Alumni Program

The ConnectiKids Alumni Program provides leadership training and personal development to a group of Hartford teenagers who are “alumni” or graduates of traditional programming offered through ConnectiKids. It is often difficult to attract and retain teen program participants because of the many demands on teens’ time and their changing interests, peer groups and social pressures. The Alumni Program builds upon an existing positive peer group with a strong connection to ConnectiKids.  93% of current Alumni Program participants have been involved in ConnectiKids programming since their early years of elementary school.  The remaining 7% joined ConnectiKids in the 5th or sixth grades.

The program offers leadership experiences, civic responsibility, life skills training and personal development opportunities. These experiences include intensive training with in house and outside facilitators who specialize in youth development, attendance at youth leadership conferences and events, skills building, conflict resolution trainings, and structured opportunities to apply leadership skills in the development and implementation of programs and special events with ConnectiKids. Partnerships include working with the YMCA of Hartford and their Minority Achievers Program, Planned Parenthood, and "One Day in College" college tour with the UCONN Puerto Rican Latin American Center. Students also take part in college visits, and career and college preparatory trainings to help them plan a course for their future. Volunteering and representing the agency at community events are also central parts of the Alumni Program.  Another component of the program involves case management for the youth and monitoring their educational performance.  Finally, social and recreational events offer teens a time to connect with each other in a positive and safe environment and have experiences that they otherwise may not have the resources to participate in.

While there are programs for teens in the area, most have a single focus and recruit kids solely at the high school level. To our knowledge, there are no programs that retain students from elementary school through high school. The ConnectiKids Alumni Program is unique because of the degree to which young people receive from and give to the organization. In addition to volunteering as tutors, program and office assistants, and acting as representatives of the agency at community events, students also receive training and exposure in a variety of areas including leadership development, life skills attainment, violence prevention, college and career planning, financial and civic responsibility, as well as personal growth and development.  The teens who comprise the Alumni group are African American and Latino young men and women who attend West Middle Elementary School, Quirk and Fox Middle Schools, Bulkeley, Sports Science, and Hartford Public High Schools.

OLD NAVY JOB SKILLS WORKSHOPS

ConnectiKids formed a partnership with Old Navy to pilot a job readiness program model during the 2006-2007 school year.  Old Navy has agreed to meet with the Alumni two days of the month starting in October and ending in June.  On one day of the month, Old Navy will send managers and executives to train the youth on topics such as interviewing skills, communication/conflict resolution, leadership development, presentation skills - including dress code, time management, financial management, and at-work etiquette.  On the second day of the month the youth will travel to different local Old Navy stores and get real world hands-on work experience.  This day will include the shadowing of managers, cashiers, store room workers, executives, and volunteering for special in-store events.  At the conclusion of the program Old Navy will offer employment and/or internships to the youth that have fulfilled the program goals and maintained their academic performance at school.  This past summer two Alumni Program youth were offered employment at two Old Navy Stores: West Hartford and South Winsdor.  Currently, one of our youth is working throughout teh school year on a part-time basis at Old Navy in West Hartford.