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Our Spring Tennis Clinic is underway at the Carver Community Center!

Our Spring Tennis Clinic is underway on our outdoor courts at the Carver Community Center with Coach Marcus Hooks!

Email rhea@carvercenterct.org for more information!

Carver alumnus Marcus Hooks is teaching Carver kids the sport with his own local tennis training program called Six Love. We’ve shared a lot here about how proud we are of Marcus. His creativity, generosity, and leadership are extraordinary.

Marcus is teaching the tennis classes at the Carver Community Center every Tuesday from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM (rain dates are Thursdays from 6 to 7 PM).

Carver 5th Grade Scholars at Marvin Elementary School are ship builders!

Carver after-school students at Marvin Elementary School built small wooden boats!

Christian Guzman, a certified daytime teacher who manages our 5th Grade Scholars after-school program at Marvin, obtained all the materials and tools from Home Depot (donated by a friend).

This creative project supplied our students with knowledge that will last a lifetime.

This project is one of many hands-on, project-based learning opportunities all Carver students receive after-school and during the summer. These projects and lessons give our students a foundation from which to explore all levels of learning.

Model wooden boats connect diverse subjects such as math, English, history, and science with a common thread. Each Marvin student built a ship using wooden blocks, nails, screws, a screwdriver, and a hammer.

The students learned to read the directions and follow each step as well as follow all the safety guidelines.

Hands-on project-based learning projects are recognized as an effective way to engage students of all ages. It’s not just an enrichment activity or an add-on. It’s not just incorporating hands-on activities or a research component to the lesson. This kind of activity involves learner-centered questions driven by student inquiry, not by teacher-driven exploration. It is not about adding something new but rather delving deeper into a topic, asking hard questions, and allowing time to pursue multiple answers.

Thanks to the Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, Carver is able to offer these programs. The 21st CCLC initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs. The program serves nearly 2 million youth, nationwide through grants awarded by state education agencies. This funding awarded to Carver by the Connecticut State Department of Education through a very competitive grant process provides for academic enrichment activities that help students meet state and local achievement standards. Carver is also able to offer a broad array of additional enrichment services designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program, such as STEM programs, and physical activity and nutrition education programs. Carver also offers literacy and related educational development services to the families of children we serve.

Carver kids are ship builders!

Join us for the NorWALK for Mental Health & Wellness Fair Sat, May 7 @ 9:00 am - 11:30 am, Norwalk Green

To recognize Mental Health Awareness Month and National Prevention Week, The Norwalk Partnership, Norwalk ACTS, and NCC are hosting “NorWALK for Mental Health” along with a “Check-In” Wellness Fair featuring speakers, prizes, music, and more. This is an important event we hope you will share and attend.

Here are the many offerings they are planning:

  • Mental health booths where you can practice coping skills, “paint your art out,” get a “check-up from the neck up,” and meet friendly people who can answer your mental health questions.

  • Prevention booths where you can experience the risks of impaired driving, pick up Liquor Stickers or Narcan, learn about suicide prevention, and get parenting resources.

  • People of all ages share their personal mental health journeys.

  • A press conference with local elected officials.

  • A 1.5-mile walk to create visibility and join together for the cause.

  • The state’s “Change the Script” behavioral health resource van.

  • Music, art, door prizes, laughter, yoga, drumming, and tie-dye!

An estimated 49.5 percent of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. The good news is that promoting positive mental health can prevent some problems. For young people who do have mental health disorders, early intervention and treatment can help lessen the impact on their lives.

Presently, H.B. 5001 and S.B. 2, are two bills currently awaiting votes in the Connecticut General Assembly. These bills address the growing mental health needs of Connecticut’s youth. From instituting universal pre-K in S.B. 2 to improving the availability of mental health resources to children and teenagers in H.B. 5001, these two bills would demonstrate a newfound and welcome prioritization of youth mental health.

Questions about the NorWALK for Mental Health & Wellness Fair? Contact Wendy Mendes at Wmendes@norwalk.edu.

Also, Margaret Watt, MPH, MA (she/her), Prevention Director, TurningPointCT Project Director, Co-Chair, The Norwalk Partnership & Westport Prevention Coalition, Positive Directions - The Center for Prevention and Counseling at mwatt@positivedirections.org, www.positivedirections.org.

In a behavioral health crisis, dial 2-1-1, option 1 to access CT's regional mobile crisis response team, or call your local first responders at 911. If you are in emotional distress, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 anytime. Positive Directions hosts the TurningPointCT.org project: online resources & support for mental wellness, created by and for young people in CT. They also serve as fiduciary & coordinator for The Norwalk Partnership and the Westport Prevention Coalition, local coalitions dedicated to preventing substance misuse in their community. Like & follow them @positivedirections @turningpointct!

Students Madison Watts and Dionte Green Younger report from Norfolk State University

By Madison Watts, 10th grader at Greenwich Academy, and Dionte Green Younger, 10th grader at Brien McMahon High School

We had the pleasure of visiting the welcoming Norfolk State University (NSU) campus, home to 13 NCAA Division 1 sports titles. NSU is a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Norfolk, VA.

Our group is participating in Carver’s 50th Annual Spring College Tour. This was our final school to visit on the five-day tour which was cut short from the traditional ten days due to the pandemic, i.e., the other prospective schools for this year’s tour were not accepting group tour requests. 

We were enthusiastically greeted by our tour guides, one of whom was Dejanah Lorthe, a Carver college student who is a junior at NSU majoring in Pre-Medicine. We were eager to get her perspective and hear first-hand how she navigated her way from Norwalk schools to the college classroom. Petite in stature, you could at a glance mistake Dejanah for still being a high schooler. We enjoyed Dejanah’s message about perseverance and creating a plan that supports your goals. She was already a certified EMT while in high school.

Dejanah is the recipient of the Athena Scholarship awarded by Carver. This is a $10,000 per year scholarship for four consecutive years. She explained that her dream school was originally Howard University which was influenced by a Carver college tour visit years ago. However, the financial aid package was not ideal. She wanted to avoid graduating from college with high loan debt. Carver's staff was influential in helping her consider Norfolk State University. The Athena Scholarship, NSU’s strong pre-med program, and total school costs made NSU the best choice. Dejanah will be taking the Medical College Admission Test (M-CAT) soon and we’re sure that she will nail it! 

The NSU campus sits on 134 acres and has 31 buildings with plans for more expansion. There are 5,400 students enrolled and a 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.  The average class size is 17 students. The tuition for an in-state student is $21,000 and $33,000 for an out-of-state student. NSU is committed to the success of its students; 93% of the student body receives financial aid.

Currently, admission to NSU requires your school transcript and the SAT and/or ACT is optional. The application deadline is February 1st. The average grade point average for admission is a 3.0. The current acceptance rate of 91% ranks in the top 20 of HBCU’s.

Students at NSU have access to a variety of academic supports. Every student has the assistance and encouragement they need to be successful. We liked the three-story Student Center’s game room and gym facilities.

The university offers organized and informal co-curricular activities including student organizations, intramural activities, and student publications. Major campus facilities include a 30,000-seat football stadium, an African art museum, and a multi-purpose performing arts center. The Spartan “Legion” Marching Band is well known. Sororities and fraternities are a big part of the school culture.

The school being located so close to the beach makes it especially appealing to us.

Students Marcus Watts and Nasir Pettigrew report from Old Dominion University on the annual Carver College Tour

Marcus Watts and Nasir Pettigrew

By Marcus Watts,11th grader and Nasir Pettigrew, 10th grader at King School 

Located in Norfolk, Virginia, known as one of America’s top colleges by Forbes, is Old Dominion University (ODU). Old Dominion University was founded in 1930 by the College of William and Mary, the second oldest university in the United States. It was established as an extension of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. It soon became a four-year institution and was then granted independence in 1962 as Old Dominion College.

The campus provided us with spacious and eye-appealing scenery as soon as we arrived. Our tour guide Makenna Landon wasted no time giving us the rundown on the tradition of the sacred emblem in the middle of the university campus and the enrollment, teacher to student ratios, the offered academic programs, as well as the downtown city life surrounding the university.

Tour guide Makenna Landon with Marcus and Nasir

Some 24,000 students attend the school which maintains a 16:1 student-to-professor ratio. There are 35 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)-winning professors and nearly 100 undergraduate majors to offer. While they have the traditional Division 1 sports at the institution, ODU also surprisingly competes in motorsports.

Here are more fun facts about Old Dominion. First and foremost, Old Dominion loves tradition. They have a Seal, a historic landmark on campus, upon which it is forbidden to step. ODU offers many hands-on learning opportunities involving your interests. ODU has powerful partnerships with such prodigious organizations as the Langley Research Center (LaRC or NASA Langley).

Out of the 24,000 students, 5,000 live on campus. Some classes are larger than others depending on the class, allowing students to personally engage with professors. Off-campus students either commute or attend the university by taking online classes. ODU offers a transit system for those who do not have a car on campus.

The Old Dominion University Seal

Other cool things that ODU has are Expo-friendly windows; a greenhouse open to all students; lakes that run through the campus (a great place to study or just relax); and a virtual reality yoga class (great to do before taking exams).

Students interested in business and entrepreneurship can present their ideas in the school’s version of “Shark Tank” at the Strome Entrepreneurial Center. The center is designed to be the hub of entrepreneurial activity on campus, which includes academic curricula and support for student entrepreneurs. If your project is liked and approved, the idea might be backed and funded by the school.

ODU is located next to Naval Station Norfolk, a United States Navy base that is the headquarters and home port of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command. The installation occupies about 4 miles of waterfront space and 11 miles of pier and wharf space of the Hampton Roads peninsula known as Sewell's Point. ODU has many military partnerships for those interested in that career path.

Jason Giolando and Jaden Snow report from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore

By Jason Giolando 9th grader at Brien McMahon High School and Jaden Snow 11th grader at Rye Neck High School

Tucked away on the shoreline of Maryland is a small gem known as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) which sits on 620 acres of land in Princess Anne, Maryland. It is part of the University System of Maryland.

Founded in 1886 with a land grant, this HBCU (Historically Black College or University) held many names prior to 1970 when it was officially named the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. This was the smallest school we visited thus far on Carver’s 50th annual College Tour. The well-manicured lawns gave us a welcoming feel as we arrived, and we went on to discover a clean and organized campus.

Jason Giolando

Our enthusiastic tour guide Tommi Fashola began the process of persuasion. We learned about enrollment, class sizes, housing accommodations, dining options, sports, school activities, staff-to-student ratios, and the historic buildings on campus.

There are currently 2,000 students on campus, dormitories are apartment-style, the student to teacher ratio is 13 to 1, athletic students are housed in the Murphy building, the library is three floors, it’s a Division 1 school for basketball and track, and the acceptance rate is 87%. The school has a safety emergency system and all students can have cars on campus.

We also learned which classes were housed in which buildings. Little did Tommi know how well prepared we were. Our student group was on a quest for information far beyond the routine facts. We asked many probing questions. What is your standard for acceptance? What percentage of your students graduate in four years? Is the teaching here innovative and project-oriented? Are most classes taught by big-name professors or teaching assistants? Tommi was very knowledgeable, appreciated our interest and informed questions, and did not disappoint!

Jaden Snow

The UMES diverse student body represents thirty states and fifty-five countries. Fifty-five percent of the students live in on-campus housing. The campus life is balanced with events, games, academic support, and a large variety of food options including vegan meals. 

The UMES campus is quiet and tranquil. Although it is a small school, it has the appeal of being an hour away from summer destinations like Ocean City, MD and less than three hours from Baltimore, MD, Virginia Beach, VA, and Washington, DC.

You could thrive at UMES especially if you prefer a small school. The academic advisory staff takes pride in coaching and mentoring students on their career paths and class selections. At UMES you are never just a number. You get the feeling that you matter as an individual, you are able to collaborate with your professors, and you are part of a learning community.

The amenities of UMES include a movie theatre, hotel, and bowling alley, which is necessary since the school is not in the vicinity of a major city. Bowling is a huge part of student life here. You can even earn a bowling scholarship to UMES!

In 2020, MacKenzie Scott who was once married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos donated $20 million to UMES. This was the largest donation in the school’s history. When compared to the other schools we visited so far on our spring break tour, we thought UMES could use some of that money to upgrade a few of their buildings and maybe add a few new ones.

This is an ideal school for students who cherish smaller class sizes, value more time with their professors, and advisors, and thrive in a less competitive atmosphere. 

Carver students Ryan Russell and Elijah Vigo report from Delaware State University on the Carver College Tour

By Ryan Russell, a 9th grader at P-Tech, and Elijah Vigo, a 9th grader at Norwalk High School

Today we arrived at Delaware State University (DSU), home of the Hornets.

One of Delaware's most famous residents is our 46th and current President Joseph R. Biden Jr. We want to acknowledge his commitment to people of color. He was vice president to the first Black President. He selected a Black woman to be his running mate and she became the first Black vice president (Kamala Harris) of the United States. President Biden nominated the first Black woman to the United States Supreme Court (Ketanji Brown Jackson), who went on to be confirmed.

Our tour guides Samara Benjamin and Elijah Brown balanced each other in knowledge and wit. We learned that Delaware State University is an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) and recently became more diverse when it acquired Wesley College, a (PWI) predominantly White institution. Sixty-two percent of DSU students are African-American and the other thirty-eight percent represent are Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, and other students.

DSU was founded in 1891. Though the campus sits on 356 acres of land, the structures that make up the heart of the institution are constructed in one big circle which makes it easy to navigate. There are approximately 5,700 students enrolled and currently close to 4,000 students are on campus due to the pandemic.

Our sports enthused peers were pleased to hear that DSU is an NCAA Division 1 School with sixteen sports teams representing intercollegiate athletics, including women's and men’s basketball, cross country, lacrosse, track and field, and more. DSU is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Dr. Luna Mishoe, the seventh president of DSU, was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and served as the leader here from 1960 to 1987. In 2018, his daughter Dr. Wilma Mishoe was appointed as DSU’s 11th president, a post she held until her retirement in December 2019 at the age of 70 years old. 

The DSU campus is rich in history. There is the Mishoe Science building named after Dr. Luna Mishoe; the Tuskegee Airmen Plaza honoring Lt. Luna L. Mishoe for his service in World War II as a photographic intelligence officer; Lt. Maxwell Honemond for his service as Tuskegee Trained Observation Pilot; and Nathan O. Thomas for his service as 99th Pursuit Squadron Administrative Aide.

There is specific land space dedicated there for historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as "The Divine Nine." All except Kappa Alpha Psi is represented. The “Divine nine” are Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Lota Phi Theta.

We were impressed with the freshman living accommodations at Tubman Laws Hall. It is one of the newer buildings. Even though there is a residence hall for honor students like our tour guide, our guide shared with us that he elected to stay in Tubman Laws Hall.

There is a building name for Martin Luther King Jr. We admired the blending of centuries-old buildings with modern buildings and the backdrop of pink cherry blossoms during this time of year.

Many majors are offered at DSU including business, management, psychology, marketing, and more. The Bank of America building is host to the school of business. The naming of the building was a direct result of receiving $1 million from Bank of America for a jobs initiative.  The donation was earmarked to help students of color successfully complete their education and to train students to enter the workforce and embark on a path to career and financial success. 

Another important aspect of DSU college life is the dining options. DSU offers two traditional dining halls which are the Village Dining Hall and the Conrad Hall.  There is “Taco Tuesdays” and “Wing Thursdays” which are also party nights for students.  The are several meal plans that are offered, but the most popular is the plan that allows for three meals each day during the week and two meals per day on weekends. There are many other food options on campus including a Chick-fil-A and a Fresh Market for salads and other whole foods.

We strongly recommend Delaware State University. Here’s why. It is affordable ($28,000/year for out-of-state students; it offers a range of scholarship options for SAT scores ranging from 920 to 1030 to lower the cost for families; it has a diverse campus; DSU is rich in history; and the school offers a variety of sports, a robust student life, and comfortable co-ed living accommodations. There are 60 academic paths through the College of Agriculture; Science and Technology; College of Humanities; Education and Social Sciences; College of Business; Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; and the School of Graduate, Adult, and Extended Studies.

DSU is in the historic capital city of Dover and students experience the small-town feel while being only an hour and a half away from cities like Philadelphia, PA, Ocean City, MD, and Washington D.C.

Go Hornets!

Students Skylar Ferguson and Chloe Mattus report from Temple University on the 50th annual Carver College Tour

By Skylar Ferguson and Chloe Mattus, 11th graders at Brien McMahon High School

Skylar Ferguson and Chloe Mattus, authors of this College Tour report

After an overnight stay at the Embassy Suites in Philadelphia we were eager to begin the first day of our college tour. Due to the pandemic, we lost the opportunity to tour as 9th and 10th graders, so this is our only year to experience a spring break Carver college tour.  This morning our bus driver maneuvered the narrow streets of Philadelphia and delivered us safely to Temple University. 

Our university campus guide began the knowledge exchange by talking about Temple University having six campuses and sites across Pennsylvania, plus international campuses. We learned that Temple is a 4-year public college founded in 1884 by Russell Conwell. Today nearly 30,000 students are enrolled at its campuses here and around the world.

At three blocks wide, many would consider the main Temple campus to be a large urban school, but Temple felt like a smaller school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1. Students from the main campuses have access to study aboard. Study abroad opportunities can last up to four years. The campus in Rome, for example, offers a two-year academic opportunity, the remaining two years to be completed at the main campus in Philadelphia.

An example of student housing

Admission to the honors program at Temple is based solely on a recommendation, not an application. Temple does not require an SAT score. Instead, they ask for an essay about who you are which is weighted as an equivalent to an SAT score. 

Intriguing information was provided. For example, the new library has sections that are open 24/7 and gives online access to reserve books prior to arriving at the library. There is an app that gives you access to what’s going on around campus and around Philadelphia. The other library sections close at 2 am.

Our tour guides encouraged us to “…make use of EVERY single penny from your tuition because there are so many benefits Temple gives out.” For example, tuition includes free tutoring. Our tour guides were very persuasive and welcoming.

Temple graduate student Malene Barnett joined us on our tour. Years ago, Malene painted a mural on the first floor of the Carver Community Center. We are eager to locate and appreciate her artwork the next time we visit the community center. 

There are three different on-campus living styles, traditional, suite-style, and apartment living. You have a roommate with each living style and they go in that order from least to most expensive. 70% of freshmen live on campus and a lot of upperclassmen live off-campus which is conveniently located within walking distance of the campus. The earlier you put your deposit down, the more likely you are to go get the room you like, which would be by May 1st. The first day to apply for the room of your choice is April 1st, which is “first come first serve” for all four years. We think that makes sense and is fair. There is an online quiz for prospective roommates that includes group chats. You are not allowed to have pets in your room unless they are certified service animals. Getting a job is recommended for students who are good with time management. 

The school’s diversity includes 350 clubs and organizations, six sororities, and seven fraternities. There is academic rigor, the student accommodations include a media center, student center, movie theatre, transportation on campus, pet-friendly hotel access, and strong security that enables us to easily see ourselves being a part of the Temple community.

Temple has a 70% acceptance rate and a 70% graduation rate. Overall, we were impressed with Temple. We will be adding Temple to our list of preferred schools.

The 50th Annual College Tour makes its first stop at Temple University