Cumberland Youth Commission Raising Funds for Annual Oil Project 1/13/11

School Committee approves academic credit for Youth Commission involvement

12/1/2010

NORTH PROVIDENCE - Just one year after its founding, the North Providence Youth Commission is already making an impact on the community as well as within the high school, the School Committee learned at its meeting Nov. 17.

And now, students who apply to be on the commission and successfully complete the rigorous summer leadership program will earn one-half elective course credit at the high school for each year that they serve.

At the request of Supt. Donna Ottaviano, the School Committee unanimously agreed to this measure. This is a concept that NPHS Principal Joseph Goho had approached Ottaviano about after realizing how much of a time commitment the commission required and how great an impact these students were making.

"I've seen how rigorous the summer program is and how they have to go to about four meetings every month," Goho said last week. "They've completed some very challenging, meaningful projects. They do a lot of work and we needed to find a way to recognize that."

The service projects, which are completed either individually or in small groups, cover a wide variety of community needs.

"One is establishing a youth center," Goho said. "They worked closely with the mayor's office to find a location and refurbish it. This will last long beyond their graduation and others in town will benefit from it."

The youth center at Governor Notte Park is now up and running. In addition, some commissioners are helping to develop an employment preparation program at the high school. Some are looking to raise awareness of the importance of health and fitness for kids and teens. All of the projects target community improvement and take a lot of planning time, even outside of the frequent meetings.

"We want to make a positive change in the community," Amanda Rebello, a founding member of the commission, said at the School Committee meeting. "We serve as a liaison to the mayor's office, we have the opportunity to better our lives and our peers' through community projects."

The inaugural class of 15 youth commissioners was culled from more than 40 applicants. This year, commission coordinator Neil Anderson has a total of 30 students ready to make a difference in the community. As Goho made clear, the commission is very diverse, with students of all backgrounds and abilities coming together with a shared goal of serving North Providence.

"This is something that students can continue year to year," Goho said. "Once they are accepted, they remain on the commission until they graduate. It's not one and done, and they will earn one-half credit for each year they serve. The theme in the leadership academy changes yearly and at the monthly meetings, once they meet an objective they move on. There's always something new to do."

In addition to gaining course credit and having something unique to put on college applications, some of the students on the commission may be eligible to receive scholarship money through a new partnership with the Rotary Club.

"It's in the plans now," Goho said. "Our local chapter is working with the national organization and frequently there are scholarships for service. We hope that the Rotary Club can provide guidance, opportunity, and financial rewards."

A group of sharply dressed commission members took turns presenting aspects of their five-year strategic plan at the School Committee meeting last week. These initiatives include increasing the number of family-friendly recreational activities in town, improving youth civic engagement, and preventing alcohol and substance abuse among their peers.

Following the presentation, School Committee Chairwoman Helen Reall praised the group for all it has accomplished thus far.

"Thank you for that fine and sophisticated presentation," she said. "We appreciate all you do. It's absolutely terrific."

North Providence is just the second town in Rhode Island to have a Youth Commission. North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi hired Anderson in the spring of 2009 to form a commission on the idea of what the town of Cumberland had started in 2007.

"The mayor brought the idea to us because he thought it would flourish here," Goho said. "We put a high degree of importance on integrating community service learning into our senior project program. It was a natural marriage."

While North Providence High already placed an emphasis on service and even included a community service aspect in its graduation expectations, the youth commission goes a little further, setting NPHS apart from many other public schools.

"It's very unique in public education where community service is part of the educational program," Goho said. "Usually it's private schools doing this. It's one of the reasons why parents send their kids to private schools. They want them to learn this selflessness and giving of themselves. This is something we're very proud of. Whereas kids go to La Salle for the religious component or to Moses Brown for the connection to the community, the opportunity to do this in the public schools is very limited."

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