John Hoagland, a former School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA) Board member, started tutoring with SOWMA in 2009. Sem, has been working with John for the past year and a half.
Reflecting back to April 2004, when I first started School on Wheels of Massachusetts out of my home in Easton, I could never have imagined that we would:
"Really, I think the magic and the secret sauce of School on Wheels is the mentoring. And it's the one on one. It's the same caring adult that shows up every week for them, to let them know that they are important and so is their education." - Cheryl Opper, Executive Director of School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA)
View Photos from our Champion in Action Reception
President Barack Obama launched 2014 by declaring January National Mentoring Month through a presidential proclamation. This 13th annual public awareness campaign is aimed at expanding quality mentoring programs to connect more of our nation’s young people with the mentors they need to reach success at school, at home, and in their communities and in the workforce. During National Mentoring Month, we celebrate the power of mentoring relationships, and the men and women who enrich the lives of our young people. Mentors selflessly give their time and experience to help our youngest generation, and ultimately our country, succeed.
It is really different living at the shelter with my family. I was used to walking to my friend’s house in Quincy to play with her, but I can’t anymore because we moved far away. Instead, I walk outside to the playground to play on the swing at the shelter.
I was sad when school started because I couldn’t see my friend Emily, she lives in Quincy too. I was mad because I couldn’t see my nana after school when I moved to the shelter. Now I see my nana on the weekends and I play on her computer. We watch family movies together and laugh.
Citizens Bank and New England Cable News (NECN) have chosen School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA) as the first 2014 Champion in Action® in the category of youth programming.
“School on Wheels of Massachusetts is a Champion in Action for the services they provide that enable homeless children to flourish in school and in life,” said Jerry Sargent, president at Citizens Bank, Massachusetts. “The impact of this program supports our focus on strengthening communities and the belief that every child deserves the chance to succeed in school.”