CHRISTMAS CARAVAN 2009

On a cloudy Christmas morning in Broward County Florida, participants of the Student Enrichment thru Arts Training (SEAT) Program, along with members of the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County dedicated the first five hours of their Christmas day to serving their community.  Over 100 youth participated in the “Christmas Caravan” on December 25th 2009.  Spearheaded by Vern Dooling (B&G Area Director) and developed four years ago by teenagers of the Dr. Reitman Keystone Club, the “Christmas Caravan” is an event that is designed to strengthen the relationship as well as public perception of teenagers and the homeless. After an entertaining and brief continental breakfast, where sponsors (e.g. Frito-Lay, Westside Gazette, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.) and participating organizations (e.g. SSB Invest in the Arts, Teen Alliance Coalition) were acknowledged, the caravan headed out.  

Beginning on Sistrunk Boulevard (a low-income community), the teens from the SEAT Program and the Boys & Girls Club began passing out “Care Bags” (book-bags filled with deodorant, toothpaste, bus passes, socks, etc.) and singing holiday songs to men and women of the homeless community.  The caravan visited local gas stations, the Main Library, Delevoe Park, and other areas in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, Pompano, Food Shelter, Hallandale Beach, etc.).  Each man and woman that received the “Care Bags” seemed excited and appreciative of not only the gesture and selfless act of the participating youth, but also the opportunity to converse with the youth.  Teens from both organizations expressed that giving back and helping others made them feel good and they could not wait for next year’s “Christmas Caravan”.  The day ended around 12:45pm with nothing but smiles on the faces of those who participated, as each person left to spend the rest of day celebrating the holiday with family and friends.

SYLVIA PORTIER ALZHEIMERS TREATMENT CENTER 7/03/2008

On a rainy Thursday afternoon, 15 participants of the Student Enrichment thru Arts Training (S.E.A.T.) Program visited the Sylvia L. Poitier Alzheimer Treatment & Adult Daycare Senior Center, located at 2185 NW 19th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311. Once there, the students were greeted with several handshakes and smiles, then given a tour of the facility. After the tour, students from the vocal as well as dance discipline gave a very captivating performance that included a series of popular songs of the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. It was inspiring to watch the audience tap their feet and clap their hands to the tunes of “I’m Old Fashion” (by Ella Fitzgerald), “Misty” (by Sarah Vaughn), “All of Me” (by Billie Holiday), and “Last Dance” (by Donna Summer). Following the vocal presentation, the audience had the privilege of witnessing an elegant dance performed to the tune of “If it’s Magic” (by Stevie Wonder. As the students danced, the senior adult audience was mesmerized by the flowing movements of the dancers, so much so that they were asked to perform it again!!! As the day concluded, students of the SEAT Program expressed how much they would cherish the conversations, laughs, and stories that they shared with the seniors.

LANDSCAPING PROJECT

It was a sunny South Florida Thursday afternoon (2/12/09), when 17 participants of the S.E.A.T. Program rejuvenated the face of a local youth center by completing a landscaping project. Prior to beginning the project, participants drafted a design and diagram of the landscape. Next, participants created an action plan, listing needed equipment, plants, tools, manpower, and time, in addition to a budget. Once participants new the who, what, when, and where of the plan, they began pulling weeds, planting flowers, and spreading long lasting rubber-mulch, until finally what was once an unwelcoming walkway to a building, became a colorful, pleasant, and welcoming front entrance.