Community Partners
Community Partnerships are designed as mutually beneficial relationships. These partnerships connect Lynn community organizations with a Gordon student, group of students or class.
Ways to Partner with Gordon in Lynn
Community Partners
The following organizations engage Gordon students in weekly service opportunities:
Bridgewell—Adults with Disabilities
Bridgewell's Day Habilitation programs offer a variety of services to individuals with mild to severe developmental disabilities, and who range in age from 22 years old to the elderly. Participants may have other disabilities such as visual and/or hearing impairments, physical limitations, medical and/or behavioral challenges.
Gordon students serve as classroom assistants in the various adult classes either in a group setting or one on one.
Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Bridgewell Directions (PDF)
Boys & Girls Club—Elementary School Youth
The Boys and Girls club of Lynn offers an after school haven for over 300 Lynn children every day.
Gordon students play pool, do arts and crafts, play basketball and dodgeball, offer homework help, mentor, and occasionally bowl or swim.
Tuesday–Fridays, afternoons.
Catholic Charities—Adult ESL
Among many other services, Catholic Charities also offers new and future citizens support during the long process of adjusting to their new surroundings. A multi-ethnic staff comprised of professionals with diverse ethnic backgrounds and rich life experiences provide a wide array of services to newcomers from all over the world. In Lynn, Catholic Charities works with refugees predominately from East Asia.
Gordon students serve as classroom assistants which can include one to one tutoring as well as opportunities to lead ESL activities and occasionally teach.
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
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ECIC - Elementary youth
East Coast International Church is an urban church plant serving a diverse group of Lynners. They are extremely active in the community and have an array of ministries serving folks including transitional housing, counseling, food pantry, and Bible studies. Kidzone is their Sunday morning ministry with elementary-aged youth and they’re looking for energetic and outgoing Gordon students to help run the programming.
F&CS Teen Scene (after school drop in center for youth ages 10–14)
Teen Scene is a violence prevention drop in center at Family and Children’s Service. Homework assistance/ tutoring are provided. Relationship building, respect, conflict resolution, and communication skills are fostered through advocacy, art, arts and crafts, cooking, public speaking, teambuilding activities, sports, volunteering and writing. SALTeam members will have the opportunity to work closely with staff and high school mentors in the planning and facilitation of activities that reinforce these skills… so bring your great ideas and talents! If you are outgoing and enjoy working with this age group (mostly boys), come to Teen Scene and help provide the youth of Lynn with the tools that they need to make positive choices in their lives.
Teen Scene Salteam Options:
Monday OR Wednesday, 3:20–6:20 p.m.
(this replaces the Fenix option listed on the Gordon in Lynn Salteam Opportunities | Fall 2011)
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Family Dinner Project - Elementary youth
The Family Dinner Project is a start-up grassroots movement of food, fun and conversation about things that matter. Over the past 15 years, research has shown what parents have known for a long time: Sharing a fun family meal is good for the spirit, brain and health of all family members. Recent studies link regular family meals with the kinds of behaviors that parents want for their children: higher grade-point averages, resilience and self-esteem. This Salteam will have the privilege of starting a program (along with The Family Dinner Project) at a Lynn elementary school where Gordon students will model how to enjoy healthy food and have good conversation over lunch with small groups of elementary schools children.
Ford School—Elementary Youth
The Ford School operates a unique "community school" model. In addition to educating grades K-8, the Ford school serves diverse populations in which 90% of the children qualify for free lunch (available to families at or below poverty level).
Gordon students serve as tutors and mentors of the children.
Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Ford School Directions (DOC)
The Lynn YMCA is a youth center for children in grades K-?8. It is an exciting new partnership that would allow you to build relationships with youth through swimming, sports, computers, art and crafts,and tutoring. If you love music, then you will love their professional quality music studio with a control room, isolation booth and live room where you can help youth learn beat making, recording, basic vocal training and song writing.
Khmer American Youth in Action (KAYA)—Middle and High School Khmer Youth
KAYA is a youth-driven project of the Lynn Community Health Center that is focused on promoting healthy behavior in the Lynn community and helping each other success in school, at home and in life. Involved youth can expect to learn and educate others about youth-focused health topics in fun and interactive ways. Youth also receive academic support from staff, volunteers and each other (i.e. homework support, resume building and college application help).
Gordon students serve as tutors and help with recreational activities.
Monday and Thursday afternoons.
New American Center—Middle School and High School Refugee Youth
NAC is composed of several organizations including the Bosnian Community Center for Resource Development, the Russian Community Association of Massachusetts, the Southern Sudanese Solidarity Organization and the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center. Services provided by the New American Center include ESL and citizenship training for both youth and adults.
Gordon students work specifically with the youth in an after school tutoring and mentoring program building relationships and assisting with the planning and implementation of activities.
Monday through Thursday afternoons.
Night School—Adult ESL/GED/Citizenship Classes
The Night School takes place at the Ford School, open six days a week, which operates a unique "community school" model. In addition to educating grades K-8, the Ford school serves diverse populations in which 90% of the children qualify for free lunch (available to families at or below poverty level). Various ESL, GED and enrichment programs are available for family members as are other support services such as access to nurses, social workers, etc.
Gordon students serve as teaching assistants with the ESL, GED and Citizenship classes.
Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Ford School Directions (PDF)