THE WRITE WITH ME NEWSLETTER
by the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon
Bake Back America's Mission
Bake Back America inspires self-growth and leadership through meaningful, hands-on programs. By partnering with others, we work together to create stronger communities.
MEET THE EDITOR, LILY JOSEPHS
Welcome to the Write With Me Newsletter, brought to you by the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon! The Write With Me program celebrates creativity and literacy while giving children the opportunity to express themselves through writing.
The goal of this newsletter is to highlight what makes this community so special through the voices of the children who are part of it. We will share the power of their voices, showcase their creativity, and give you a glimpse into this incredible community. Most importantly, we hope to honor their growing confidence as they discover the power of their words!
SHINING A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH
What is your favorite community project at the Boys & Girls Club?
RUSHANE, 15
I have had many memorable experiences at the Boys & Girls Club, but the most enjoyable project I have worked on is TLC: Think, Learn and Create. It focuses on enduring issues that communities or individuals face. My team members and I decided to focus on teen mental health because it is a problem that is constantly overlooked.
Mental health is so important, especially as young minds are still developing. Teen mental health has proven to be the cause of many issues teens face, including drinking, smoking, and suicide. These challenges can continue into adulthood and cause even bigger problems.
Miss Penny, our director at the Boys & Girls Club, has seen how devastating mental health challenges can be for loved ones. She said, “Mental health is near and dear to us and is very important to our community. There should be no stigma around this.”
It is so important to maintain good mental health, especially as a young teen, and I am happy to help shine a light on it.
REDISCOVERING A LOVE OF DANCE
How did the Boys & Girls Club help you discover a hidden talent?
LEANNA, 14
I have been coming to the summer camp program and have been having a lot of fun. I have done many of the activities that they offer, but I had not danced in a couple of years before this summer. It was really great to start dancing again.
I learned the dance that we are doing for the show in three days - I am a fast learner. I also learned four other dances, and it reminded me of how much I love to dance. We incorporated Michael Jackson’s dance moves into a modern dance.
Dancing has helped me communicate with people better. I am not always the most social person, but I am now when I come here!
Q & A WITH DIRECTOR HALIMA PENNY
CONNECTIONS AT THE CLUB
What makes you feel most connected to the Boys & Girls Club?
Salima, 14
The people and the special events stand out most to me and make me feel connected to the Boys & Girls Club. My favorite event at the Boys & Girls Club is the Christmas event. Everyone always looks forward to it because they give out free gifts and food to the club members and their parents. Going to the Boys & Girls Club during the holidays is the best time to connect with new people and make new friends. I have made so many good friends at the Boys & Girls Club. Everyone here is my friend- I am friendly and people are nice back to me. A good friend is supportive, kind, and shares their food! I feel so lucky that when I come here, I always know I can count on being with so many friends. We laugh a lot and have a good time together.
PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
What is your favorite class at the Boys & Girls Club?
Media Class
LEANNA, 14
My favorite class is media class. We do a podcast where we discuss everything that goes on at the Boys & Girls Club,
including fun facts, trips, and rules. I am the camera person because I like to be behind the scenes—it is where I am most
comfortable.
ELYSSA, 12
I am an interviewer on the podcast, and I love to be on camera. We come together as a family and ask questions. It is so
sweet to be the one asking questions, and it makes me feel so good. It also makes me see what it is like to be famous!
OLIVIA, 11
I love to be on TV and have fun! People are comfortable talking to me and opening up to me. It is so much fun!
Smart Girls
TYLER, 16
Growing up, the two classes that I loved attending at the Boys & Girls Club were Art and Smart Girls. If I had to choose, I would pick Smart Girls as my favorite class. Smart Girls helped me through my ups and downs. If it wasn’t for that class, I wouldn’t have understood how my body changed. Smart Girls also built up my confidence. I found my passion for art in that class as well. Smart Girls is a great class for young girls to help teach them how to take care of themselves and to find their path. Smart Girls also really helped me with my social skills, which were not great before I was in that class. I hope others can find the love and support that I got from Smart Girls!
Field Trips
JACOB, 13
FINDING COURAGE AND FRIENDSHIP
What life lesson did you learn at the Boys & Girls Club?
BREANNA, 14
I have learned a lot from the Boys & Girls Club. One lesson is that you can always try to overcome your fears. Even though I was afraid to go into the pool, I was able to do it despite how nervous I was.
Another takeaway is that it is important to have resilience and problem-solving skills. The easier answer would have been to do what was comfortable and not go into the pool, but I pushed myself and overcame my fear.
I also learned that you can find friends in unlikely places. I feel lucky to have met good friends when I was not expecting it. It feels so good to surround yourself with people you love.
JOIN US!
Join Breanna and so many others across the country who have written their own “REFELCT” poem.
Take some time to REFLECT and let us know who you are by choosing a word that describes you for each letter in the word REFLECT.
When you submit your poem, it will be published on bakebackamerica.com and celebrate what makes each of us unique!
Breanna, 14
CREATE YOUR OWN POEM
Choose one positive word for each letter that describes who you are. Your answers can REFLECT your personality, your strengths, your dreams, or the way you help others.
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The Write With Me team: sharing voices, building confidence, and celebrating community.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
These stories were created by the young people of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon with support from Bake Back America student leader Lily Josephs. To learn more, visit bakebackamerica.com.