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Keller Williams "Red Day" Team refurbishes the Carver Community Center!

There are many businesses that claim to be number one in some aspect of the industry that they occupy, but in the case of Keller Williams Prestige Properties, it’s not disputed. They are the largest real estate company in the United States with the largest number of agents in the world.

They also have the world’s best community spirit!

The company culture fosters an environment of caring and taking the team approach to accomplishing great things. Yesterday, the company’s commitment to caring for the community was on full display at Carver when an energetic Keller Williams team refurbished the Carver Community Center, from scrubbing the kitchen to cleaning the closets in the Richard Whitcomb Gymnasium.

Mayor Rilling visited the team to thank them for their support of the Carver community, for fun photo-taking, and to share stories.

Keller Williams receives countless accolades. They include its listing by Career Bliss as one of the “happiest companies to work for.” Keller Williams earned the title of Most Innovative Real Estate Company by Fast Company. As was the case yesterday, Keller Williams associates give back to communities through its annual RED Day event. It’s no surprise that they were named the #1 Company for Work-Life Balance by Indeed.

Forbes named Keller Williams (No. 8 out of 300 ranked) one of the “Best Employers for Women” and Glassdoor featured Keller Williams (No. 29 of 100 ranked) on the Best Places to Work 2020 list.

The team at Keller Williams real estate strives to be the best agency out there, both in agent support and customer experience. Their commitment to excellence and to giving back was also on full display yesterday at the Carver Community Center.

Thank you William Keller for devoting this year’s Red Day to the Carver community!

Volunteer Drew Seath inspires Carver interns with real-world advice and guidance

Drew Seath, Co-Chair of our Child of America gala on Friday, May 20, spoke to 20 Carver high school interns at Norwalk Hospital and then followed them through the students’ rotations.

Drew is Founder and Managing Director for Absolute Value LLC, a sales and marketing recruiting firm.

Drew gave the students interviewing tips and talked about being entrepreneurial in their career planning.

The Carver students wanted to hear more, but the internship program then got underway. Drew joined the students as they visited the Nurse Simulation Lab and then as they experienced a social work role-playing session.

Norwalk Hospital social workers provide emotional support, help answer questions and connect patients with other supportive services. Social workers work hand-in-hand with nurse navigators and the full team to help solve problems and facilitate care so patients can focus on their treatments.

Norwalk Hospital is a 366-bed hospital that cares for patients, their loved ones, and residents in Fairfield County and the surrounding New York Metropolitan area.

Norwalk Hospital is an acute care, academic hospital that provides patients with the latest in medical, surgical, and wellness services, including a Level II Trauma Center, Primary Stroke Center, Joint Replacement Center of Excellence, and advanced cancer, heart, and neurosciences care.

And now Norwalk Hospital is teaching Carver students!

Westport Rotary renews its support of Carver summer programs!

Peter Helt, the Chairperson for the Westport Rotary’s Community Partnership Grants Committee, recently visited the Carver Community Center to present this year’s grant to support Carver’s summer 2022 programming.

Westport Rotary is committed to supporting charitable causes on an international and domestic basis. They believe that local community partnerships are an important part of their mission.  

The Carver Foundation of Norwalk was selected to receive one of the 33 Community Giving grants awarded this year by Westport Rotary.

In this photo, Carver’s CEO Novelette Peterkin receives this year’s grant from Peter Helt.

We are back to wearing face masks! The state’s positivity rate is 12.39%, up from 11.3%. yesterday/Monday.

Grand opening of the new NPS Family Center!

The Norwalk Public Schools Family Center is now open and centrally located in the Human Services Council building at 1 Park Street in Norwalk, near the historic Norwalk Green and convenient to city bus lines.

Norwalk’s commitment to engagement, inclusion, and access comes to life through the NPS Family Center, for both current families and those new to the city. Providing an easily accessible spot for family-facing school services, the NPS Family Center helps establish lasting relationships and meaningful family engagement throughout a student’s academic career.

Staffed by current NPS employees, the Center provides access to a wide variety of services for all families. Open year-round, the Center is a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment, providing easy access to register students, get information, voice concerns, and resolve issues. NPS’s special education ombudsperson, fluent in both English and Spanish, helps families access services and programs. By collaborating with other city agencies and community partners, the centralized location streamlines services for families across the city.

How Carver students never give up and make you shout for joy!

Our volunteer readers are presently rating the essays submitted by our graduating high school seniors and college students seeking Carver scholarships this June.

All of them have a common theme — the improbability of their even considering successful college and careers.

Some of their stories are heartbreaking, others miraculous, and still others joyously exuberant in their ambition to succeed despite the setbacks and disadvantages. All of them are or will soon be first-generation college students.

All of them will also make you shout with joy, just like the world did when Rich Strike on Saturday in the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby went from an 80-1 long shot, who did not even earn his spot in the starting gate in America’s greatest horse race until Friday (!), achieved a three-quarter length victory that had appeared until the final seconds to be impossible.

Carver scholars time and again run a hole through the wind!

“It’s a horse race, and anybody can win,” trainer Eric Reed said. “And the tote board doesn’t mean a thing.”

…Reed said he was notified at 8:45 a.m. Friday – 15 minutes before the scratch deadline – Rich Strike would not get in the race.

“The security guard was told to leave the barn,” Reed said.

Ten minutes later, he got the good news.

“We came here on a prayer,” Reed said. “I told my Dad and told (owner Rick Dawson), the worst thing than can happen to us is to have a call a day or two before the Derby and say you’re going to get in and not be prepared. We trained against all odds. Nobody thought we could get in….”

The moral of this story is to never bet against Carver's youth. They are winners!

Volunteer Jim Conti prepares Carver youth for successful careers

As a first-generation college graduate, Jim Conti can relate to Carver students. As a former managing director at Goldman Sachs, he has abundant good advice and guidance to offer them today. And that is exactly what he shared recently with a very attentive group of students at the Carver Community Center.

Mr. Conti shared what it was like to graduate from a small school like St. Peter’s University and how he was initially intimidated by the students there. The power of hard work saw him successfully through in school and then in his profession. He worked during the day and went to school at night. He eventually became a managing director in 2008.

Mr. Conti talked about the value of being coachable and taking pride in who you are, never forgetting to properly represent and sell yourself. He spoke about outworking everyone and perseverance. “Preparation prepares you for opportunities,” he said. “Secondly, know your facts. You have to be in the business of knowing yourself better than anyone else.”

Mr. Conti spoke about the joys of retirement and embracing new passions such as opening a school in the coffee business.

He wished Carver students the successful completion of the school year. “Don’t let up now; full speed ahead to the finish line!”

Mr. Conti first joined Goldman Sachs in 1984 as an analyst. He was named managing director in 2008. He rejoined the firm in 2004 after seven years away working at two other firms.  Jim worked at Deutsche Bank Securities and UBS Securities in various senior management capacities within the Equity Finance groups at both companies.

Mr. Conti is a member of Saint Peter's University's Board of Trustees and works with the University's career center, helping advise current Saint Peter’s students. Jim earned a B.S. in computer science from Saint Peter’s University (formerly College).

A Proclamation on National Teacher Appreciation Day and National Teacher Appreciation

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 3, 2022, as National Teacher Appreciation Day and May 1 through May 7, 2022, as National Teacher Appreciation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Nation’s teachers and to observe this day and this week by supporting teachers through appropriate activities, events, and programs.

Open Enrollment in the Carver Summer Middle & High School Transition Programs

Attention Incoming 6th And 9th Graders!

We understand that transitions are a challenge. Navigating a larger environment, excelling with grades, multiple teachers, and juggling competing priorities can be quite challenging. The Summer Transition Program for incoming 6th and 9th graders is designed to help students gain familiarity with their new school and teachers.

The 5-week FREE summer program will take place at your student's new school, July 5 – August 5, from 8:30am - 3:30pm, Monday - Friday. This program is funded through the Carver Foundation of Norwalk and Norwalk Public Schools.

The program is limited to 70 students for middle school students at each of the four NPS middle schools and 100 students for each of the two NPS high schools on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students who are not attending summer school and have scored above the 25 percentile on the NWEA MAP testing are eligible to attend. This program is not intended to serve as a remedial program of any kind but is intended solely to help ensure a smooth transition from elementary school to middle school and middle to high school.

Students enrolling in the program will participate in project-based learning activities in English, Math, Science, Technology, and Study Skills. Students may take field trips to enhance team-building and the academic program.

FREE breakfast, lunch, and transportation (to those eligible to take a school bus during regular school days) will be provided each day.

Here is more information on all Carver summer programs. To register online, go to the following link: http://app.campdoc.com/register/carverfoundation or email Mary Martini at Carver – mary@carvercenterct.org