EnglishHaitian CreoleSpanish

Announcing the "Forever Joe Joe" Scholarship Fund

Joseph William Scott III

The Joseph William Scott III Scholarship Fund honors the celebrated life “Joe Joe”.

This new Carver scholarship fund established by Joe Joe’s family and close friends provides a $1,000 college scholarship to an African American male graduating Carver senior, and a $300 award to enable a Carver after-school student to attend the annual Spring College Tour.  

Joe Joe was a Carver student, employee, and friend throughout his life. Joe Joe’s absolute favorite act of service was mentoring the children of the Carver CASPER program at the Carver Community Center where his beloved mother has served for many years as a staff leader.

Joe Joe had the extraordinary ability to bond with children and to win their trust. He was a big kid at heart.

Joe Joe’s childlike humor enlivened Carver’s annual Spring College Tour, one of Joe Joe’s favorite Carver programs. Attending an HBCU college was one of his longtime goals. When Joe Joe walked onto the Delaware State University campus during one of those Carver college tours, he knew he found his new home for the next couple of years.

Qualifications for the $1,000 “Joe Joe” William Scott III Scholarship include being a graduating Carver high school senior, a GPA of 2.0 or above, and acceptance into a four-year university or college. Candidates need to submit a 300-word essay answering these two questions:  

·      How will your post-secondary education help benefit your community?

·      What 3 to 5 steps will you take to execute your vision? 

More details about this and other Carver college scholarship funds are available upon request.

The William Scott III Scholarship Fund $300 Carver Spring College Tour award is based on financial need as determined by Carver staff.

The Mutual Security Credit Union renews its support of the Carver community!

Here with Carver staff are Mike Augusti, VP of Sales & Service; Jeff Tracey, VP, Lending; Meghan Alfren, Branch Manager, Norwalk; and the photographer is Elaine Borelli, Marketing Communication & Creative Services Manager.

The Mutual Security Credit Union has been a dedicated Carver partner for years. Most recently, in recognition of Black HIstory Month, they presented yet another financial gift of support to the Carver community.

Mutual Security has a branch in Norwalk and is headquartered in Shelton. We praise their commitment to community giving, employee volunteerism, and financial literacy. 

You only need to glance at their Facebook page to see just how consistently loving they are.

Mutual Security is one of the largest state-chartered community-based credit unions in Connecticut. They are open to everyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties.

We look forward to working with Mutual Security employee volunteers and we thank President & CEO Hank Baum and the entire Mutual Security team for their most recent special recognition gift. Thank you!

Here are a few edifying words from Elaine Borrelli, Mutual Security’s Marketing Communication & Creative Services Manager.

 …As a financial institution dedicated to empowering the communities we serve, Mutual Security Credit Union strives to be a true community partner and assist the great work nonprofits in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties are doing to help individuals in times of great need. This can be through monetary support, providing volunteers, or offering personalized financial education.  

We admire The Carver Foundation’s mission to close opportunity gaps for all children and to ensure they graduate high school on time and are ready for college and careers. In honor and celebration of Black History Month, we’ve selected three nonprofits that serve and empower the Black community all year round, including The Carver Foundation of Norwalk, Inc….

Here with Carver staff are Mike Augusti, VP of Sales & Service; Jeff Tracey, VP, Lending; Meghan Alfren, Branch Manager, Norwalk; and the photographer is Elaine Borelli, Marketing Communication & Creative Services Manager.

Carver's Spring College Tour is Back!

Chaperoned Carver students will soon board their chartered bus at the Carver Community Center for a life-changing road trip over their spring school break to the schools they aspire to attend.

The pandemic paused this epic annual Carver journey, but the now 50th Annual Spring College Tour is planned and coming back!

We will introduce high school students to the rigors and joys of a college education. School administrators, admissions and financial aid officers, college students including former Carver after-school and summer students, and others participate in the tours, make presentations and interact 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 successful college students. 

This year’s Spring College Tour begins on Sunday, April 17th, at 1:00 p.m. The Carver bus initially travels to Philadelphia, PA (3.5hrs) for two nights. On Monday, April 18th, at 10:00 a.m., the tour begins with Temple University (30 minutes away from the hotel) https://www.temple.edu. At 12:00 Noon, the tour will include visits to Liberty Bell and the Rocky Statue and Steps! On Tuesday, April 19th, at 10:00 a.m., the tour will move on to Delaware State University (1.5 hours travel) in Dover, DE https://www.desu.edu. At 2:00 p.m., the tour proceeds to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (2.5 hours travel) in Princess Anne, MD https://wwwcp.umes.edu. Then the group travels 2.5 hours to the next hotel. From there the group will on Wednesday, April 20th, tour Old Dominion University (30 minutes travel) in Norfolk, VA, http://www.odu.edu, stop for lunch, and then at 12:30 p.m., they will tour Norfolk State University (30 minutes travel), http://www.nsu.edu. Then the students will travel three hours to their next hotel. On Thursday, April 21st, the group will travel 30-minutes to Washington, D.C. to tour accessible sites of great importance and interest to the students. By 12:00 noon, the group will travel five hours back to Norwalk, CT.

Here are some of the reasons why our students love the Carver college tours (also each year we visit colleges in CT on election day).

1.     You won’t really know how you feel about a place until you’ve been there. A college catalog, view book, or website can only show you so much.

2.     The college information sessions and the campus tours will give you a much better idea of what the college is like and if you would be happy there.

3.     A small investment in time now can save significant time, money, and hassles during the during the college application period.

4.     You’ll get a sense of the college’s vibrancy, character, and facilities. Visits will provide you with a more complete picture.

5.     College tours allow students to ask questions, meet other prospective students and understand the college on a deeper level.

6.     How you feel about schools once you visit in person may affect the direction your college search and application process takes. College visits help you to refine your search.

7.     Applying to college is a complex process and visits to campuses will serve you best if you use them as a research tool, rather than a final decision-making aid.

8.     Time, energy and money are finite resources and you want to use them wisely throughout the application process. First-hand knowledge will help you to clarify your vision and narrow your list.

9.     Most colleges love students who are sincerely interested and visiting colleges is one way to show this.

10.  You want to be able to relax and make a fully informed choice once you have been accepted. If you’ve already visited those schools at least once, that’s just what you will be able to do.

Watch here on this Carver blog in April for reports from each of the colleges our students visit, written in their own words!

Now Accepting Summer Camp Employment Applications!

SUMMER 2022 EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION

The application linked above is for the following Carver summer 2022 programs:

  1. Summer Enrichment Camp at the Carver Community Center (7 Academy Street): 7/5/22-8/12/22

  2. Summer Enrichment Camp at Columbus Magnet School (46 Concord Street): 7/5/22-8/12/22

  3. After the Summer Bell Camp at Kendall Elementary School: 7/5/22-8/5/22

  4. Ponus Summer Camp at Ponus Middle School: 7/5/22-8/5/22

 To be considered for summer employment candidates must be 16 years of age or older by July 4th, and they must be able to work for the duration of the summer camp program (note the dates above).

Candidates, as with all Carver staff and volunteers, must pass a background check. By submitting your application you consent to Carver conducting this routine process.

Experience working with children is a plus. If you have a preference regarding working at a particular Carver summer program noted above, please note your preference on your application. If no site is noted then you will be considered for all four sites. 

To ensure your application is reviewed and considered, please scan and e-mail your application by Friday, April 8th to: opportunities@carvercenterct.org.

Or please mail your completed application (postmarked) by Friday, April 8th to Carver Foundation of Norwalk, Summer Employment, 7 Academy Street, Norwalk, CT 06850.

Thanks!

Congratulations, Tremain Gilmore, for being named NHS' Staff Member of the Month

See the blog post here about the Breakfast with Champions event several days ago. L-R: 5FINGAZ; Kavan Weise; Jessica Herlihy; Jackie Roberson; Samantha Zullo; Rose Lanard; Lamail Townsend (back row); Lucy Newton; and Tremain Gilmore

In addition to serving as a member of Norwalk High School’s security team, Tremain has been a Carver staff member for as long or longer than anyone else here today.

Tremain is a perpetually honored Carver staff member! We regularly feature Tremain’s good deeds on our website and blog, such as here, here, and here, and here a few days ago regarding the annual Breakfast with Champions event he helps to organize for our youth.

Here is what Dan Sullivan, Ed. D., Norwalk High School Assistant Principal, recently shared about Tremain’s latest honor.

As Carver’s longtime Teen Center Manager, Tremain embodies the heart and soul of the Carver mission. In this photo Tremain is being honored by Calvary Baptist Church to “…lift him up, to encourage him and to let him know that his efforts are noticed and appreciated.”

We are very excited to introduce Mr. Tremaine(Gil)Gilmore as the Staff Member of the Month for March. Gil is a giant among men and his contributions to NHS and our community cannot be measured. Gil is a wonderful role model and activist whose impact on the lives of young people is truly special: whether mentoring students through his many goodwill initiatives and work such as the Carver Center, fund-raising activities, or his many entrepreneurial endeavors.

Gil is a proud NHS Alum class of 90’ where he was a standout member of the football team. Fast forward, Gil is still making his presence felt through his generous and empathic nature. Moreover, Gil is a calming influence for our students and staff and greets all with a warm smile and kind word. Gil is unflappable and skilled at deescalating situations that could adversely impact the school environment. 

As the epitome of a professional, Gil is dignified in his work and generous with his time and support of his colleagues and he is always willing to step in as second in charge in Mr. Lewis’ absence. Gil has the innate ability to bring people together and this has been evident through his work in developing the Elijah Gilmore Scholarship Fund in memory of his son. The scholarship is awarded annually to an NHS senior who plans to attend college and displays compassion and commitment for others while being civic-minded.

Gil is an integral member of our talented security team and knowing his humble demeanor, he would certainly want his colleagues on the Security Team to also be recognized…and well deserved! They are a wonderful cadre of talented professionals and please join me in recognizing the individual and collective efforts and contributions of our wonderful security team!!

Gil has the tremendous support from his wife Fritzsa and daughter Madeline with whom he loves to spend time.

In the event you would like to make a donation to the aforementioned Scholarship fund, please see Ms. DiMeglio in the Main office.

Enjoy the parking spot and don't scratch Mr. Robert's car please:)

GO BEARS!

NPS Elementary School Choice Fair - Thursday, March 10, 5:30-7:30 PM

NPS will hold their first annual NPS Elementary School Choice Fair on Thursday, March 10 from 5:30-7:30pm at Brookside Elementary School (382 Highland Ave).

Carver will be there, as noted in this article in The Hour: Community partners attending the fair include the Carver Foundation of Norwalk, the city’s Family Navigators program, the city health department, the Norwalk Community Health Center Mobile Dental Clinic, and the Norwalk Mentor Program. Families can also speak to a district representative from transportation, health services, food services, and specialized instruction and students services.

Learn here about NPS Elementary Schools, Lotteries & Choice Programs. Childcare is available for those attending. Shuttles are provided from SONO. Registration kiosks are available on site. Sign-up here in advance to attend. For additional information and sign-up, visit: NorwalkPS.org/ChoicePrograms. Questions? Call the NPS Family Center: 203-854-4100.

Great opening night win for our Connecticut Cobras: 117-109!

Shannon Singleton-Bates, Carver’s Recreation Coordinator; Novelette Peterkin, Carver CEO; Carver alumna Berdine Joseph

The Carver community was there this past Friday at the University of Bridgeport to cheer on the new Connecticut Cobras playing against the Reading Rebels. The Cobras is the first men’s professional basketball team in Connecticut since 2000. This was their first game and they won!

The team has many connections to the Carver community. The game as well as the enthusiastic fans were exciting to watch!

Carver alumna Berdine Joseph of “The Voice” fame sang the National Anthem.

Cobras Ian Gardener #7 is a Carver alumnus, especially on the basketball court, as noted by The Hour in an article about Mo’s Summer Run at the Carver Community Center. Here is another article in The Hour about Ian’s and his sister’s college basketball days. Ian graduated from Dominican College and went on to play professional basketball overseas.

Ian is in the photo in the gallery below with Novelette and the Cobras Jamerikah Green-Younger #2. We wrote about Jahmerikah here when he was a senior guard for the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team when he tallied his 1,000th-career point. This update was about Jahmerikah signing a professional contract with the Western Massachusetts Zombies in the East Coast Basketball League.

The Cobras team Market Owner, a Norwalk native, and longtime Carver friend, Anthony Hill, officially established the team in February 2021. The Cobras entered The Basketball League in July 2021.

The Basketball League (TBL), formerly North America Premier Basketball (NAPB), is a minor league basketball organization. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams and expanded to over 30 teams as of 2021.

Join us Friday, March 4th, Opening Night for the Connecticut Cobras professional men's basketball team!

The Carver community will have the honor to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly established Connecticut Cobras professional men’s basketball team on Friday, March 4th, at the University of Bridgeport.

Join us!

The Connecticut Cobras is the first men’s professional basketball team in the state of Connecticut since 2000. The team has many connections to the Carver community and to Carver alumni.

Carver is making 135 tickets available to the families of the students participating in Carver programs this school year as part of Carver’s ongoing parent engagement programming.

Roy Kane, Jr., who grew up at Carver, and went on to play for the University of New Haven, is on the team. As reported in The Hour: …On Thursday night at the Carver Center — the place where he grew up as both a young boy and as a young basketball player — Kane showed that dreams do come true as he signed an official letter of intent to take his skills to the University of New Haven on a full athletic scholarship.

Berdine Joseph of The Voice fame will sing the National Anthem at the Cobras Opening Night game on Friday, March 4th. Berdine sang at many Carver events through the years. For The Voice, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter, Nineteen-year-old Berdine Joseph, who grew up in Haiti before her family moved to the United States, auditioned next. She sang “Hey Mama,” which was a very interesting song choice and definitely one of the more original performances of the night…

Jahmerikah Green-Younger is also on the Cobras team. He was a star basketball player for Brien McMahon High School. He and his family are longtime members of the Carver community. We wrote about Jahmerikah here when he was a senior guard for the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team when he tallied his 1,000th-career point. This update was about Jahmerikah signing a professional contract with the Western Massachusetts Zombies in the East Coast Basketball League.

The Team Market Owner, a Norwalk native and longtime Carver friend, Anthony Hill, officially established the team in February 2021. The Cobras entered The Basketball League in July 2021.

The team is based out of Norwalk because of its proximity to major cities, including Albany, New York, and Boston. Hill aims to provide an outlet for young athletes and also partner with local companies and nonprofits like Carver.

The Cobras home games will be held at the University of Bridgeport. Here is the season schedule.

The Basketball League (TBL), formerly North America Premier Basketball (NAPB), is a minor league basketball organization. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams and expanded to over 30 teams as of 2021.