Community Partners
Academy Community Partners
The Central Falls High School STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Academy, ACT (Art, Communications, and Teaching) Academy, and Business Academy each have strong community partnerships.
The ACT Academy Partnerships include: The Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, Roger Williams University, the URI Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education in Providence, Rhode Island College, the Steel Yard, the Trinity Repertory Company, and Moussa Traore, a professional West African drummer.
The Business Academy partnerships include: Navigant Credit Union.
The STEM Academy partnerships include: Save the Bay, the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Norman Bird Sanctuary, Memorial Hospital, Miriam Hospital, Harris Health Care, the Nature Conservancy, VCA Povar Animal Hospital, and the Central Falls Fire Department.
ELO Community Mentors 2011
Rebecca Flores stands by her own self-portrait.
Rebecca Flores serve as an Art Mentor at Guide 2 Success. She is an author, poet, artist, educator, producer and TV personality. You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.rebeccaflores.biz/page13.php.
Jim Booth from the East Bay Education Collaborative is the former science department head at Cumberland High School. Jim makes science come alive at schools throughout the Central Falls School District and he mentors students at Guide 2 Success who are studying Science Concepts and a student at Central Falls High School who is studying Baseball Physics.
Lynne-Marie Shea is an Americorps member at the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence and serves as a Nonviolence Liaison at at Central Falls High School and Guide 2 Success. Lynne graduated from Providence College with a Public and Community service major and Spanish minor in 2010. Lynn then went to Oruro, Bolivia with Good Shepherd Volunteers and lived and worked for a year in a domestic violence shelter. Lynne is mentoring students at Guide 2 Success for a Nonviolence ELO.
Emily Harris is a Program Coordinator at Young Voices. She facilitates a leadership training twice a week at Central Falls High School. Emily serves as a Young Voices ELO Mentor to train students to understand power, develop their skills as leaders, and have a voice in school reform.
Leo Sime is a Restorative Specialist with the Family Care Community Partnership at Central Falls High School and he is a trained CrossFit Coach. Leo serves as a mentor for the Restorative Workouts ELO. Leo is also writer and is currently studying at Harvard University.
Cherie Cruz works at the Parent Support Network and serves a Law ELO mentor. Cherie was a Brown Urban Education Policy Fellow and serves on the board of the ACLU. Cherie grew up in Central Falls, has had kids who attend Central Falls schools, and has served a strong parent advocate and leader.
Vernia Carter has served as a leader in the Central Falls community for years. She currently runs the Food Bank at Progreso Latino and chairs a board that works to teach youth in Central Falls the importance of living substance-free lives. Vernia is mentoring Emily Santelises’ 12th Grade English class on their Food Drive ELO.
Alyssa Giardino is the Materials Prep Specialist for the Central Falls School District. She has mentored a student on an ELO entitled, “Blindness is Not a Disability.”
Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island serves as an important community partner to Central Falls High School. We work with Amanda D’Alessio (Youth Services Coordinator), Justine Beatini (Transitional Resource Specialist), and Molly Pine (LEEP Instructor and Case Manager). The mentor students are involved in Life Skills ELOs as well as an ELO about Restorative Practices.
Elizabeth Keiser is a playwright, actor, and Director of Tall University. Elizabeth utilizes various arts and comedy as tools to build literacy and community throughout the District. Elizabeth’s work is in collaboration with the Institute for Non Violence and Restorative Practices.
Winston Guerero graduated from Central Falls High School and Johnson and Wales University and is the Executive Mosaic Latin American Bistro in Providence. Winston serves as an ELO Mentor about Professionalism in the Restaurant Workplace.
Phyllis Trelli is the ELO Coordinator at Calcutt Middle School and Progreso Latino employee. Phyllis has worked with youth to design a Youth Council. She oversees an after-school program in which teachers and community partners come together to provide students with engaging learning opportunities.
Lance Aleksiewicz and Jennifer Zolkos of Odeh Engineering mentor in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Program. Central Falls High School students who participate in this state-wide program are able to receive credit through the ELO Initiative. Odeh Engineering is a full-service structural engineering consulting firm specializing in the design, analysis, and evaluation of buildings throughout the eastern United States.
Anthony Rodrigues, Jose Teixeira and Alejandro Olea are graduates of Central Falls High School and mentor the students involved in the Kids in the Canyon ELO. They train students throughout the year in team-building, first-aid, and hiking skills and co-lead a five-day hiking trip in the Grand Canyon for Central Falls High School students.
Leah Cogan and Julie Keller are Brown University Students and Chris Jackson is a Harvard University graduate. Leah, Julie, and Chris are forming Abolitionist Theater and will work with high school students to create a performance piece about human trafficking. They are mentoring students at Guide 2 Success and CFHS.
Erik Ehn is the Head of Playwriting and Professor of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies at Brown University. His works include Work includes The Saint Plays, Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling, No Time Like the Present, Wolf at the Door, Tailings,Beginner, Ideas of Good and Evil, Maria Kizito, and an adaptation of Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury.
Jaime Pascal is a graphic designer and web developer in Rhode Island. Jaime has also served as a swim instructor for 18 years and currently coaches at Pods Swimming.
2011-2012 Visits
Central Falls Parent Volunteer and farmer Tamara Brown and Emily Jodka, farmer and educator from New Urban Farmers visited Laura Stanish
On October 13, Central Falls Parent Volunteer and farmer Tamara Brown and Emily Jodka, farmer and educator from New Urban Farmers (www.newurbanfarmers.org), visited Laura Stanish’s Environmental Science class. Tamara and Emily spoke to the students about soil science and health, organic farming, food policies, and importance of connecting to the origins of your food.
Rhode Island Attorney Steven Miller specializing in real estate law, and Attorney Monica Teixeira de Sousa, law professor at New England Law in Boston visited David Bizier
On October 17, Rhode Island Attorney Steven Miller (www.stevemillerlaw.com) specializing in real estate law, and Attorney Monica Teixeira de Sousa, law professor at New England Law in Boston (www.nesl.edu) visited David Bizier’s Business Law class. The attorneys described what inspired them to become attorneys, the types of skills lawyers use, and what students need to do in order to become attorneys themselves.
On October 21, Cherie Cruz came to visit Ron Thompson’s Street Law class. Cherie works at the Parent Support Network (www.psnri.org), studied Urban Education Policy at Brown University, and teaches parents and students about their legal rights. She volunteers at the RI American Civil Liberties Union. Cherie and Ron are working together with students to start a Law ELO that will focus on mock trials.
Executive Chef Winston Guerrero from Mosaic Latin American Bistro visited Katie Gomes
On November 9, Executive Chef Winston Guerrero from Mosaic Latin American Bistro (www.mosaicprovidence.com) visited Katie Gomes’ and Joana Daou’s Life Skills Class. Winston graduated from Central Falls High School. Winston showed the students how to make flan, hot dog “monsters,” arepas, and gave everyone a taste of his restaurant’s delicious chicken and potato soup. We encourage everyone to check out Mosaic restaurant at 166 Valley Street in Providence.
Cheryl Lafond, Central Falls School District Board of Trustees Member and Pre-K teacher at Imagine Preschool at CCRI, Warwick described to Guide 2 Success high school students who to make reading an engaging experience for children.
On January 10th, Central Falls School District Board of Trustees Member Cheryl Lafond visited Guide to Success. Cheryl spoke to the students about her Pre-K class at Imagine Preschool at CCRI, Warwick (http://www.imagineri.org). Cheryl demonstrated the type of learning centers she sets up in her own classroom and connected them to the RI Early Learning Standards.
Julie Tremaine from Providence Media provided students with tips about writing effective editorials.
On January 30th, Julie Tremaine, Editor at Providence Media spoke with Emily Santelises’ English 12 Class. Julie described a “day in the life” of an editor and she shared tips with students on writing editorials that are effective and powerful.
Jim Vincent is the President of the NAACP Rhode Island chapter.
On February 15th, Jim Vincent, the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the NAACP spoke to Emily Santelises’ English 12 Class. Jim described the history of the struggle for freedom and equality for people of color in this country. His dedication and enthusiasm was extremely inspiring for the students.
