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Partner Spotlight: Big Brothers, Big Sisters
On Jan. 29, 2002, President George W. Bush invited Conrad T. Rodriguez to attend his State of the Union address. Rodriguez, a mentor from Boston proudly sat with First Lady Laura Bush as the President called on all Americans to devote 4,000 hours over their lifetime to community service.
A mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, Rodriguez was honored by the President because he exemplifies a caring adult serving his country by making a difference in his community. He does this by simply spending time with a young person.
For the past four years, Rodriguez has been spending quality time with 13 year-old Stephen from Canton, Massachusetts. As with most good friends, they have fun together no matter what they are doing, whether it’s telling jokes, playing basketball, going to the movies, or just “hanging out.” According to Stephen’s mother, Rodriguez has served as a second “guidepost” in her son’s life, helping him grow up to be a positive, responsible young man.
There are many other caring adults like Conrad Rodriguez who are impacting young lives throughout the country. Currently, there are nearly a quarter-million Big Brothers Big Sisters relationships in the United States. And that number is sure to grow.
“Nationally, Big Brothers Big Sisters is responding to the President’s challenge by setting a goal of having 1,000,000 mentors annually by 2010,” says Judy Vredenburgh, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Find out more at (617) 567-7000 or email national@bbbsa.org or visit www.bbbsa.org.
Lakewood's Computer Club House
Computer Clubhouse Grand Opening on September 18, 2002. Intel Corporation selected Lakewood to host an Intel Computer Clubhouse in a historic school building in the Lake City area. On September 18, a grand opening celebration for the clubhouse will begin at 4 p.m. Current mentors and members will be on hand to answer questions and give tours to interested people from the community.
The Intel Computer Clubhouse is located in a renovated space in the original Lake City School, now on the grounds of Lake City Elementary School.
In this "invention workshop," clubhouse youth, aged 10-18, express themselves through projects based on their own interest to become designers, not just consumers, of technology. Using professional software tools, youth can create computer-generated art, music and video; develop scientific simulations; design their own animations; build kinetic sculptures and robots; develop their own Web pages; and program their own computer games. Adult mentors serve as role models and support Clubhouse members' self-directed explorations.
Lakewood's Computer Clubhouse
Lake City Elementary School
8800 121st SW
(2530 583-5599
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