Author Archive

Name: Victoria Williams
Hometown: Bridgeport, CT
College: Western Connecticut State University
Major: Finance
Favorite Children’s Book: Oh, The Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss

When I applied for an internship at New Haven Reads, I intended to help students in elementary and high school get better with their reading. That’s because growing up, I struggled with reading myself—and if there was something like New Haven Reads around for me, I know that I could’ve been a stronger and more confident reader in school. When I saw that there was an opportunity to give another child something they needed, there was no question about whether or not I would take part in this. 

When I started at New Haven Reads, I didn’t know what to expect. I  only had experience working with kids for a year, and that was almost three years ago. However, I came to learn that I had nothing to be worried about at all. The kids were as sweet as ever and the staff was very helpful. I have a very shy personality so it’s hard for me to open up, but with all my co-workers and all the kids being so kind, helpful, and giving off positive energy, I came out of my shell week by week.  

If there was something like New Haven Reads around for me, I know that I could’ve been a stronger and more confident reader in school.

What I have learned from New Haven Reads—and what I will walk away with—is no matter where you go in life, whether it’s up or down, always give back and never forget where you come from. A great experience I had at New Haven Reads had to be during my tutoring session with a student that I would tutor two days out of the week. At first, she didn’t like to read and had a big struggle decoding words, but toward the end of our sessions, she started reading out loud and understanding words on her own. She’s now read six books out loud and by herself! I couldn’t have been any prouder of her. Another great experience was seeing that my math club’s test score had gone up by around 20 to 50 percent. Those were two big accomplishments in my life. 

I would like to thank the First Niagara Foundation and New Haven Reads for giving me this opportunity and I would also like to thank KeyBank for making this possible. This has been a great summer and I wish I could do it all over again.

Name: Dareika Palmer
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
College: University Of New Haven
Major: Criminal Justice (Juvenile and Family Justice)
Tutoring Site: Science Park
Clubs: Math I, Arts & Crafts and Drama
Favorite Children’s Book: The Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne

I learned about the New Haven Reads Summer Internship while working at the Bristol Street location as the Education Department assistant. In that position, I helped Mrs. Hayley and Ms. Kascia with administrative tasks and occasionally, I got the opportunity to tutor some of the students at both the Bristol Street and Dixwell locations. I truly enjoyed tutoring the students because of all the different personalities that I encountered, and the fun times that I had. With the experiences I had in the tutoring sessions, I decided that applying for the Summer Internship would be a perfect opportunity to help more children and have a bigger impact on them with my leadership role in the clubs.

Over the course of the summer, I have learned so much about myself as well as the students that I have worked with so far. Each student is very different, so you are on your toes to find new ways to engage them. In Math I, I have some students that get bored easily, so I have implemented incentives for them to strive toward for each session. I understand learning through different methods because as a student, I was a tactile learner—so being able to touch and use objects was very beneficial. I have learned how to empathize with students but still keep a stern grounding to gain their respect. This technique is very important for managing classrooms and also a tool that I’ll have for when I move into my career.

Overall, tutoring is a small opportunity for each of us to be a role model, or someone for a student to look up to.

Along with leading clubs, I have had the opportunity to tutor some students at Science Park this summer. My favorite part of tutoring is “choice time” because it brings out the joy in each student. I have had experiences where some students came into their session sad, but when it was choice time, they brightened up so much and many conversations arose over a simple board or card game. The students get to know more about us and we get to know more about them, whether it is about their future or what they want to do this weekend. Overall, tutoring is a small opportunity for each of us to be a role model, or someone for a student to look up to. I am very appreciative of the opportunity that both New Haven Reads and the First Niagara Foundation have given me. I hope that I have been a good leader and role model to the students that I have interacted with. Thank you to the whole team!

Name: Diana Velasco
Hometown: Naugatuck, CT
College: University of Connecticut
Major and Minor: Human Rights & Political Science
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein

In December of last year, during my winter break, I thought to myself that I needed to do something good for myself and the community. After doing some searching around, I landed on the volunteer page of New Haven Reads and I applied to become a tutor. The moment I walked into the building and saw all the children enjoying their time learning and the welcoming environment, I knew this was where I wanted to be. As I tutored at both the Dixwell and Bristol sites, the months flew by. I was happy to apply for the opportunity to become an intern for the summer. What I thought would be just a winter break volunteer opportunity has turned into months of being involved with one of the best organizations in New Haven.

Every time I come to New Haven Reads, I experience something new and exciting. Every student here has such an amazing personality and I feel honored to get to know them. My time here has given me insight into the world and the people around me. I have formed some amazing bonds with students and coworkers. One of my favorite experiences is connecting with a student due to our very similar backgrounds. We enjoy getting right to work so that at the end of our session together we are able to share how our week went and bond over our similar interests. I remember after a week that one student was absent, he came to me excited to tell me all about his trip to Mexico. He had the opportunity to tell me about the places he visited, especially the ones we talked and learned about together!

He had the opportunity to tell me about the places he visited, especially the ones we talked and learned about together!

Another part of New Haven Reads that brings me joy are the enrichment clubs. From the animal club to chess, every student brings life to it. Everyone’s unique personality comes together in order to complete a mission: learning by having fun. I am grateful every day that I go into work at NHR because, to me, this is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I would like to thank New Haven Reads and First Niagara Foundation in partnership with KeyBank for allowing me this opportunity. I am excited to see what the rest of the summer will bring and hope the best for each and every person that is part of New Haven Reads.

Name: Tyler Jenkins
Hometown: New Haven, CT
College: Wesleyan University
Major and Minor: Perspective Computer Science & Government
Tutoring Site: Dixwell
Clubs: Math I & Chess
Favorite Children’s Book: The Watsons Go to Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis

With one-fourth of a college education under my belt, I spent the first summer back from university trying to occupy my time. Many have said the first summer back from college should be filled with a “cultivation of high-level skills” or practices that “increase the personal capital of the student,” which is all code for getting an internship.

The search for a good internship is more difficult than trying to find a needle in a haystack. Well, actually, it’s like trying to find a needle in a needlestack. There are so many great organizations and businesses that need personnel. They want interns that are passionate about their work and will be dedicated to the vision of the company. I wanted to come to a place where I could be both challenged and appreciated. Applying to New Haven Reads was the best choice I could’ve made.

The vision and the framework of the organization should be revered for its efficacy and overall impact on the community. My favorite memory begins with a cart of books and a task. Another intern and I were given the job to give away free books at the park across the street from the Bristol Street site. We wheeled a clunky beige cart onto the park path. Initially skeptical about how the giveaway was going to work, I was quickly reassured that the goal was to get the children to build their personal libraries at home. The objective was to foster a desire to be well read.

I’ve never seen so much tangible enthusiasm for books.

What happened shortly after is why I have so much faith in the New Haven Reads organization. Groups of kids ran toward the cart with all the speed they could muster. They were genuinely delighted and even wanted to take books for friends and family who weren’t there. I was shocked. I’ve never seen so much tangible enthusiasm for books. This summer has been about the quest to make literacy something exciting. Seeing delight for literature has made literacy exciting for me again as well. It was the same look that I’ve seen when the ice cream truck pulls into a park, except the product is even more sweet. On the deepest level I am thankful to New Haven Reads and to the First Niagara Foundation for the opportunity to intern and all the resources that had to come together to make this experience possible.

Name: Ajay Culhane-Husain
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
College: Yale University
Major and Minor: Economics and Education Studies
Favorite Children’s Book: The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper

My experience at New Haven Reads this summer has been incredible. I have observed an organization that recognizes the power of learning and seeks to empower students through education. I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to contribute to this mission. As I wrap up my internship with the organization, I want to share some highlights from my experience–namely, interacting with the leadership at New Haven Reads and having the privilege to teach students.

In my first week on the job, I observed a small team that works tirelessly to provide local youth with an opportunity to explore, grow, and dream. As the Education Director put it, “all of this work is for the kids”. After spending the summer with this group, I am confident that her statement is true. I have found a team that caters to the needs of its students through customized curriculum. I have found the leadership to be readily available to advise me on my teaching, and most notably, I have been inspired through their passion for youth empowerment.  This supportive community is the foundation of New Haven Reads and their influence transcends the entire organization. 

While I have enjoyed learning from the leadership of New Haven Reads, I have also enjoyed teaching my students. One of my priorities this summer was to make the learning process fun in the hopes that my students would want to carry on their education outside of the classroom. For example, to teach multiplication, I used a basketball with numbers on it. Every time a student caught the ball, they had to multiply the two numbers their hands touched. On another occasion, I brought 500 pennies to help the students visualize large-scale division. The result was rewarding; all of my students showed significant improvement in their mathematical skills and they had fun while doing it. 

I recognize now more than ever the importance of investing in the world around us. Through New Haven Reads, I have seen firsthand the impact of education. As I complete my internship, I am excited to continue to find new ways to empower the communities around me. I am so grateful to the First Niagara Foundation in partnership with KeyBank for this incredible opportunity.