CHOICES Training Workshop

Every school day, 7,000 students become dropouts nationwide. That’s one every 26 seconds. The Greater New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership needs volunteers to help address this crisis within the New Bedford area by delivering CHOICES, an interactive decision-making workshop that empowers teens to achieve academic success in pursuit of their career and life aspirations. Volunteer presenters from the local community are needed to deliver CHOICES to local 6th graders at Roosevelt Middle School here in New Bedford during the month of April, 2014 (official date TBD).

In the 90-minute session, presenters take students through real-world exercises on academic self-discipline, time and money management, and goal setting. These hands-on activities awaken students to the fact that they have the power to make important future-impacting decisions right now. The seminar develops the ideas of time management, self-discipline and wise academic decision making. It brings home to teenagers the meaning of the term “cost of living” and exposes them to sobering information about the education skills required for various occupations in today’s and tomorrow’s workplace. They stress how education achievement levels will either greatly limit or expand career choices and the ability to financially support oneself or a family.

CHOICES is a fun workshop that quickly becomes easy to present. The partnership is looking for local business and community leaders who are comfortable with public speaking, are passionate about the success of youth and are interested in education, are organized and creative, and who can donate approximately 6 hours (over the two-day session) of their time to the workshop. All new presenters will need to be trained on the course curriculum. The training session will take place on Friday, February 7th 2014, from 9:00 a.m-11 a.m. (2 hours). Presenters are encouraged to practice the presentation before their first workshop and to work in pairs to allow for variety and sharing of the workload.

CHOICES was first launched here in New Bedford during the spring of 2012. The program was taught to the New Bedford High School freshmen class. The program reached out to well over 100 students and was praised by school officials as a “success.”  Last year, the program was brought into the middle school level and was presented to participating 6th grade students at Roosevelt Middle School here in New Bedford. The program was once again met with very high praise.

“The presenters want to help the students understand how their level of education will expand their future choices and income,” said New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Employer Specialist Ian Abreu. “The CHOICES program makes a positive difference in the lives of students by encouraging them to make good decisions and stay in school. The program is fast-paced and participatory, so students are constantly engaged.”

“CHOICES strives to awaken high school students to their potential, and helps them discover and develop aspirations for their lives,” said Leo Muller, Executive Director of the national non-profit. “We help kids understand the consequences of dropping out and the opportunities available by pursuing their education. We introduce them to life skills they can use to take charge of their lives and to build a better future for themselves. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Connecting Activities and are honored to be part of a comprehensive solution for students in the New Bedford area.”

After the workshop each student can participate in the CHOICES Challenge, a text messaging activity designed to reinforce the principles of the workshop, students who complete the activity will be entered to win prizes.

Presenter training is taking place at the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, February 7th^th, 9:00am-11:00pm. To register to be trained as a CHOICES presenter please call Ian Abreu at (508) 999-5231 or e-mail iabreu@newbedfordchamber.com.