Students Connect with their Community via Virtual Workshops

On May 12th and May 26th, Ebony Belmar and Dennis Green spearheaded an effort to provide virtual programming as an alternative to our normally-scheduled Girls’ Day Out and Boys’ Day Out programs. At least 200 students participated, and likely more, since some classrooms logged in on a shared account. Presenters and attendees were really excited by the wide variety of wonderful topics and the opportunity to connect the schools with so many community resources. Here are the workshops and presenters:

  • 911 What’s the Emergency? –Nick Mannix & Ryan Macherone –Schenectady Police Department
  • Booze, Buds, Vapes –  Michelle Fonda – New Choices Recovery Program
  • Broke AND I still look good – Julianna Obie – community member
  • Cops are People 2 – James Plowden & Komieko Mosher –SPD & NPD
  • Creating Shared Futures – Johan Matthews BDO
  • Elevate – Trent Griffin-Braaf Tech Valley Hospitality Shuttle & Willie Dean – community member
  • Gangs NO! Success YES! -Finding Your Community – Will Rivas – Save Our Streets
  • Goal Setting &Career Exploration – Danielle Mitchell & Stephanie Grafton -Schenectady County Connects
  • Healthy Relationships –  Brian Ledbetter – My Brother’s Keeper & Epiphany McGee – YWCA
  • High School & Beyond – Shayla Kerr
  • Human Trafficking – Salka Valerio and Melanie Puorto-Conte, Safe, Inc.
  • Improv –  Ready to be on Stage? – Livia Walker – MOPCO
  • Intro to SCPL – Kaela Wallman – Schenectady County Public Library
  • Let Me Breathe – Social Justice – Jamaica Miles – community activist
  • LGBTQlA+ – Brittany Beyus  – Planned Parenthood
  • Online Safety – Kyla Guru – Bits & Bytes Cyber Security
  • Online Safety – Monica Luciani & Jessica Tyree –Schenectady Probation Dept
  • Puberty & Beyond – Carley Robinson –Planned Parenthood
  • Self-Starters–Starting Your Own Business – Rae Frasier – artist entrepreneur, Tarrance Fleur- GrayScale Barber;  Jeremiah Davis – student entrepreneur
  • Telling Your Story – author – Hamilton Hill Arts Center
  • U Got Bars – Rapping with Prince Sprauve – movie producer
  • Using the Brain- Not the Hands –  Mediation Matters
  • Visual Art – Paint in the Moment -Heather Hutchison & Emery Haliotis – Create Community Studios  
  • What’s your Why – Melanie Uebele & Tiombe Farley-  Liberty Partnership
  • Where in Schenectady Am I? Kahoots – Ginny Casper Union College & Travis Ghirdharie SCSD

Students who participated were eligible for special prizes, and we appreciate those local businesses that were kind enough to offer us discounts!