Teens Chasing Dreams

By China Boynton

The Small Biz Community and Economic Development Corp (CEDC) hosted the inaugural edition of the Teens Chasing Dreams afterschool program at the Northwest Branch Library on October 6.

Students ages 15-18 showed up after their school day at Blanche Ely High School to participate in the new program that will last through the school year.

“We hope to get at least 20 students in the program, 9 students came on the first day, so we had a good showing,” said CEDC Director Mary Schofield-Phillips

Phillips started the program because she noticed a lack of after-school programs for teens available in Pompano like she had when she was growing up.

Part of the program is to prepare them for success by educating them on life skills and financial literacy.

“Students can be successful with proper guidance, if they are willing to listen, then we are willing to teach them what they need to know so they can be successful,” Phillips said.

Local Volunteers like Octavia Rivers, Alice Chatman, and former educator Marie Goodrum-Johnson have given their time to the students by acting as chaperones during the run of the program.

“I like the energy that the children brought on the first day, I hope this program can work as a model that can replicated throughout our community,” said Johnson.

Through this program, there will be assistance in acquiring summer jobs and community service hours. Students graduating this year will receive assistance in obtaining scholarships as well but it’s not all business, because once a month there will be a fun activity planned, like an ice cream social, a dance, or a game night.

“We are allowing the teens to bring at least one friend to participate in fun Fridays with parental consent of course,” Phillips said.

The Broward Sheriffs office has shown its support by awarding the Teens Chasing Dreams program a $10,000 grant from the Broward County Sherrif Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LEFT) to help, however other community support is always welcome.

The program will take place weekly on Fridays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Northwest Branch Library and ends on April 26.

For applications visit the Northwest Branch Library at 1580 NW 3rd Ave., Pompano Beach or www.smallbizinfo.net