carver staff member beloved by our students today, until Joe Joe succumbed to an illness after a long and valiant struggle.

Joe Joe’s mother became a Carver staff member shortly after entering her son into Carver’s after school program. She is affectionately known by everyone here, especially our elementary aged CASPER children, as Miss Renee,

The loss of Joseph W. Scott III is felt deeply by countless friends and family members. We will be holding a candlelight memorial service outside the Carver Community Center this Saturday, August 1st, at 6:30PM to remember and celebrate Joe Joe’s life and example.

NPS REOPENING PLANS & FORUM

Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) submitted to the state its reopening plan, focusing on the “health and well-being of students” and the tools needed for the program to succeed. Connecticut school districts had until last Friday to submit their plans for three scenarios — full in-person classes, a combination of in-person and distance learning, and fully remote — to the state Department of Education for review.

Alexandra Estrella, who became Norwalk’s new superintendent of schools on July 1, revealed the district’s reopening plan in an informational video released on YouTube last week. “The health and well-being of students and staff is the No. 1 priority in all our work,” Estrella said in the video.

The NPS district’s Reopening Task Force, comprised of staff members, parents and community volunteers, have helped to formulate the plan. The state will determine what models all districts will use based on the COVID-19 infection rate in Connecticut. If the risk remains low, Gov. Ned Lamont is pushing for all schools to fully reopen in the fall. Districts would shift to the hybrid model if the risk becomes moderate and to fully remote if there is a high risk. However, parents can choose to educate their children at home under any of the scenarios.

New coronavirus procedures will require students who use public transportation to wear a mask while on the bus and will require the bus to be loaded back to front with new seating assignments. In order to limit student movement during the day, the task force has also devised a new portable food delivery system that will allow students to eat in class, instead of gathering in a cafeteria.

The district will hold a series of public town hall meetings via Zoom this Wednesday, starting at 3:30 p.m.

Distance learning makes social emotional learning all the more vital

One of the subtle benefits that schools provide is that they are something of an equalizer. Richer and poorer students equally sit behind the same desks in the same classrooms.

With remote learning, differences become magnified, especially when teachers and peers can see into each other's homes. Online learning technology gaps shortchange some students more than others. Family dynamics are also on display. Children whose parents are for a myriad of reasons unable to get them ready for the day or set up their workstations, may show up for online school in a messy or noisy environment.

For many young students, school was a safe space that preserved a cherished measure of privacy, provided healthy meals, and brought structure to each day. Teachers could better read and meet the social emotional needs of their students.

As we strive to achieve equity in education for all students, some challenges are far more difficult to address than others. 21st century technologies offer many advantages to learning, but we are also aware of the many shortcomings.

Our school districts are working hard to address the unique challenges and responsibilities that students face at home. Our daytime teachers who work with Carver students after school are designing learning activities, assessing mastery, and providing learning supports in ways that are sensitive to our students’ social-emotional learning needs.

Carver is always innovating and ever sensitive to the needs of our students and families.

Update on COVID-19 in Connecticut

There have been at least 48,223 cases of coronavirus in Connecticut. As of this morning, at least 4,406 people had died.

However, six months since the coronavirus crisis was first detected in the United States, Connecticut and the Northeast in general stand in sharp contrast with the rest of the nation. Along the East Coast, from Delaware through Maine, new case reports remain at a low level, a small fraction of their April peak. Six of the country’s 11 states with flat or falling case levels are in that Northeastern corridor.

• Read the governor's latest update as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 22

• Reopening Rules - Phase Two (English and Spanish)

• Reopening Rules - Phase One

• Many hospitals and healthcare providers around Connecticut are now offering COVID-19 testing without a doctor's order. Check 211 for the list here.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance, or text CTCOVID to 898211. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.