Community Partner: Ruth M. Kirk Recreation Center Intern: Paulina Parsons Site Supervisor: Arthur“ Squeaky” Kirk and Carlose Debose Sr.
What is the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center? The Ruth M. Kirk Rec Center was opened with the goal of giving the kids in the area a safe place to learn and play but also provide basic needs such as food, coats, toys, and hygiene products. We also help those who have lost track of their educational goals to get back on track with our GED program.
• Created lesson plans each day for the children to ensure their continued development.
• Designed a website for the center to boost recognition and revitalize fundraising campaign.
• Engage and educate 25 youth on a day to day basis to prepare them for the school year.
• Organize volunteers that come to teach at the recreation center.
" Thinking back on my summer at the Ruth M. Kirk Recreation and Learning Center I think of dedication, love, and a drive to make the center and the community thrive. My bosses Squeaky and Mr. Carlos have an unending passion to help the kids who come to the center each day be the absolute best they can be. From my end, teaching the kids each day was absolutely wonderful and has completely reshaped my life and my career goals. We have worked on math and reading everyday at the center and I have seen each of the kids grow exceptionally. From the 4-year-olds who at the beginning of the summer could not hold a pencil and are now spelling out letters of the alphabet, to the 6th graders who can now complete math problems with variables involved, watching them grow has been such a pleasure. Being able to work with them and motivate them to take their learning habits in the rec to the classroom in the fall has been amazing. This summer has also had its challenges and I have tested my patience to the maximum but each day I ' ve learned how to be a better teacher and I ' ve learned how to embrace my new community. I cannot put into words how sad I am that I cannot be at the center each day anymore, but I hope to keep coming back on a regular basis to keep on being a consistent member of the community. The kids and the community give me hope every day. Furthermore, I have learned the struggles of fundraising at the grassroots level and the patience and persistence that it takes to find donors and volunteers. Luckily, I have also seen the response from people to lift the community up. This summer has completely opened my eyes and my heart and it has inspired me to commit my life to pubic service and social change. I have been so privileged to have the experience to work with Squeaky and Mr. Carlos this summer, they have taught me so much and have brought me into the rec family along with the rest of the children."-Paulina
40