EnglishHaitian CreoleSpanish

Norwalk Hospital rolls out the red carpet for Carver high school students as they begin their paid internships

Peter Cordeau, president of Norwalk Hospital, consults with individual Carver students

Yesterday, Peter Cordeau, president of Norwalk Hospital, greeted Carver’s 24 student interns as they arrived to begin their individual career journeys in healthcare.

Mr. Cordeau, joined in the hospital’s theater by hospital department chiefs, oriented our juniors and seniors to the “city within a city” that is Norwalk Hospital, replete with its own power plant.

The two-hour introductory session, including a sumptuous meal, was no less choreographed and welcoming than if we were a visiting congressional delegation.

In the weeks ahead, our students, now formed into small groups to more easily rotate throughout the hospital, will explore healthcare careers. Our students will gain insight into the requirements of the many positions and make crucial connections with healthcare professionals.

This extraordinarily generous opportunity provided by Norwalk Hospital will give our students the ability to learn about the responsibilities of each position, the growth opportunities in each field, and the education and licensures required for each position.

This paid internship experience will help our high school students decide if they have an interest in pursuing an education and a future career in fields such as surgery, emergency services, food and dietary services, HR, rehabilitation, imaging, inpatient nursing, and so much more.

The goal of this partnership with Norwalk Hospital is to strengthen the workforce development and college readiness of Carver high school students. In workshops provided by Norwalk Community College and other coaching provided by our new Future Readiness Coordinators, these 24 juniors and seniors arrived at Norwalk Hospital yesterday dressed and mentally prepared for the experience and the work ahead.

Norwalk Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute-care community teaching hospital. The 366-bed hospital has more than 500 physicians on its active medical staff, and 2,000 health professionals and support personnel. Norwalk Hospital is a member of the award-winning Nuvance Health system of hospitals serving western Connecticut and New York’s Hudson Valley.

Norwalk Hospital alone consistently receives many national awards for excellence, such as recently being recognized with America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award, placing Norwalk Hospital in the top two percent of all hospitals in the country for clinical quality. Norwalk Hospital is the only hospital in Fairfield County, Connecticut to earn this recognition.

Some of Norwalk Hospital's medical education programs are affiliated with the Yale School of Medicine. Norwalk Hospital provides a variety of clinical programs and health education classes to local groups and organizations.

That said, yesterday, Carver students felt as if the only education program Norwalk Hospital provides is devoted exclusively to them. We are forever thankful for this priceless opportunity for our young people preparing for their futures.

Teen Night at the Norwalk Art Space. Free Pizza. Open Mic. Friday, March 18th!

The next teen night at the Norwalk Art Space is open to all high school students looking to perform, share, and support others in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment.

Bring your instrument/tool of choice (or listening ears if you aren't ready) and one or two things that you'd like to share! 10-minute time slot sign-ups start at 6:30 pm, first come, first served with limited spots available. 

 Poets, writers, comedians, dancers, animators, and musicians are all encouraged to perform! This will be an open platform for you to share something creative that you're working on. Please be prepared to support other participants before/after you perform! There will be a PA, microphone, guitar, and piano available for you to use.

The Carver Boys Basketball Team Opened for the Westchester Knicks Game!

We have been sharing here about our students and families attending professional basketball games together, and about one of those teams, the Connecticut Cobras, being constituted of many Carver alumni.

Today, we can proudly report that our young athletes are themselves the stars! Go Carver!

The Carver team did a tremendous job playing on an NBA size court before the Westchester Knicks played against the College Park Skyhawks. Carver staff report that they were completely exhausted by the end of their opening game, “…but they played their hearts out. We are all so proud of each of them!”

The NBA G League is the NBA's official minor league. Fans can get a glimpse at the players, coaches, and officials competing to ascend to the NBA's rank. With 41 percent of players on start-of-season NBA rosters boasting NBA G League experience when the 2021-22 season tipped off in October, the NBA G League is the best place to see the future now — and that goes for our Carver team players as well!

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!