FLEMING - About 65 middle school students and their parents gathered at the Springside Inn Monday night to respond to a call to action.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Christian Bozek, 12, second from left, a seventh-grader at SS. Peter and Paul School, talks with his mother, Kandace Bozek, left, minutes before the Blue Print II informational session. Christian hopes he can “make a good change in Auburn” through the program. On the right, is Edward Vivenzio, 12, and his father, Gary Vivenzio, a student and teacher respectively at SS. Peter and Paul.
Christian Bozek, 12, second from left, a seventh-grader at SS. Peter and Paul School, talks with his mother, Kandace Bozek, left, minutes before the Blue Print II informational session. Christian hopes he can “make a good change in Auburn” through the program. On the right, is Edward Vivenzio, 12, and his father, Gary Vivenzio, a student and teacher respectively at SS. Peter and Paul.
An offshoot of the local adult focus group “Call to Action: A Blueprint for Our Region,” Blueprint II is organizing young leaders of middle school age to tap into the wellspring of their ideas and enthusiasm to help create a plan for the future.
“We're overwhelmed with the turnout so far,” said Guy Cosentino, an original Blueprint group member. “I didn't expect so many would turn up, and I don't think my board did.”
Teachers Jeff Alberici and Jeff Drastal are lead organizers of the group.
Jeff said his father, Gino Alberici, got the idea from speaking with Jack Bisgrove, whose Stardust Foundation has committed millions of dollars to developing the community.
They asked teachers in the Auburn middle schools to recommend students who demonstrated leadership qualities for the program, not necessarily those with high averages. Criteria included someone inspirational, persevering, respectful, responsible, tolerant, cooperative and with a strong moral compass.
East and West middle schools, St. Joseph's and SS. Peter and Paul were included. While such programs elicit applications, this one is by invitation only.
L.E.A.D. USA, an organization dedicated to teaching young adults leadership skills, will be an integral part of Blueprint II. Joseph Cassamento, former Christian Brothers Academy football coach and executive director of L.E.A.D. for the past three years, will provide leadership instruction for those students in the program.
Cassamento said L.E.A.D. is a not-for-profit organization comprised of a team of ex-superintendents and administrators who have been working on leadership skills in 38 high schools in New York as well as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, and California.
“We believe the most important assets are the children in any community,” he said. “We've given many students the confidence to stand up and be heard.”
Alberici said once students and parents learned about the program, if they chose to continue, they would fill out an application and answer three questions: How would you be an asset to this project? What leadership roles have you taken on in your life? and “What do you believe is the most important quality of a leader?”
Students willing to make the commitment would then be interviewed during the week of Feb. 24-29. Students making the final cut will be sent an acceptance letter on March 9.
Amber Jordan, 14, of East Middle School, said she decided to commit to the program because it was about the community.
“I think the community is very important and I want it to become stronger,” she said.
Her mother, Deborah VanArsdale, said, “I think it's an outstanding program because they're our future. I would like to see Auburn the way it was when I was growing up.”
Maureen Manning, 12, from St. Joseph's was signing up because she was committed to community service. Her father, Joseph Manning, said her interest was in “building the community and our morals.”
Those accepted will meet Monday nights from Mar. 31 to December. They will then present their projects to the Blueprint Board. Attendance at every meeting is mandatory. They will work with groups of their peers on projects that they initiate and complete short weekly assignments. There will be some field trips and they will spend the first half of each class on community development and assets, the second half, developing leadership skills with the help of L.E.A.D. USA. Children will be able to share their ideas on the Internet.
Parents will attend meetings once a month. There won't be any meetings on holidays or during December. During the summer, the group will meet once a month.
Alberici said that Monday nights seemed to be the one night of the week when few students play sports, but he had overlooked marching band practice. Some parents were concerned about the degree of commitment to the program getting in the way of other obligations.
“We understand the constraints there are on kids,” he said. “The first time through we really want to stress that everyone is there, making every meeting. There are exciting things coming down the pipeline.”
He added that they expected to have 30 committed to their “ideal blueprint,” but about 65 have at least committed to the first meeting. “It could end up with 10 children or it may end up with 40.”
He also said that transportation would be provided to the meetings if necessary.
Alberici looked upon himself and three other colleagues training the students as facilitators.
“The children are going to work on something they are passionate about,” he said. “I would like to see these children settle back in Auburn. Give them something they can be proud of. It can only be good for the community.”
“We're overwhelmed with the turnout so far,” said Guy Cosentino, an original Blueprint group member. “I didn't expect so many would turn up, and I don't think my board did.”
Teachers Jeff Alberici and Jeff Drastal are lead organizers of the group.
Jeff said his father, Gino Alberici, got the idea from speaking with Jack Bisgrove, whose Stardust Foundation has committed millions of dollars to developing the community.
They asked teachers in the Auburn middle schools to recommend students who demonstrated leadership qualities for the program, not necessarily those with high averages. Criteria included someone inspirational, persevering, respectful, responsible, tolerant, cooperative and with a strong moral compass.
East and West middle schools, St. Joseph's and SS. Peter and Paul were included. While such programs elicit applications, this one is by invitation only.
L.E.A.D. USA, an organization dedicated to teaching young adults leadership skills, will be an integral part of Blueprint II. Joseph Cassamento, former Christian Brothers Academy football coach and executive director of L.E.A.D. for the past three years, will provide leadership instruction for those students in the program.
Cassamento said L.E.A.D. is a not-for-profit organization comprised of a team of ex-superintendents and administrators who have been working on leadership skills in 38 high schools in New York as well as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, and California.
“We believe the most important assets are the children in any community,” he said. “We've given many students the confidence to stand up and be heard.”
Alberici said once students and parents learned about the program, if they chose to continue, they would fill out an application and answer three questions: How would you be an asset to this project? What leadership roles have you taken on in your life? and “What do you believe is the most important quality of a leader?”
Students willing to make the commitment would then be interviewed during the week of Feb. 24-29. Students making the final cut will be sent an acceptance letter on March 9.
Amber Jordan, 14, of East Middle School, said she decided to commit to the program because it was about the community.
“I think the community is very important and I want it to become stronger,” she said.
Her mother, Deborah VanArsdale, said, “I think it's an outstanding program because they're our future. I would like to see Auburn the way it was when I was growing up.”
Maureen Manning, 12, from St. Joseph's was signing up because she was committed to community service. Her father, Joseph Manning, said her interest was in “building the community and our morals.”
Those accepted will meet Monday nights from Mar. 31 to December. They will then present their projects to the Blueprint Board. Attendance at every meeting is mandatory. They will work with groups of their peers on projects that they initiate and complete short weekly assignments. There will be some field trips and they will spend the first half of each class on community development and assets, the second half, developing leadership skills with the help of L.E.A.D. USA. Children will be able to share their ideas on the Internet.
Parents will attend meetings once a month. There won't be any meetings on holidays or during December. During the summer, the group will meet once a month.
Alberici said that Monday nights seemed to be the one night of the week when few students play sports, but he had overlooked marching band practice. Some parents were concerned about the degree of commitment to the program getting in the way of other obligations.
“We understand the constraints there are on kids,” he said. “The first time through we really want to stress that everyone is there, making every meeting. There are exciting things coming down the pipeline.”
He added that they expected to have 30 committed to their “ideal blueprint,” but about 65 have at least committed to the first meeting. “It could end up with 10 children or it may end up with 40.”
He also said that transportation would be provided to the meetings if necessary.
Alberici looked upon himself and three other colleagues training the students as facilitators.
“The children are going to work on something they are passionate about,” he said. “I would like to see these children settle back in Auburn. Give them something they can be proud of. It can only be good for the community.”
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