Friends of Mark Twain Middle School has many volunteer opportunities. Check out these listed below!Ongoing Volunteer OpportunitiesWe’ve got lots of ways to get involved all year!
Discover the power of inspiration and motivation through the heartfelt stories of those whose lives we have touched. The Eli Home has made a significant impact on countless lives, and we invite you to explore their powerful testimonials. Gain firsthand insight into the effectiveness of our programs and services as we share their touching words.
“I don’t know where I’d be without The Eli Home’s Children of Addicts Recovery Program. Growing up in a home with addiction was tough, but the counselors and other kids in the program helped me realize that I wasn’t alone. I’m now a college graduate and work as a counselor, helping others who are going through what I went through.”
Emily
Beautiful library renovation by Access Books!
THE BEGINNING: (Michael Freeman, Executive Director)
“Our summer internship project was born out of a burden in my heart. Many of the young men at Compton High School would tell me that they were going to play in the NBA or NFL. In my conversations with these young men, I would explain to them that they needed to have a back-up plan. I would, then, ask them what else they had in mind for a career. Most of the time, they would look at me with a blank stare and shrug their shoulders. They would ‘strike a blank.’ As a result, we launched our Summer Internship Project for the purpose of filling in this blank, to give our teenage boys and girls close-up experiences with the real world of career jobs.”
THE BENEFITS: (In the Words of an Intern)
“I have learned so much while working in the law office. I have learned that my grades in school will help me excel in life. The fact that I was able to wake up and go to work every day shows that I have become more mature and reliable. I have become more empowered by the experiences that I have had. This program has empowered me to become a positive person and to help others with the same or similar difficulties that I, myself, have experienced.”
THE STRUCTURE:
•Duration: Three-week period/8 days total/4 hours per day
•Schedule: The work week is two to three days (Any days: Monday – Thursday). Friday is the day that the interns meet for debriefing.
•Training: Training sessions are held prior to the first work week to prepare the students. Students are guided through lesson plans that engage the interns in discussing issues dealing with work-place expectations.
•Conclusion: At the end of the last week, a celebration is held to acknowledge the interns’ completion of the program and to recap what they have learned.
THE COST TO BUSINESSES OR ORGANIZATIONS:
•Interns are paid a stipend.
•Businesses are asked to contribute to Elevate Your G.A.M.E.’s stipend fund but they are not required.
•Elevate Your G.A.M.E. raises funds for the stipends.
The ProgramArts + Wellness is a long-term multi-disciplinary arts program that supports young people in developing their wellness and mindfulness through empathy building, trauma healing, restorative justice, creative expression, real-world and project-based learning, and civic leadership. The young artists help select the art disciplines and issues on which to focus through public displays of art and hands-on experiences. Each series of this program is led by one of ABG’s Artists in Residence—talented professional artists with a commitment towards creating a culture of care—and have a specific focus such as:
Art for Social Change
Murals & Street Art
Culinary Arts
Urban Farming
Music, Dance, & Performing Arts
Creative Writing & Spoken Word
Photojournalism & Videography
Peer Mediation
Yoga & Contemplative Practices
This program is an essential response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of our young people—pre-pandemic—were experiencing significant levels of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences); now, as a result of the pandemic, all young people are carrying traumas that must be healed before they can excel and thrive as students, changemakers, global citizens of our future world. Beyond building wellness and mental resilience, the Arts + Wellness program opens up dialogue between the youth and ABG’s trauma-informed Artists in Residence around prominent issues including: systemic racism, trauma of poverty, internal and external violence, bullying, and other systemic inequities. This program instills the youth with agency—a sense that they can do something to change their communities—and allows them to discover ways they can channel these feelings and experiences, along with fears and questions, into positive change for their immediate community and beyond.
Sages & Seekers was created in 2009, when Founder Elly Katz, at that time living in Boston, was inspired to leave her career as a graphic designer to dedicate herself to diminishing ageism. She initiated an afterschool service-learning project at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, and by the following year, four private schools were piloting the program.
In the fall of 2013, the Sages & Seekers program was first presented at the university level, when Brandeis University students were paired with Brandeis Lifelong Learning seniors. By 2014, Sages & Seekers had enrolled more than 1,200 teens and seniors, with many participating two or more times. That same year, Elly moved the Sages & Seekers headquarter to Los Angeles, California.
In its new West Coast location, Sages & Seekers began running programs in the USC Gerontology Department. At the same time, program delivery on the East Coast continued, and The Rivers School in the Boston area elected to make Sages & Seekers a mandatory part of their sophomore English curriculum – a requirement that continues to this day, reaching 180 Sages and students every year.
In late 2014, the S&S Manual was produced, which provides a blueprint for any school, library, senior facility, or university that seeks to offer Sages & Seekers in their community. In 2017, the University of Southern California (USC) conducted a professional impact evaluation of our program through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This evaluation provided an evidence-based framework and justification for our model that cemented the program as evidence-based.
Today our non-profit reaches across borders virtually, to include participants at public and private facilities from Canada to Colombia, offering multi-cultural and generational connection, to strengthen the bonds of humanity.
Alexander Sarabia shares his internship experience at Adventures to Dreams. Alexander, who is currently a student at UCI, had the opportunity to intern with us throughout the summer. During his internship, he got to work on various projects related to community engagement and youth development.
When KCB decided to open its doors in the form of a community center where everyone belongs, we envisioned becoming a lifeline for many, a place where peace resounded and burdens could be made light. Throughout our continued commitment to this dream, we met Donald, a resilient soul who found his way to KCB after experiencing the harsh realities of homelessness. Donald’s story is a testament to the transformative power of compassion and community.
Donald’s journey to KCB began in the shadow of the streets. He had been sleeping nearby, grappling with the overwhelming challenges of homelessness. “Drugs and alcohol weren’t the problem. Homelessness was,” he recalls. The rising costs of rent had made it impossible for him to secure stable housing, forcing him to the streets of Bellflower. When his cousin, who had offered him a place to stay, was arrested during a raid that revealed a drug manufacturing operation, Donald found himself on the streets again, feeling lost and without a home.
In a stroke of divine providence, local sheriffs told Donald about KCB. “I didn’t have any self-esteem,” he says, reflecting on his state when he first arrived. But from the moment he stepped through the doors of KCB, he felt something different. Unlike other help centers that seemed to push people through quickly, KCB treated him with respect and kindness. “Here, I feel respected. I feel like family,” Donald shares. The genuine warmth and acceptance he encountered at KCB contrasted sharply with the treatment he had experienced elsewhere, making him feel truly seen and valued.
Donald’s life began to change as he immersed himself in the KCB community center. He obtained his ID, social security card, and even a bank card with the help of KCB staff like Valerie and Javvy, who continue to play crucial roles in his journey. “I feel like I have half my sanity now!” he exclaims, a testament to the impact KCB has had on his mental and emotional well-being.
For Donald, the concept of “belonging” transcends mere words. It is the feeling of being part of a family, of being loved and embraced without judgment. He describes KCB as his place of tranquility—a rare haven where he can breathe and find peace. When asked about a moment that stood out for Donald, he stated that it was the third time he visited us, when he was grieving the loss of his daughter. Javvy, a KCB staff member, met Donald outside, offering support and understanding. This gesture of kindness made Donald feel relaxed and at home, solidifying his sense of belonging.